Saturday, October 28, 2006
Low-cost sensors measure temperature onboard
Link Microtek has strengthened its manufacturing division by appointing Mick Keryell as National Sales Engineer with exclusive responsibility for promoting its range of in-house manufactured products.
Link Microtek has strengthened its manufacturing division by appointing Mick Keryell as National Sales Engineer with exclusive responsibility for promoting the company's range of in-house manufactured products. Formerly known as Advanced Microtek, the manufacturing division produces a wide variety of waveguide and ancillary products, including horn antennas, rotary joints, swivel joints and TEM cells. Keryell joined Link Microtek last year as Sales Engineer for the North and Midlands, a role in which he handled Link's own product portfolio as well as the broad range of RF and microwave components, instruments and subsystems manufactured by the company's principals in the USA, Europe and the Far East.
Commenting on Keryell's new appointment, Link Microtek's Managing Director Steve Cranstone said: "This is the first time that our manufacturing division has had its own dedicated sales engineer, and we are confident that this move will focus more attention on our waveguide and associated products and accelerate the expansion of this part of the business".
Link Microtek has strengthened its manufacturing division by appointing Mick Keryell as National Sales Engineer with exclusive responsibility for promoting the company's range of in-house manufactured products. Formerly known as Advanced Microtek, the manufacturing division produces a wide variety of waveguide and ancillary products, including horn antennas, rotary joints, swivel joints and TEM cells. Keryell joined Link Microtek last year as Sales Engineer for the North and Midlands, a role in which he handled Link's own product portfolio as well as the broad range of RF and microwave components, instruments and subsystems manufactured by the company's principals in the USA, Europe and the Far East.
Commenting on Keryell's new appointment, Link Microtek's Managing Director Steve Cranstone said: "This is the first time that our manufacturing division has had its own dedicated sales engineer, and we are confident that this move will focus more attention on our waveguide and associated products and accelerate the expansion of this part of the business".
# posted by Swathi @ 2:53 AM
Friday, October 27, 2006
Battery and energy management in cars and trucks
Physically optimised low ohmic Manganin resistors developed by Isabellenhuette play a crucial role in the measurement of automotive battery currents.
Battery and energy management in cars and trucks As a result of ever increasing customer demands in relation to comfort and safety in the car and the pressure of competition among car manufacturers, the number of electrical loads in vehicles continues to increase with no end in sight. Users dream of navigation and infotainment functions or networking their vehicle with their PC; manufacturers dream of x-by-wire functions, driver assistance systems and an autopilot in the vehicle. The permanent consumption of electrical energy in a mid-range vehicle these days is around 1kW, and according to forecasts this is likely to reach 2 to 3kW or more within the next 10 years.
The situation becomes far more complex when developments in hybrid vehicles are taken into account.
In addition to all these innovations the vehicle of the future is also supposed to become better, safer, more comfortable and, for even better performance, use less energy at the same time.
The condition for the realisation of these developments is an electrical powertrain that provides the electrical energy required for each of the loads without fail whenever it is needed.
This in turn is only possible with a vehicle-wide energy management system in which all energy sources (battery, generator, engine, supercaps etc) and consumer loads (light, steering, stereo system, electrical heating etc) are monitored, controlled and used most effectively.
Therefore there is an essential requirement for a hierarchical subdivision of the loads, with time-dependent or situation-dependent dropping of each load by the electronics.
Although the battery has been viewed and used as no more than a passive energy storage mechanism in the vehicle for almost 100 years, the need for battery management - already standard in laptops and cameras for years - has become increasingly apparent as the number of battery-related breakdowns on the road has surged over the last 10 years.
To be able to calculate battery data such as the state of charge (SOC) and state of health (SOH) requires that the current, voltage and temperature of the battery can be measured to a relatively high level of accuracy.
The first attempts to measure battery current with magnetic sensors ultimately failed due to the extreme requirements involved, because on the one hand the sensor has to be capable of measuring the starter current of 1000A or more, at high speed, and on the other hand it also has to reliably measure the idling current of the vehicle with a resolution of just a few milliamps.
The first technical solution only came with the physically optimised low ohmic Manganin resistors developed by Isabellenhuette, used in combination with ultra-precise evaluation electronics.
Today shunts with values between 50 and 200uohm are used.
Despite the high requirements these can be manufactured at relatively low cost by punching electron-beam-welded composite material (copper-manganin-copper).
Here, the Manganin precision-resistance alloy provides the required low temperature coefficient, good long-term stability and the low thermal EMF against copper.
The latter is an absolute precondition for the required resolution for measuring current of just a few milliamps in the idle (quiescent) state of the car.
The measurement ASIC, also developed by Isabellenhuette in conjunction with a well-known semiconductor manufacturer, in principle provides a highly accurate, offset-free four-channel data acquisition system for measuring ultra-low voltages down to the microvolt range.
