The
Internet of Things (IoT) is the latest in a series of trends that will drive the
proliferation of electronics. Now that the cloud has lowered the cost of
connectivity and data management, devices that traditionally wouldn't
communicate with one another can be linked. Interconnect, passive and
electromechanical (IP&E) components play a key role in making IoT system
work. Sensors, for example, are being used to detect when a car stops at a
parking meter and how long the car is there. When the meter runs out, a signal
is wirelessly sent to authorities. This way, authorities can focus on actual
scofflaws rather than monitoring the same parking areas over and over again. The
same technology can be used by consumers who want to avoid tickets.
Editor in chief Bolaji Ojo takes
a look at the Internet of Things (IoT) in his article Electronics Firms Double Down
on the 'Internet of Things. He discusses how it will have some big
implications and opportunities for many industry players. Already some major
distributors are teaming up with semiconductor suppliers to support the IoT
market. This may be driven in part by more and more customers who are looking
for distributor partners to sell more than just components. (See: Fay Takes the Helm: What's next
for Avnet EM) It will be interesting in
watch how the IoT trend impacts the entire IP&E market. Please send any
comments about the IP&E market & IoT to me at: gina.roos@epsnewsonline.com.
On
the same topic, managing editor Barbara Jorgensen writes about how IoT like big
data is expected to drive big growth thanks in part to low-cost sensors. See her
story: Sensors to Play Key Role in
IoT
In
other news, Amphenol Corp. has agreed to
acquire the Advanced Sensors business unit of General Electric Corp. for
$318 million in its continued quest to add proprietary and high-margin products
to its portfolio. This adds to its line of products in automotive, medical,
industrial and transportation. Another notable acquisition in the interconnect
industry is Winchester's acquisition of SRC
Cables. Similarly, its products are used in high-margin, high-reliability
applications including test and measurement, datacom, military and aerospace,
and medical.
While not specifically IP&E industry news, I feel
compelled to refer you to Bolaji's article If China Goes to War . .
. in light of current events, specifically China establishing a new Air
Defense Identification Zone in the East China Sea. Read this as an early warning
about the possible implications to the global economy and particularly the
entire electronics industry supply chain.
We'd like to enlist your help with a survey that
EPS has
launched as part of our efforts to gain a better understanding of the
electronics purchasing and procurement community. If you buy or specify
components for a manufacturer, we would like to hear from you. The survey won't
take more than 15 minutes and we will provide an executive summary of the report
to respondents in addition to entering them into a drawing to win one of two
mini iPads.
All
answers are completely confidential and will be used only in combination with
others we receive. Your candid response is critical to the success of this
research.
Simply click on the following link to get
started:
http://survey.beacontech.com/2328/cgi-bin/ciwweb.pl?studyname=2328&p=3&hid_pagenum=1&hid_link=1&hid_javascript=1
We
would also like to hear from you. If you have a story idea, let us know.
Interested in a specific topic, contact us. You can reach me at gina.roos@epsnewsonline.com.
Gina
Roos
Executive
editor
Electronics
Purchasing Strategies gina.roos@epsnewsonline.com |
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Fay
Takes the Helm: What's next for Avnet EM
The
distribution industry is moving beyond traditional services to grow and to meet
customer demand. Gerry Fay, global president, envisions Avnet EM Global looking
a bit different in the coming years. "We are moving beyond being a component
distributor," he said. "We are becoming a solutions group. Not only are we
selling the components, but we are bundling that with software and in some cases
we are selling the systems or touch panel displays. The customers are going to
see us as trusted advisors on design and supply chain solutions." Continue
reading
Electronics
Firms Double down on the 'Internet of Things'
The
wave of connectivity sweeping through the global industrial economy has
implications for all companies involved in the electronics design and supply
chains. It is creating challenges as well as opportunities for most industry
players. On one hand, the Internet of Things phenomenon is opening up new
markets, helping to expand traditional sectors and offering companies the
opportunity to extend current offerings into adjacent economic
segments. Continue
reading
EPS' November Hot
Products
From passives to power devices, component manufacturers
continue to develop smaller devices as mobile device designers look to shrink
the size and thickness of their products, and/or pack higher functionality into
their devices. But it's not only consumer electronics OEMs looking for miniature
components, designers of communications, military, industrial and medical
products also need to address the portability, weight and size of their
designs. Continue
reading
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Amphenol
Snaps up GE Unit for $318M
Amphenol
Corp. said it has agreed to acquire the Advanced Sensors business unit of
General Electric Corp. for $318 million in continuation of its efforts to add
proprietary and high-margin products to its portfolio. This transaction adds a
line of products in automotive, medical, industrial and transportation to
Amphenol's already extensive offerings. The company in a statement said Advanced
Sensors is a developer of highly-engineered sensors and sensor-based
instruments, which it sells to companies globally. It has facilities in Asia,
Europe and North America. Continue
reading |
DLA Considers Expanding
DNA-Marking Program
In a typical
electronics product, a system is only as strong as its weakest link. Therefore,
it is the best interest of system builders to ensure none of the parts or
subassemblies it uses are suspect. DLA is looking at [SigNature] DNA marking,
along with other technologies as a possible solution to mitigate counterfeits
for high risk items including bearings (aviation), electrical connectors
(L&M), semiconductors (L&M), and fittings, hoses, and tubes (land &
marine or L&M). Continue
reading |
Sensors
to Play Key Role in IoT
The
Internet of Things (IoT), like Big Data, is expected to drive the next wave of
high-tech growth - including electronic components. "The explosion of IoT
activity over the next few years will be driven by the nexus of low cost
sensors," according to Andrew Milroy, Vice President, ICT Practice, Frost &
Sullivan Asia Pacific, in a press release, "as well as cloud computing, advanced
data analytics and mobility." Continue
reading |
If
China Goes to War . . .
If
China goes to war, the electronics and global manufacturing supply chain will be
completely muddled up. It will lead to the worst of all worst case scenarios;
logistics disarray and crippled production that will certainly drive the global
economy into a nasty recession. Of course, we all hope (and think) this will
never happen but just to be sure this is a clarion call to political and
business leaders to do all they can to avoid such a crisis. Continue
reading
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