Ing. Roy Jiménez Castro
Electronic Corporation S.A. (ELCOR) was founded by Ing. Roy Jiménez, in 1960. Since the beginning, he acted as Chief Executive Officer of the firm and, at the same time, assumed the duties of Director of the Engineering Department.
Mr. Jiménez was born in San José, Costa Rica, in 1925 and since very young he was attracted to physics and electricity. In 1945, Mr. Jiménez started his work in the engineering field. This was the time when broadcasting design was based on the electronic valve technology.
From 1946 to 1956, he became Professor of Electronics and Thermodynamics at the Escuela Técnica Nacional (National Technical School), Costa Rica’s pioneer institution in technical education and Alma Mater for the first professionals that the country required for its technological and industrial development. Years later, the Escuela Técnica Nacional became the Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (ITCR) which at present is recognized as Costa Rica’s main technical university. By that time, Roy Jiménez’s engineering activities focused exclusively on radio broadcasting.
Electronic Corporation S.A. (ELCOR) was founded by Ing. Roy Jiménez, in 1960. Since the beginning, he acted as Chief Executive Officer of the firm and, at the same time, assumed the duties of Director of the Engineering Department.
Mr. Jiménez was born in San José, Costa Rica, in 1925 and since very young he was attracted to physics and electricity. In 1945, Mr. Jiménez started his work in the engineering field. This was the time when broadcasting design was based on the electronic valve technology.
From 1946 to 1956, he became Professor of Electronics and Thermodynamics at the Escuela Técnica Nacional (National Technical School), Costa Rica’s pioneer institution in technical education and Alma Mater for the first professionals that the country required for its technological and industrial development. Years later, the Escuela Técnica Nacional became the Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (ITCR) which at present is recognized as Costa Rica’s main technical university. By that time, Roy Jiménez’s engineering activities focused exclusively on radio broadcasting.
In 1960, Roy Jimenez joined the
Research Department of Kativo S.A. Established by another
visionary professional, dr. Frank Jirik, Kativo was, during
the leadership of dr. Jirik, one of the first Costa Rican
industries engaged in chemistry research and development.
During this period, Roy Jiménez and Kativo S.A. established
Electronic Corporation S.A. (ELCOR) as an electronics
branch. ELCOR became, in this way, the first broadcasting
equipment manufacturer in Latin America.
In 1961, Mr. Jiménez acted as sub-contractor and chief engineer for the manufacturing of one of the three largest broadcast transmitters in the world at the time: a 1,000,000 watts (1 Megawatt) Short Wave transmitter, for Continental Electronics in Dallas Texas. Despite a flood (December 1963) ravaged ELCOR facilities in the province of Cartago, the project was successfully completed. After delivery of the project, Mr. Jiménez acquired the total of the ELCOR shares and continued his work in the manufacture of broadcast equipment.
While he was working on the Megawatt transmitter, Mr. Jiménez also assumed the duties of Director-Founder of INA, Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje (Learning National Institute). INA has now become the most important technical paraprofessional institution in the country.
While manufacturing broadcasting equipment, and as part of his research activities, Mr. Jiménez developed an electronic coffee-grain sorting machine. This patent led to the foundation of a new company, XELTRON, which is the present manufacturer and distributor of this device. Mr. Jiménez sold his patent and his shares in this company later on.
In January 1st 1967, Roy Jiménez C. was certified as Senior Member by I.E.E.E. (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). He was one of the first engineers in Latin America to obtain that title. It is worth mentioning that I.E.E.E. is considered the world’s largest association of professionals, with more than 360,000 individual members in 175 countries.
In 1975, Roy Jiménez became President of CANARA, Cámara Nacional de Radio (National Radio Broadcasters Chamber), the Costa Rican version of the NAB (National Association Of Broadcasters), which includes most of the local radio broadcasters.
In 1961, Mr. Jiménez acted as sub-contractor and chief engineer for the manufacturing of one of the three largest broadcast transmitters in the world at the time: a 1,000,000 watts (1 Megawatt) Short Wave transmitter, for Continental Electronics in Dallas Texas. Despite a flood (December 1963) ravaged ELCOR facilities in the province of Cartago, the project was successfully completed. After delivery of the project, Mr. Jiménez acquired the total of the ELCOR shares and continued his work in the manufacture of broadcast equipment.
While he was working on the Megawatt transmitter, Mr. Jiménez also assumed the duties of Director-Founder of INA, Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje (Learning National Institute). INA has now become the most important technical paraprofessional institution in the country.
While manufacturing broadcasting equipment, and as part of his research activities, Mr. Jiménez developed an electronic coffee-grain sorting machine. This patent led to the foundation of a new company, XELTRON, which is the present manufacturer and distributor of this device. Mr. Jiménez sold his patent and his shares in this company later on.
In January 1st 1967, Roy Jiménez C. was certified as Senior Member by I.E.E.E. (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). He was one of the first engineers in Latin America to obtain that title. It is worth mentioning that I.E.E.E. is considered the world’s largest association of professionals, with more than 360,000 individual members in 175 countries.
In 1975, Roy Jiménez became President of CANARA, Cámara Nacional de Radio (National Radio Broadcasters Chamber), the Costa Rican version of the NAB (National Association Of Broadcasters), which includes most of the local radio broadcasters.
In the 80’s and 90’s, Mr. Jiménez dedicated himself to the
development and improvement of ELCOR broadcasting products,
transmitters and antennas. Also, at this time, Mr. Jiménez
led the design, manufacture and installation of important
Short Wave projects in Central and South America. This was,
also, the time when ELCOR products started traveling beyond
continental borders to the rest of the world.
Since its establishment, more than 45 years ago, ELCOR has become a respected broadcasting equipment manufacturer in Latin America, with more than 400 transmitters installed not only in America, but in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the South Pacific.
Due to physical limitations, Mr. Jimenez is no longer active in the direction of the company, but his wife Celina de Jimenez serves as General Manager and is ably assisted by their son Tomas Jimenez. Mr. Jimenez’s example has now inspired a new group of young engineers and technicians to continue his work in the company under the same parameters he established 40 years ago.
Since its establishment, more than 45 years ago, ELCOR has become a respected broadcasting equipment manufacturer in Latin America, with more than 400 transmitters installed not only in America, but in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the South Pacific.
Due to physical limitations, Mr. Jimenez is no longer active in the direction of the company, but his wife Celina de Jimenez serves as General Manager and is ably assisted by their son Tomas Jimenez. Mr. Jimenez’s example has now inspired a new group of young engineers and technicians to continue his work in the company under the same parameters he established 40 years ago.