This combination bridges the gap between the two extremes in terms of technical requirements on the one hand and the high requirements of the automotive industry on the other hand concerning size, reliability and costs.
The technology is now widely accepted throughout the world.
BMW, together with Hella and Autokabel, was the first car manufacturer to develop an intelligent battery sensor (IBS) for mounting in the pole niche, starting serial production in 2003.
The subsequent of the ASIC has led to major cost savings compared with the discrete solution because the number of parts has been reduced considerably and installation simplified while achieving extended functionality at the same time.
Here, the sensor is connected to the grounding cable as a special battery terminal and communicates with the onboard electronics or the higher level control unit (EPM) via the LIN bus.
It therefore measures the entire charging/discharging current of the battery, and can assign it to the vehicle quiescent current or the consumption current of an individual device or unit when the generator is not active.
By performing a quiescent current analysis defective control units can be detected in advance in production, or the end-of-line test of individual loads can be improved or even be automated.
Similarly, the current/time performance can be used for diagnosing loads such as power steering, starters or simple lamps.
When driving, suitable evaluation algorithms are used to permanently monitor the SoC and SOH, ensuring that the battery is optimally charged at all times.
When not under load, the battery can then also supply electrical loads, hence reducing the no-load speed even further.
On the hand other, a battery which is not completely charged can also store energy temporarily which, for example, can be provided while braking by increasing the generator voltage.
The BMW application has therefore demonstrated that good battery management can not only guarantee the starting capability of the vehicle and increase the life of the battery, it is also suitable for making a contribution to the further optimisation of the entire energy management system in the vehicle and even to further reductions in fuel consumption.
Given the outstandingly successful experience with vehicles equipped with the system to date, BMW will be introducing the IBS in all new vehicle series starting in 2006.
Other vehicle manufacturers such as DaimlerChrysler and Audi will be following soon with similar systems.
As the sensor is switched within the main chassis ground cable, it can be basically used in trucks as well, but in reality the conditions are somewhat different.
Higher power consumption and the dual-voltage 12/24V system, plus special demands in terms of direct switch or relay outputs are not directly transferrable, and so special versions with a resistance of 30 to 50uohm are currently being developed, with the option of measuring both battery voltages.
Nevertheless, future versions of the battery sensor will profit from the further integration of data acquisition, MCU and bus drivers in a single package, which will further reduce the inhibition threshold for other vehicle manufacturers to apply them for serial production as well.
However, to fulfil the medium-term requirement for complete and accurate energy management, the measurement of the battery current alone is not sufficient, because this does not provide information about the current used in the vehicle or that produced by the generator.
One solution here could be to measure the battery and vehicle current simultaneously at a suitable central connection on the high side at which all current flows come together.
In this solution the starter current would, as before, be measured as battery current, and the generator current would be calculated as the sum of the vehicle current and the battery current.
The hardware for such a double sensor would only be slightly more complex and hardly more expensive than today's solution.
It comprises a double resistor (eg 100 plus 200uohm) with practically the same evaluation electronics as for the ground referenced battery sensor.
The idle current flows through both resistors and can therefore be determined much more accurately in the total circuit.
Although operation on the high side requires a separate power supply for the ASIC and a level convertor for the digital communication with the microcontroller, the advantages in terms of safety, reliability, functionality and integration possibilities for other required functions (such as safety shutdown of the battery connection, electronic fuses, shutting down and monitoring of individual main circuits and further diagnosis requirements) will be of greater importance.
The complete unit can be installed compactly and at low cost in a hybrid power package with bus bar terminals.
A high performance MCU provides the data measurement and evaluation functions and the switching functions.
Communication with the onboard electronics is via CAN or FlexRay, which means it is fast enough for a complete diagnosis of all loads on the PC for automotive workshops without the need for major investment in expensive and complex measuring systems.
For the diagnosis of individual main circuits it is conceivable that a multiple resistor positioned upstream of the fuses, with a common high side connection, should work, the measuring terminals of which can be switched to the evaluation electronics on a multiplexed basis in case of failure.
This would enable faults to be found very quickly and even permit the realisation of emergency running properties and self-setting electronic fuses.
Thanks to the availability of high quality shunts and evaluation circuits, shunt based current measurement in intelligent battery sensors is well established and will therefore see increased applications in cars of the future while contributing to further cost reductions.
For complete energy management, however, which meets all future requirements in terms of safety and reliability, the vehicle current must also be measured as well.
A low cost and space saving solution could be provided by using of a double resistor in an energy distribution box on the high-side to measure the battery and vehicle current which could also contain functions such as safety shutdown devices and electronic fuses as well as other measurement functions for individual main circuits.
