Electronics Weekly puts its questions to an industry figure: Joe Matano, managing director of specialist power system distributor UR Group.

How would you describe UR's business and its plans for 2008?

Business continues to be challenging. Sales grew 17 per cent in 2007 compared to 2006, however to maintain this level of growth has required us to be creative and continue to diversify in areas other than power.

How are engineers changing their approach to power system design?

We are finding that there is less power design expertise in the market than there was five years ago. This combined with the need for greater system efficiency has required us to look at the power requirements of the entire system as a matter of course. 

Describe in a sentence the state of the UK electronics manufacturing industry?

There's no denying manufacturing has declined, the total available market has reduced and volume electronics manufacturing has bared the brunt of this reduction. Lower volume, higher mix and higher tech products are still being manufactured in the UK and we have to adapt accordingly.

Is EU power efficiency legislation such as EuP changing the way power systems are designed or used?

Today in the segments we address, no not really maybe that's due to the 200,000 units a year cut off. I'm sure at some point this will be driven to encompass other categories. However, there is definitely a change to looking at greater efficiencies and thus the need to change direction towards - switch-mode power conversion and digital power.

What are the two biggest market/technology opportunities in the UK?

I would say wireless and lighting. Wireless technologies in various flavours are being adopted multiple sectors and we see this going from strength to strength. Another promising opportunity is the lighting market where LED technology is advancing in leaps and bounds.

See also: Q5 - Interviews with electronics industry leaders
Read all the Electronics Weekly Q5 interviews. From ARM's chairman, Sir Robin Saxby, to touchscreen technology firm Zytronic's MD, Mark Cambridge, the business leaders share their particular insights on the UK electronics industry.