Avnet Abacus, one of Europe’s leading IP&E distributors, has announced a new pan-European franchise agreement with specialist waterproof connector and cable assembly supplier Amphenol LTW. The agreement makes Avnet Abacus the first EMEA distributor for Amphenol LTW.

Amphenol LTW interconnect solutions are developed for harsh environments in applications such as transportation, aviation, renewable energy, marine and automotive. Avnet Abacus’ ability to offer technical expertise to customers to enable them to define and specify their interconnect requirements is essential for these very specialist and high performance connector products.

Luc Kan, Amphenol LTW, VP of Sales and Marketing commented, “Avnet Abacus is the perfect distribution partner to work with us in expanding our business in EMEA. It has a strong European presence with excellent engineering and supply chain capability. A key benefit is Avnet Abacus’ ability to provide a bespoke design and development service for cable assemblies and customised interconnect solutions.”

Hagen Goetze, Avnet Abacus, European Marketing Manager commented “We offer our customers the gateway to all Amphenol divisions as single interface. The product portfolio of Amphenol LTW is a perfect addition to our already existing broad Amphenol product range. Especially the LED Lighting connector portfolio will become one of the key focus areas in developing new design in opportunities in the future.”

The Amphenol LTW waterproof connector range includes Circular, RJ45, D-sub, USB, LED Lighting, Solar, power and hybrid connectors. All products are rated to IP66, IP67 or IP68. The company has successfully developed easy to use, long life, high-end waterproof connectors which are resistant to extreme temperatures, shock and vibration, UV and also provide protection against corrosion and sand/foreign particle ingress.

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RS Components, the leading distributor of electronic, electro-mechanical and industrial products, today announced it has considerably expanded its Amphenol connector portfolio. The introduction of 650 new devices has expanded the total Amphenol range available from RS to over 9,000 products available direct from stock for next-day-delivery.

The enhanced connector portfolio includes medical, military, renewable energy, industrial, data and audio technologies creating one of the broadest ranges of Amphenol products held in-stock for electronic design engineers. The range expansion includes 127 new D-Sub connectors, Alden Pulse-Lok connectors designed for the medical industry, Helios connectors suitable for renewable energy applications and is complemented by a range of connectors developed for harsh environments and industrial purposes.

The full Amphenol range is available in both RS standard package and industry-standard packaging formats, ready for direct insertion into automated production facilities. All products are supplied in flexible quantities allowing customers to order the quantity they need and avoid unnecessary stock-holding costs. Customers can also achieve larger discounts when ordering higher quantities.

Commenting on the launch, Amphenol European Distributor Managers, Serge Veld of InfoCom Operations and Tim Griffin of Mil-Aero & Industrial Operations stated, “As a global organisation RS is able to meet the needs of all varieties of customer making them an ideal distribution partner for Amphenol. Together RS and Amphenol offer an unbeatable quality of service backed by superb technical support and we are excited by the commitment made by RS to increase the range of Amphenol components available to its customers.”

Chris Page, General Manager, Electronics for RS Components continued, “Amphenol are one of the premier connector brands that electronics design engineers and buyers look to when developing their latest applications. We are delighted to be increasing our Amphenol portfolio to provide our customers with a comprehensive range at competitive prices and with market-leading service.”

The Amphenol range from RS is available online at rswww.com/electronics, where customers can link directly into the product range, supporting technical information and select and order.

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Avnet Abacus today announced that it has extended its franchise with Amphenol-Tuchel to become a system distributor for its products.

Under the extended agreement, Avnet Abacus will operate as an Amphenol-Tuchel reseller, supporting and supplying customers, systems integrators and other European distributors for low quantity business. Avnet Abacus will provide full technical support and will maintain a stock profile that supports European market demand. Products covered include the Ecomate series, the C16-3 series and, exclusively in EMEA, the smart card readers series C702 and C703.

Stefano Ravera, Distribution Manager at Amphenol-Tuchel, said, “Amphenol-Tuchel connector solutions offer exceptional performance for demanding and critical applications. Avnet Abacus has demonstrated fully that it has the technical expertise and the logistical scale to take on the System Distributor role, and deliver the exceptional service that European customers and partners expect from Amphenol-Tuchel.”

“The agreement gives Avnet Abacus a central place in Amphenol-Tuchel’s channel to the European market.” added Hagen Götze, European Marketing Manager at Avnet Abacus. “Amphenol-Tuchel is the latest franchise to strengthen its relationship with us on a pan-European basis. We are delighted to take on the role of pan-European system distributor, and are looking forward to partnering with customers, systems integrators and distributors to extend and broaden the market for this exceptional portfolio of connector products.”

Amphenol-Tuchel offers a wide range of high performance interconnect solutions including industrial, environmental and DIN connectors. It is an independent company within Amphenol headquartered in Heilbronn, Germany. Production facilities are located in Germany, Czech Republic, and mainland China, and the company has ISO 9001 Certification including QS 9000 and VDA standards.

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Electronic components distributor Digi-Key Corporation, recognized by design engineers as having the industry’s broadest selection of electronic components available for immediate shipment, today announced it has stock on Amphenol Connex’s High Performance BNC for Video Connectors. These connectors are ideal for use in high performance video applications.