Battery and energy management in cars and trucks As a result of ever increasing customer demands in relation to comfort and safety in the car and the pressure of competition among car manufacturers, the number of electrical loads in vehicles continues to increase with no end in sight. Users dream of navigation and infotainment functions or networking their vehicle with their PC; manufacturers dream of x-by-wire functions, driver assistance systems and an autopilot in the vehicle. The permanent consumption of electrical energy in a mid-range vehicle these days is around 1kW, and according to forecasts this is likely to reach 2 to 3kW or more within the next 10 years.
The situation becomes far more complex when developments in hybrid vehicles are taken into account.
In addition to all these innovations the vehicle of the future is also supposed to become better, safer, more comfortable and, for even better performance, use less energy at the same time.
The condition for the realisation of these developments is an electrical powertrain that provides the electrical energy required for each of the loads without fail whenever it is needed.
This in turn is only possible with a vehicle-wide energy management system in which all energy sources (battery, generator, engine, supercaps etc) and consumer loads (light, steering, stereo system, electrical heating etc) are monitored, controlled and used most effectively.
Therefore there is an essential requirement for a hierarchical subdivision of the loads, with time-dependent or situation-dependent dropping of each load by the electronics.
Although the battery has been viewed and used as no more than a passive energy storage mechanism in the vehicle for almost 100 years, the need for battery management - already standard in laptops and cameras for years - has become increasingly apparent as the number of battery-related breakdowns on the road has surged over the last 10 years.
To be able to calculate battery data such as the state of charge (SOC) and state of health (SOH) requires that the current, voltage and temperature of the battery can be measured to a relatively high level of accuracy.
The first attempts to measure battery current with magnetic sensors ultimately failed due to the extreme requirements involved, because on the one hand the sensor has to be capable of measuring the starter current of 1000A or more, at high speed, and on the other hand it also has to reliably measure the idling current of the vehicle with a resolution of just a few milliamps.
The first technical solution only came with the physically optimised low ohmic Manganin resistors developed by Isabellenhuette, used in combination with ultra-precise evaluation electronics.
Today shunts with values between 50 and 200uohm are used.
Despite the high requirements these can be manufactured at relatively low cost by punching electron-beam-welded composite material (copper-manganin-copper).
Here, the Manganin precision-resistance alloy provides the required low temperature coefficient, good long-term stability and the low thermal EMF against copper.
The latter is an absolute precondition for the required resolution for measuring current of just a few milliamps in the idle (quiescent) state of the car.
The measurement ASIC, also developed by Isabellenhuette in conjunction with a well-known semiconductor manufacturer, in principle provides a highly accurate, offset-free four-channel data acquisition system for measuring ultra-low voltages down to the microvolt range.
This combination bridges the gap between the two extremes in terms of technical requirements on the one hand and the high requirements of the automotive industry on the other hand concerning size, reliability and costs.
The technology is now widely accepted throughout the world.
BMW, together with Hella and Autokabel, was the first car manufacturer to develop an intelligent battery sensor (IBS) for mounting in the pole niche, starting serial production in 2003.
The subsequent of the ASIC has led to major cost savings compared with the discrete solution because the number of parts has been reduced considerably and installation simplified while achieving extended functionality at the same time.
Here, the sensor is connected to the grounding cable as a special battery terminal and communicates with the onboard electronics or the higher level control unit (EPM) via the LIN bus.
It therefore measures the entire charging/discharging current of the battery, and can assign it to the vehicle quiescent current or the consumption current of an individual device or unit when the generator is not active.
By performing a quiescent current analysis defective control units can be detected in advance in production, or the end-of-line test of individual loads can be improved or even be automated.
Similarly, the current/time performance can be used for diagnosing loads such as power steering, starters or simple lamps.
When driving, suitable evaluation algorithms are used to permanently monitor the SoC and SOH, ensuring that the battery is optimally charged at all times.
When not under load, the battery can then also supply electrical loads, hence reducing the no-load speed even further.
On the hand other, a battery which is not completely charged can also store energy temporarily which, for example, can be provided while braking by increasing the generator voltage.
The BMW application has therefore demonstrated that good battery management can not only guarantee the starting capability of the vehicle and increase the life of the battery, it is also suitable for making a contribution to the further optimisation of the entire energy management system in the vehicle and even to further reductions in fuel consumption.
Given the outstandingly successful experience with vehicles equipped with the system to date, BMW will be introducing the IBS in all new vehicle series starting in 2006.
Other vehicle manufacturers such as DaimlerChrysler and Audi will be following soon with similar systems.
As the sensor is switched within the main chassis ground cable, it can be basically used in trucks as well, but in reality the conditions are somewhat different.
Higher power consumption and the dual-voltage 12/24V system, plus special demands in terms of direct switch or relay outputs are not directly transferrable, and so special versions with a resistance of 30 to 50uohm are currently being developed, with the option of measuring both battery voltages.
Nevertheless, future versions of the battery sensor will profit from the further integration of data acquisition, MCU and bus drivers in a single package, which will further reduce the inhibition threshold for other vehicle manufacturers to apply them for serial production as well.
