Don’t fear the dip
I first encountered electronic components in a business environment when I started my engineering career at a robotics and automation company in the late 1980s. The technologies mainly related to power electronics for the motor drives, logic controllers and peripherals such as sensors and light curtains. That’s the best part of 40 years ago so it’s fair to say I’ve had an eye on electronics for several complete business cycles. Thus, I no longer get over excited when the market rises, and neither am I too concerned when it takes a dip. The complexity of the world means it is fundamentally…
Chicken or egg?
Consider this leader as a follow on from John Denslinger’s article on EV charging infrastructure on page 18 of this issue of Electronics Sourcing North America. Normally, societies and economies evolve steadily over time. Trends organically emerge, sometimes accelerated by new technologies. Each generation accepts change, adopts the elements they like and life rolls on. However, from time-to-time, governments decide to short circuit this process, turning evolution into revolution. The transition from ICE powered vehicles to EVs is just such a shift. The reason it has to happen this way is that we have a classic chicken and egg situation…
Sold out
The Electronic Component Show 2024 is sold out. In fact, it was fully booked a while ago with a waiting list in place. It’s not surprising. There comes a day when every buyer and designer needs to down their printed and digital communication tools and go face-to-face with people and products. Held at Oxford’s Kassam stadium, ECS is a one-day exhibition with seminars on subjects including: avoiding the next supply crisis; choosing the right device for embedded AI; strengthening UK manufacturing supply chains; and concept to invention to design to production to phenomenal worldwide success. To make the decision to…
What do I know about manufacturing?
As an editor, what do I know about manufacturing? Well, apart from the factories I’ve worked in, I consider MMG Publishing a manufacturing organisation. The only difference is raw materials: paper and ink, rather than metal and plastic. We have design, purchasing, manufacturing, sales and distribution departments. Engineers design products using CAD systems. We use DTP. Engineers digitally twin their products. Publishers do this via CMS and page turning applications. Engineers work to build resilient, responsible raw material supply chains. Publishers have embraced sustainably sourced paper for decades. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) was founded in 1993, that’s 31-years ago….
Gather in Oxford for a design and purchasing extravaganza
Starting page 23 of this issue, readers of Electronics Sourcing have access to the first of three previews of MMG Publishing’s Electronic Component Show (ECS), taking place 19 September 2024 at the Kassam Stadium, Oxford. This 40-page section starts to provide an insight into the range of technologies, products and services that engineers and buyers attending the event can expect to experience. At the time of writing most stands are sold, meaning visitors will have the opportunity to discuss their design and purchasing needs with 65 exhibitors. Visitors can also attend seminar presentations which will be announced in next month’s…
Ups and downs of electronics distribution
I’ve come to the decision that the electronics industry is like no other when it comes to cyclical behavior. Just consider the cost of building and operating a leading-edge semiconductor fabrication plant with the retail price of the individual components it produces. Is there another comparable example? Then, consider the time it takes to design and manufacture a new semiconductor device compared with its expected life? With these and other variables, it is hardly surprising that supply and demand essentially never match. There is little point in distributors rejoicing in a buoyant market as demand starts to outstrip supply, only to…