April 2009 Archives

STMicroelectronics is the latest chip supplier to put numbers to how much inventory it has taken out of its supply chain.

Mouser Electronics has added a DaVinci processor-based digital video development board to its linecard.

Arrow Electronics, like its main competitor Avnet, saw sales and profit fall sharply in Q1.

But unlike Avnet, Arrow does not yet see a bottom to the market downturn.

Avnet Memec has signed a pan-European distribution agreement with Connect One, the supplier of chips and modules which IP-enable devices for M2M LAN and wireless applications.

Jauch Quartz UK has been recognised by NIC Components for its sales performance in the last year.

Fortune 500 has printed its top 20 most profitable technology companies and a distributor is in there.

Manufacturers are hurting now, but this particular recession cloud may yet have a silver-lining for them.

This is a good time to look at sales channels and, yes, invest in inventory.

There are three reasons why the upturn in the distribution market, when it comes later this year, will be faster than in the recovery to previous downturns.

LPRS has decided to select a top performing distributor for the first time.

Farnell has signed a couple of agreements which will see the catalogue distributor bringing new products to market.

The economic downturn has caused inventory problems in the supply chain, but the scale of those problems is only now becoming visible.

The opto component market has a new name, the Optoelectronics Company.

Wondering which technology sectors are attracting the smart money right now?

EBV Elektronik is the first distributor that I am aware of to take the ambitious step and launch its own TV channel.

There is more evidence of the benefits of investing in new stock rather than cutting back on inventory during the market downturn.

Digi-Key is offering Amulet Technologies' new GUI Colour starter kit (MSRP $599) at an introductory price of $299.

ON Semiconductor sees its European distribution network as important for growing its Asic business.

More good news for green shoot spotters. DRAM business is no longer marginal.

Mouser Electronics has taken on a new LED lighting line.

A new name to me but not to Avnet Memec is Wi2Wi which the distributor is now representing across all of Europe.

Bel Stewart has signed four new distributors in Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia.

MSC Vertriebs has signed a pan-European franchise agreement with Manli Technology, a manufacturer of motherboards, VGA and sound cards.

Prices for LCD monitor panels are on the up, despite the global economic downturn which has led to reduced consumer spending, according to market watcher iSuppli.

Ismosys is a new name in the semiconductor supply chain. Interestingly it is the brainchild of a group of former Memec men.

"The rigidity of the traditional business has diminished," Ismosys managing director, Nigel Watts told EW.

MSC has been quick off the mark to announce availability of  Cypress Semiconductor's latest PowerPSoC family of LED lighting controllers.

When it comes to supporting the very latest products with sample quantities, catalogue and online distributors have set the bar high for others to match.

Customers and suppliers now expect a rapid response to product launches and for the distributor the key aim is to be one of the first into the market with samples.

When it comes to new chips, such as Cypress' PowerPSoc LED controller with four 32V on-chip mosfets, the early bird can get the worm.

See: Cypress targets LED lighting with programmable driver

Farnell is using its websites to address the new REACH rules and provide more information on Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) contained in products that it sells.

Investors were getting exercised over the weekend at Electrocomponents' decision not to pay shareholders an extra "special" dividend.

What planet are they on?

Bret Murphy has taken up the role of global distribution director at Murata Power Solutions.

Digi-Key is not seeing the downturn as the time to cut all inventory, to save costs.

Infineon Technologies has extended its distribution agreement with Rutronik.