However, to fulfil the medium-term requirement for complete and accurate energy management, the measurement of the battery current alone is not sufficient, because this does not provide information about the current used in the vehicle or that produced by the generator.
One solution here could be to measure the battery and vehicle current simultaneously at a suitable central connection on the high side at which all current flows come together.
In this solution the starter current would, as before, be measured as battery current, and the generator current would be calculated as the sum of the vehicle current and the battery current.
The hardware for such a double sensor would only be slightly more complex and hardly more expensive than today's solution.
It comprises a double resistor (eg 100 plus 200uohm) with practically the same evaluation electronics as for the ground referenced battery sensor.
The idle current flows through both resistors and can therefore be determined much more accurately in the total circuit.
Although operation on the high side requires a separate power supply for the ASIC and a level convertor for the digital communication with the microcontroller, the advantages in terms of safety, reliability, functionality and integration possibilities for other required functions (such as safety shutdown of the battery connection, electronic fuses, shutting down and monitoring of individual main circuits and further diagnosis requirements) will be of greater importance.
The complete unit can be installed compactly and at low cost in a hybrid power package with bus bar terminals.
A high performance MCU provides the data measurement and evaluation functions and the switching functions.
Communication with the onboard electronics is via CAN or FlexRay, which means it is fast enough for a complete diagnosis of all loads on the PC for automotive workshops without the need for major investment in expensive and complex measuring systems.
For the diagnosis of individual main circuits it is conceivable that a multiple resistor positioned upstream of the fuses, with a common high side connection, should work, the measuring terminals of which can be switched to the evaluation electronics on a multiplexed basis in case of failure.
This would enable faults to be found very quickly and even permit the realisation of emergency running properties and self-setting electronic fuses.
Thanks to the availability of high quality shunts and evaluation circuits, shunt based current measurement in intelligent battery sensors is well established and will therefore see increased applications in cars of the future while contributing to further cost reductions.
For complete energy management, however, which meets all future requirements in terms of safety and reliability, the vehicle current must also be measured as well.
A low cost and space saving solution could be provided by using of a double resistor in an energy distribution box on the high-side to measure the battery and vehicle current which could also contain functions such as safety shutdown devices and electronic fuses as well as other measurement functions for individual main circuits.
# posted by Swathi @ 9:29 PM
Expansion for SMD power inductor lineup
Epcos has extended range of power inductors with two new series: the B82464-A4 (unshielded) and B82464-G4 (shielded).
Epcos has extended range of power inductors with two new series: the B82464-A4 (unshielded) and B82464-G4 (shielded). With a footprint of 10 x 10mm, the B82464-xx version has an insertion height of 4.8mm. Thanks to its very high temperature stability, it can be used in ambient temperatures ranging from -55 to +125C.
Available inductance values for the new B82464-A4 are from 1 to 47uH with rated current up to 7A.
With inductance values from 0.82 to 47uH, the B82464-G4 has a rated current up to 7.6A.
Epcos produces a wide and varied range of power inductors that are ideal for all automotive applications.
Other application areas include: telecommunications, consumer and industrial electronics.
In order to handle high rated current, SMD power inductors must have a low ohmic resistance and minimal losses at high frequencies.
The power inductors are wound around a ferrite core and are particularly suitable for cost-critical mass applications thanks to their surface-mounting capability.
These material saving power inductors are ideal for applications such as storage chokes in DC/DC convertors as well as in the EMC sector.
Epcos offers its SMD power inductors in several heights and footprints.
Ranging from 4.8mm square and 1.2 mm height, the different 20 options go up to 18.54 x 15.24mm and 7.62mm height.
Depending on version, the inductance values of these SMD inductors range from 1 to 1000uH.
If EMC considerations are an important factor, shielded versions are available which guarantee excellent EMC characteristics.
Epcos has extended range of power inductors with two new series: the B82464-A4 (unshielded) and B82464-G4 (shielded). With a footprint of 10 x 10mm, the B82464-xx version has an insertion height of 4.8mm. Thanks to its very high temperature stability, it can be used in ambient temperatures ranging from -55 to +125C.
Available inductance values for the new B82464-A4 are from 1 to 47uH with rated current up to 7A.
With inductance values from 0.82 to 47uH, the B82464-G4 has a rated current up to 7.6A.
Epcos produces a wide and varied range of power inductors that are ideal for all automotive applications.
Other application areas include: telecommunications, consumer and industrial electronics.
In order to handle high rated current, SMD power inductors must have a low ohmic resistance and minimal losses at high frequencies.
The power inductors are wound around a ferrite core and are particularly suitable for cost-critical mass applications thanks to their surface-mounting capability.
These material saving power inductors are ideal for applications such as storage chokes in DC/DC convertors as well as in the EMC sector.
Epcos offers its SMD power inductors in several heights and footprints.
