Electronic Component Distributors
Sandwiched between original equipment
manufacturers (OEMs) and suppliers, distributors of electronic components
often find themselves in an awkward situation. Customers want to know
whether the components are compliant, and the distributor replies they must
be so because their suppliers told them so. But, they go on to add that they
are not absolutely sure, as they did not make the components.
Different distributors address this problem in
different ways. Some, like Newark InOne of Canada, conduct testing to check
if the component is compliant, and grade their suppliers accordingly. That
way, they can’t give customers a guarantee, but assure them of all possible
measures.
It remains to be seen how the European Union decides to police the
restriction of hazardous substances (RoHS) compliance when OEMs come under
the scanner after the July 1, 2006 RoHS deadline. Customers will have to
continue relying upon distributors to get assurance of compliance.
As the number of components is too large for distributors to vouch for, some
of them, like Avnet, try to connect the customers to the suppliers so that
the former could get compliance information from the latter. Like Avnet,
Arrow Electronics Inc. also offers a fee-based service designed to help
customers facing due diligence issues.
Among the top distributors of electronic components are Arrow Electronics,
Avnet, Future Electronics, Bell Microproducts, Memec Insight, TTI, Newark
InOne, Digi-key, All American and Nu Horizons. All of them distribute
components like semiconductors, passives, electromechanical devices,
connector products, computer equipment, embedded subsystems, crystals, test
equipment, and active components, including analog, clock and timing
devices, and so on.
You can visit their web sites to know what components are available at what
prices, and make your informed choice. Many of the distributors will agree
to offer you a small quantity of components, provided it is not less than
the minimum quantity fixed by them.
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