The Internet of Things (IoT) is everywhere, and the market opportunities are mind-boggling: 50 billion devices will be connected by 2020. The value of the IoT devices and services market will reach $7 trillion by 2020. The benefits to users are infinite. Is this the “killer app” the high-tech market has been waiting for? The…
It’s no secret that electronics manufacturing services (EMS) providers have been trying to increase their profit margins. Deeper penetration into the aerospace and defense (A&D) markets may provide such an opportunity, Frost & Sullivan reports. “To maximize revenues, EMS providers must respond effectively to changes in the A&D industry,” said Frost & Sullivan Measurement &…
Over the past month, there has been an uptick in military-related partnerships, services, and products in the interconnect, passive, and electromechanical (IP&E) industry. It may be due to MILCOM 2014 (Military Communications Conference) held earlier this month, but in any case, electronic component manufacturers and distributors are putting a lot more focus on the military…
There are a number of problems associated with counterfeit components in the electronics supply chain, chief of which is the lack of agreement on a single standard for counterfeit prevention. However, the SAE, a global association of engineers and technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries, recently published an international standard that focuses…
The electronics distribution industry will never again see the kind of merger and acquisition activity that took place in the 1990s. During that period, trade journals’ rankings of the Top 100 Distributors became the Top 50 and then the Top 25. The driver, of course, was nationalization and then globalization. Distributors were filling in the…
TE Connectivity Inc. said it has reached an agreement to purchase Measurement Specialties Inc. for $1.7 billion, bolstering its presence in the sensors market and as part of continuing plans at the company to boost sales and profit via targeted acquisitions and expansion into fast growing segments of the electronics industry. The acquisition represents a…
The U.S. government’s offensive against counterfeit electronics components has made progress in recent weeks. The U.S. Department of Justice recently announced a second successful prosecution of a dealer of counterfeit electronics parts. (See: Anatomy of a Counterfeit Electronics Operation). Another segment of the government has commended the use of unique identifiers in its ongoing battle…
The term “spare parts” may conjure up visions of junkyards, but in the high-tech industry they represent an opportunity worth billions of dollars for companies willing to manage after-market logistics. The storage and maintenance of spare parts is often a drain on company resources. Holding and maintaining inventory costs money that could be better invested…
Thanks to two major acquisitions in the past two years, Visual Communications Company, LCC (VCC) is now positioned as one of the broadest product line manufacturers of indicators, expanding its product portfolio beyond LED technologies to include neon and incandescent lamps. The company acquired the indication and illumination product lines from Chicago Miniature Lighting and…
Poway, Calif. — Visual Communications Company, LLC (VCC) has developed a relampable neon front panel indicator light that is designed for harsh environments. The 513x-038 Series of midget flange base relampable indicators meet MIL-L-3661 specifications and is available rated to NEMA 4 protection. The 513x-038 Series indicators can accept any T-1 3/4 midget flange base…