Ranging from 4.8mm square and 1.2 mm height, the different 20 options go up to 18.54 x 15.24mm and 7.62mm height.
Depending on version, the inductance values of these SMD inductors range from 1 to 1000uH.
If EMC considerations are an important factor, shielded versions are available which guarantee excellent EMC characteristics.
# posted by Swathi @ 9:27 PM
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Ultracapacitors provide powerful storage
NessCap has added 3 to 100F models to its exclusive 2.7V ultracapacitor product line.
NessCap has added 3 to 100F models to its exclusive 2.7V ultracapacitor product line. Part of the first ultracapacitor family with a continuous operating voltage rating higher than 2.5V, the new models are available in seven different capacitance ratings designed to meet a variety of primary or backup energy needs for compact electronics. With a capacitance tolerance of -10 to +20% and a surge voltage capability of 2.85V, the new NessCap 2.7V ultracapacitors have the highest capacitance and energy densities in their class along with exceptionally low equivalent series resistance (ESR).
The 100F model has an energy density of 4.5Wh/kg, and an ESR value of only 10mohm at 1kHz, with rated current of more than 21A and maximum current of 58A.
These maintenance-free, efficient, high-capacity energy storage devices enable designers of power systems to increase product life, reduce or eliminate battery use and improve peak power availability.
A unique electrode formation using activated carbon coupled with NessCap's proprietary and patented electrode manufacturing processes enable the component's outstanding performance characteristics.
These characteristics make NessCap's 2.7V ultracapacitors an ideal energy source for a range of compact applications including LED displays, remote control devices, toys, hand-held scanners, small printers, car audio, actuators and relays.
With approximately 10 times the specific power of a similar sized battery coupled with the ability to withstand more than 500,000 discharge cycles without significant performance degradation, ultracapacitors are proving themselves as intermediate power sources and battery performance enhancers.
When used in conjunction with batteries, the ultracapacitors deliver peak power to reduce the required battery size while minimising battery discharge cycles to effectively extend battery life.
By supplying peak load demands, ultracapacitors help batteries last longer because they eliminate the repeated high power demands that are the primary cause of premature battery aging.
With the new compact sizes and ability to withstand 500,000 discharges with no maintenance, NessCap ultracapacitors allow designers to use smaller batteries that will last longer, while keeping overall product size and cost to a minimum.
In many cases the ultracapacitor will never need to be replaced.
Available now with ratings of 3, 5, 10, 25, 50, 90 and 100F, pricing for the new models is based on the quantity ordered starting at US $0.80 for sample quantities of the 3F device.
All the new models feature a convenient cylindrical cell form-factor and boast an operating temperature range of -40 to +60C and a projected operating life of 10 years.
NessCap has added 3 to 100F models to its exclusive 2.7V ultracapacitor product line. Part of the first ultracapacitor family with a continuous operating voltage rating higher than 2.5V, the new models are available in seven different capacitance ratings designed to meet a variety of primary or backup energy needs for compact electronics. With a capacitance tolerance of -10 to +20% and a surge voltage capability of 2.85V, the new NessCap 2.7V ultracapacitors have the highest capacitance and energy densities in their class along with exceptionally low equivalent series resistance (ESR).
The 100F model has an energy density of 4.5Wh/kg, and an ESR value of only 10mohm at 1kHz, with rated current of more than 21A and maximum current of 58A.
These maintenance-free, efficient, high-capacity energy storage devices enable designers of power systems to increase product life, reduce or eliminate battery use and improve peak power availability.
A unique electrode formation using activated carbon coupled with NessCap's proprietary and patented electrode manufacturing processes enable the component's outstanding performance characteristics.
These characteristics make NessCap's 2.7V ultracapacitors an ideal energy source for a range of compact applications including LED displays, remote control devices, toys, hand-held scanners, small printers, car audio, actuators and relays.
With approximately 10 times the specific power of a similar sized battery coupled with the ability to withstand more than 500,000 discharge cycles without significant performance degradation, ultracapacitors are proving themselves as intermediate power sources and battery performance enhancers.
When used in conjunction with batteries, the ultracapacitors deliver peak power to reduce the required battery size while minimising battery discharge cycles to effectively extend battery life.
By supplying peak load demands, ultracapacitors help batteries last longer because they eliminate the repeated high power demands that are the primary cause of premature battery aging.
With the new compact sizes and ability to withstand 500,000 discharges with no maintenance, NessCap ultracapacitors allow designers to use smaller batteries that will last longer, while keeping overall product size and cost to a minimum.
In many cases the ultracapacitor will never need to be replaced.
Available now with ratings of 3, 5, 10, 25, 50, 90 and 100F, pricing for the new models is based on the quantity ordered starting at US $0.80 for sample quantities of the 3F device.
All the new models feature a convenient cylindrical cell form-factor and boast an operating temperature range of -40 to +60C and a projected operating life of 10 years.
# posted by Swathi @ 3:29 AM
Warehouse promises improved Eastern service
In a move to better serve its customers in the Far East and support its own global expansion, Premier Farnell has opened a warehouse in Shanghai, in one of China's Free Trade Zones.
In a move to better serve its customers in the Far East and support its own global expansion, Premier Farnell has opened a warehouse in Shanghai, in one of China's Free Trade Zones. Branded Farnell/Newark InOne (which represents the combined efforts of Premier Farnell's European business, Farnell InOne, and US business, Newark InOne), the new warehouse will help drive a major customer service level increase for the region. John Winkie, Regional Director, Asia, Premier Farnell, explains: "The opening of the Shanghai warehouse is a crucial milestone in Premier Farnell's expansion into China, strengthening its market position and increasing its global reach still further.
On a day-to-day basis, we will see the most immediate and significant benefits of operating a warehouse from Shanghai as a result of the reduced import procedures which will enable faster and more efficient delivery of product to our customers".
The opening of the warehouse in December 2003 demonstrates how Premier Farnell's InOne businesses work together across geographic and business boundaries, to provide all customers, large or small, with the impressive back-up and support which can only come from a large, sophisticated global organisation.
It follows expansion by the Group in 2001 into Beijing and Mexico, and a Queen's Award for International Trade in 2002.
With some major blue chip clients already in the Shanghai region, such as Philips and General Electric - and many more expected to move there - Premier Farnell is now even better positioned to serve them in China, as it does elsewhere in the world.
Lynn Xu, Supply Manager at Agilent Technologies, Shanghai, comments: "Agilent gets very strong support from Farnell-Newark InOne Shanghai and with the establishment of a warehouse in the Free Trade Zone, which is just a few door steps from us, delivery is even easier and faster, and opened the possibility of implementing a VMI solution".
In a move to better serve its customers in the Far East and support its own global expansion, Premier Farnell has opened a warehouse in Shanghai, in one of China's Free Trade Zones. Branded Farnell/Newark InOne (which represents the combined efforts of Premier Farnell's European business, Farnell InOne, and US business, Newark InOne), the new warehouse will help drive a major customer service level increase for the region. John Winkie, Regional Director, Asia, Premier Farnell, explains: "The opening of the Shanghai warehouse is a crucial milestone in Premier Farnell's expansion into China, strengthening its market position and increasing its global reach still further.
On a day-to-day basis, we will see the most immediate and significant benefits of operating a warehouse from Shanghai as a result of the reduced import procedures which will enable faster and more efficient delivery of product to our customers".
The opening of the warehouse in December 2003 demonstrates how Premier Farnell's InOne businesses work together across geographic and business boundaries, to provide all customers, large or small, with the impressive back-up and support which can only come from a large, sophisticated global organisation.
It follows expansion by the Group in 2001 into Beijing and Mexico, and a Queen's Award for International Trade in 2002.
With some major blue chip clients already in the Shanghai region, such as Philips and General Electric - and many more expected to move there - Premier Farnell is now even better positioned to serve them in China, as it does elsewhere in the world.
Lynn Xu, Supply Manager at Agilent Technologies, Shanghai, comments: "Agilent gets very strong support from Farnell-Newark InOne Shanghai and with the establishment of a warehouse in the Free Trade Zone, which is just a few door steps from us, delivery is even easier and faster, and opened the possibility of implementing a VMI solution".
# posted by Swathi @ 3:28 AM
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Passive role for Early
Acal Components has appointed Louise Early as General Manager for Passive, Inductive and Battery Products.
Acal Components has appointed Louise Early as General Manager for Passive, Inductive and Battery Products. Early will head the team selling a strong mix of products which includes the ACT range of batteries, the complete spectrum of capacitor and resistor technologies, as well as inductive products such as baluns, coils, EMC filters, transformers, ferrite cores and chip beads. Early brings nine years of experience in component distribution during which she has focused on passive and electromechanical products, both in field sales and product management roles.
Most recently she had the role of Business Development Manager for Power Products within the UK division of Deltron.
Her experience includes design support for customers with applications in the power, industrial, automotive and communications markets.
Wayne Axten, General Manager - Acal Components/Advanced Crystal Technology, explained: 'Acal Components' specialist business model provides customers with an unusually high level of technical support and it is essential therefore that staff at all levels of the business should have a solid technical background'.
'Early's experience and specialist knowledge will be a significant advantage to her team and to our customers'.
Acal Components has appointed Louise Early as General Manager for Passive, Inductive and Battery Products. Early will head the team selling a strong mix of products which includes the ACT range of batteries, the complete spectrum of capacitor and resistor technologies, as well as inductive products such as baluns, coils, EMC filters, transformers, ferrite cores and chip beads. Early brings nine years of experience in component distribution during which she has focused on passive and electromechanical products, both in field sales and product management roles.
Most recently she had the role of Business Development Manager for Power Products within the UK division of Deltron.
Her experience includes design support for customers with applications in the power, industrial, automotive and communications markets.
Wayne Axten, General Manager - Acal Components/Advanced Crystal Technology, explained: 'Acal Components' specialist business model provides customers with an unusually high level of technical support and it is essential therefore that staff at all levels of the business should have a solid technical background'.
'Early's experience and specialist knowledge will be a significant advantage to her team and to our customers'.
# posted by Swathi @ 2:45 AM
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Thales signs for extended supply
RS Components has won a three year contract worth Eur 15 million to supply Thales.
RS Components has won a three year contract worth Eur 15 million to supply Thales, an international electronics and systems group serving the defence, aerospace, security and services markets worldwide. Thales selected RS for a minimum of three years after a lengthy tender process involving two potential suppliers. RS was chosen to support several strategic purchasing objectives including reduced transactional costs, a reduction in the current vendor base and an increased product portfolio.
RS was commended for its ability to provide any catalogue item worldwide, its additional services that would support Thales' competitiveness, and its view of market share.
The winning provider was required to maintain high quality and service levels, with an e-procurement service and extensive support for the RoHS Directive and, again, RS excelled.
Thales was attracted by the company's recently introduced 100,000 item extended-range product roster and its comprehensive e-procurement system.
Feedback from Thales worldwide divisions revealed that RS had the most reliable delivery service, while the dedicated RoHS programme - where RS compliant products are clearly labelled - provided another incentive.
Thales Group's Component Purchasing Manager said: 'RS has proven itself to be the best in the field when it comes to services and reliability'.
'Its range of products and e-procurement services will help us achieve our own objectives of improved competitiveness and growth'.
RS Global Account Manager, Paul Umpleby, said: 'Thales has chosen RS because it can rely on us to supply any product from our extensive range anywhere in the world, while our e-procurement service saves time and cuts transaction costs, leading to a more efficient purchasing strategy'.
'Operating as a global company, we share Thales' strategic vision for growth in the years ahead'.
RS Components has won a three year contract worth Eur 15 million to supply Thales, an international electronics and systems group serving the defence, aerospace, security and services markets worldwide. Thales selected RS for a minimum of three years after a lengthy tender process involving two potential suppliers. RS was chosen to support several strategic purchasing objectives including reduced transactional costs, a reduction in the current vendor base and an increased product portfolio.
RS was commended for its ability to provide any catalogue item worldwide, its additional services that would support Thales' competitiveness, and its view of market share.
The winning provider was required to maintain high quality and service levels, with an e-procurement service and extensive support for the RoHS Directive and, again, RS excelled.
Thales was attracted by the company's recently introduced 100,000 item extended-range product roster and its comprehensive e-procurement system.
Feedback from Thales worldwide divisions revealed that RS had the most reliable delivery service, while the dedicated RoHS programme - where RS compliant products are clearly labelled - provided another incentive.
Thales Group's Component Purchasing Manager said: 'RS has proven itself to be the best in the field when it comes to services and reliability'.
'Its range of products and e-procurement services will help us achieve our own objectives of improved competitiveness and growth'.
RS Global Account Manager, Paul Umpleby, said: 'Thales has chosen RS because it can rely on us to supply any product from our extensive range anywhere in the world, while our e-procurement service saves time and cuts transaction costs, leading to a more efficient purchasing strategy'.
'Operating as a global company, we share Thales' strategic vision for growth in the years ahead'.
# posted by Swathi @ 3:33 AM
Thin film expertise supports French sales
Semiconwell has signed Passelec to market and distribute its integrated passive networks products in France.
Semiconwell has signed Passelec to market and distribute its integrated passive networks products in France.
Semiconwell was attracted to Passelec because of its experience in thin film passive components market, sales, marketing and technical resources.
Passelec will be servicing existing accounts, and will concentrate on winning new designs in automotive, instrumentation, military, medical and audio applications.
Semiconwell has signed Passelec to market and distribute its integrated passive networks products in France.
Semiconwell was attracted to Passelec because of its experience in thin film passive components market, sales, marketing and technical resources.
Passelec will be servicing existing accounts, and will concentrate on winning new designs in automotive, instrumentation, military, medical and audio applications.
# posted by Swathi @ 3:32 AM
Monday, October 23, 2006
Switch speeds public sector sourcing
Farnell InOne is one of the first suppliers to migrate its complete catalogue from the OGCbuying.solutions Catalist service to its new emarketplace, Zanzibar.
Farnell InOne is one of the first suppliers to migrate its complete catalogue from the OGCbuying.solutions Catalist service to its new emarketplace, Zanzibar, allowing public sector buyers direct access to the full Farnell InOne range. The transition of over 130,000 Farnell InOne products to the new system is the largest on the Zanzibar site and enables buyers direct access to the distributor's range over the internet to transact end-to-end requisitions, orders and invoices. The Zanzibar website is a key part of the Government's procurement strategy and is accessible by all public sector organisations in the UK, allowing government departments both choice and financial savings in their procurement efforts.
Mark Peers, Public Sector Business Manager of Farnell InOne comments: 'As one of the first suppliers to make the transition from Catalist to Zanzibar, we can offer our public sector customers buying efficiency with both major procurement savings and a wealth of e-procurement benefits - from online transactions to e-invoicing'.
'This means that the full Farnell InOne linecard - from tooling, to lighting, maintenance and repair equipment and our full RoHS compliant catalogue - is now available across the entire public sector'.
Farnell InOne is one of the first suppliers to migrate its complete catalogue from the OGCbuying.solutions Catalist service to its new emarketplace, Zanzibar, allowing public sector buyers direct access to the full Farnell InOne range. The transition of over 130,000 Farnell InOne products to the new system is the largest on the Zanzibar site and enables buyers direct access to the distributor's range over the internet to transact end-to-end requisitions, orders and invoices. The Zanzibar website is a key part of the Government's procurement strategy and is accessible by all public sector organisations in the UK, allowing government departments both choice and financial savings in their procurement efforts.
Mark Peers, Public Sector Business Manager of Farnell InOne comments: 'As one of the first suppliers to make the transition from Catalist to Zanzibar, we can offer our public sector customers buying efficiency with both major procurement savings and a wealth of e-procurement benefits - from online transactions to e-invoicing'.
'This means that the full Farnell InOne linecard - from tooling, to lighting, maintenance and repair equipment and our full RoHS compliant catalogue - is now available across the entire public sector'.
# posted by Swathi @ 2:07 AM
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Long life for low-profile electrolytics
The low-profile Nippon Chemi-Con SLM series of aluminium electrolytic capacitors has a 15mm above-board height, provides long life and is offered in a wide range of voltages.
The low-profile Nippon Chemi-Con SLM series of aluminium electrolytic capacitors has a 15mm above-board height, provides long life and is offered in a wide range of voltages. The SLM series is a non-solvent proof capacitor with snap-in terminals. Available rated voltages span the range 160 to 400V DC, with capacitance values from 47 to 560mF.
Capacitance tolerance is +/-20%.
Capacitor diameters range from 22 to 35mm.
The new electrolytics have a wide operating temperature range of -25 to +85C.
Extremely rugged, these new capacitors have a load life of at least 2kh at 85C, making them particularly suited to applications such as industrial automation and control.
The low-profile Nippon Chemi-Con SLM series of aluminium electrolytic capacitors has a 15mm above-board height, provides long life and is offered in a wide range of voltages. The SLM series is a non-solvent proof capacitor with snap-in terminals. Available rated voltages span the range 160 to 400V DC, with capacitance values from 47 to 560mF.
Capacitance tolerance is +/-20%.
Capacitor diameters range from 22 to 35mm.
The new electrolytics have a wide operating temperature range of -25 to +85C.
Extremely rugged, these new capacitors have a load life of at least 2kh at 85C, making them particularly suited to applications such as industrial automation and control.
# posted by Swathi @ 9:55 PM
European-made capacitors to feature in Munich
Kemet will exhibit surface mount capacitors in tantalum, ceramic and aluminium, and leaded capacitors in ceramic and tantalum at this year's Electronica show in Munich.
Kemet will be exhibiting its class leading ranges of surface mount capacitors in tantalum, ceramic and aluminium, and leaded capacitors in ceramic and tantalum at this year's Electronica show in Munich. As a result of growth and recent acquisition, Kemet has significantly increased its presence in Europe. With its facility in Evora, Portugal, the company is now able to support the European market with locally manufactured product and has invested in additional sales and customer service resources to maintain its 'easy to buy from' leadership position.
Kemet's ability to supply very high reliability components makes the European automotive market one of several key application areas for its products.
The company's booth at the show will reflect this, with new Flex Robust and High Temperature capacitors that are well suited to the difficult operating environments found in vehicles, especially in under bonnet electronics modules.
Kemet will be exhibiting its class leading ranges of surface mount capacitors in tantalum, ceramic and aluminium, and leaded capacitors in ceramic and tantalum at this year's Electronica show in Munich. As a result of growth and recent acquisition, Kemet has significantly increased its presence in Europe. With its facility in Evora, Portugal, the company is now able to support the European market with locally manufactured product and has invested in additional sales and customer service resources to maintain its 'easy to buy from' leadership position.
Kemet's ability to supply very high reliability components makes the European automotive market one of several key application areas for its products.
The company's booth at the show will reflect this, with new Flex Robust and High Temperature capacitors that are well suited to the difficult operating environments found in vehicles, especially in under bonnet electronics modules.
# posted by Swathi @ 9:49 PM