The following High Performance BNC for Video connectors are now available for purchase on Digi-Key’s global websites and will be featured in future print and online catalogs:

* 112740-13 (Digi-Key #ACX1661-ND) Connector BNC End Receptacle Jack, 0.062″ PCB thickness
* 112740-16 (Digi-Key #ACX1662-ND) Connector BNC End Receptacle Jack, 0.084″ PCB thickness

Features of these BNC bulkhead jacks include 75 Ohms (Ω) impedance, an industry-standard design, precision-machined from brass, space-saving end-launch termination, and a durable PTFE insulator to support high temperatures. The end-launch termination saves space in high-density applications in which panel space is critical. The industry-standard design features a gold-plated body.

These high performance BNC for video connectors can be used in video routers and switching equipment; video control panels; video display and monitoring applications; and video add-on cards.

Digi-Key Corporation focuses on providing customers with superior service, which includes product selection and availability, on-time delivery, and responsiveness. Using leading-edge processes and state-of-the-art technologies, Digi-Key serves a global customer base from its 600,000 square foot facility in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, USA.

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SuperSpeed USB 3.0 from Amphenol Available at Mouser

Mouser Electronics, Inc., known for its rapid introduction of the newest products, is the first to announce the availability of the much anticipated USB 3.0 SuperSpeed connectors from Amphenol. The USB (Universal Serial Bus) 3.0 connectors are fully compliant with the USB 2.0 and 3.0 specification and offer a significant leap forward in transfer speeds (5 Gbps signaling rate) and a 10x performance increase over Hi-Speed USB capabilities, while maintaining backwards compatibility with USB 2.0 devices.

The improvements to the USB 3.0 SuperSpeed connectors provide a solution for increasingly sophisticated peripherals that require more power and improved interaction between devices and the host computer by providing more power when needed and less power when not needed.

Mouser’s stock of Amphenol’s USB 3.0 includes Type A, Type B, and Micro-B connectors that provide full metal shielding for EMI, RFI, and ESD protection. Amphenol’s USB 3.0 connectors are ideal for improving the performance of external hard drives, high res webcams, video surveillance, and Blu-ray drives. To learn more, visit http://www.mouser.com/AmphenolCommUSB3/.

Keith Privett, Mouser’s Vice President, Interconnect, regards the availability of the USB 3.0 connectors from Amphenol USB 3.0 as an exciting opportunity. “With 5-10 times the bandwidth, USB 3.0 provides customers with a high speed connector solution for next generation devices. The USB has now caught up with the peripherals that it was supporting. This advance in technology is one of the most important technological advances for interconnects in recent memory.”

Premier Farnell extends high-service commitment to Amphenol’s full range of 22,000 products, particularly in alternative energy, aerospace, defence, and industrial sectors

Amphenol Industrial, a global leader in interconnect systems, and Premier Farnell, the leading multi-channel, high service distributor supporting millions of engineers and purchasing professionals worldwide, today announced the availability of Amphenol’s Helios H4 high-performance and low-price point connector for alternative energy applications in Asia Pacific.

Although standard delivery lead time for this product is six weeks ARO (after receipt of order), Premier Farnell will commit to same-day or next-day delivery with no MOQ (minimum order quantity) requirement.

Additionally, for other Amphenol products used in the aerospace and defence sectors by customers who require customised solutions for small quantities, with no MOQ. Premier Farnell will extend its high-service support in key Asia Pacific Markets. In total, Premier Farnell offers up to 442,000 Amphenol products worldwide with 22,000 components in stock for same-day customer despatch and fast turn-around time for customised connectors. These products distributed by Premier Farnell are used by electronic design engineers in the creation and testing of new solutions in solar energy, aerospace, defence and other industrial segments.

Speaking about the growing partnership between both companies, Kit Tang, General Manager, Amphenol Industrial Operations, Asia Pacific said: “At Amphenol, we understand that the solar power industry has unique interconnect needs to produce solar power systems to meet some of the harshest environments on the planet, whether residential or commercial. The growing need for cheaper and more efficient sources of energy in a number of Asian economies have spurred the need for cutting-edge solutions for solar power applications in the Asia Pacific region. Electronic design engineers working on new solutions using our Helios H4 Solar Connector solutions can now be assured of a high-level of service and support from Premier Farnell for their needs.”

The Helios H4 is a high-performance solar connector with impressive data specifications such as rated current of 36Amp on a AWG14 cable, protection degree of IP68 and ability to meet NEC2008 (690.33) requirements.

William Chong, Regional Director of Supplier, Product & Purchasing Management, Premier Farnell, Asia Pacific added: “This partnership with Amphenol recognises our strengths in meeting the high demands of the design community through our multi-channel, complete end-to-end customer experience and logistics excellence. For our Asia Pacific design engineers, immediate access to products at every design stage will enable them to meet their own ‘time to market’ challenges.”

The Helios H4 Solar Connector Solution and other Amphenol interconnect solutions are available for order via Premier Farnell’s website and customer contact centres in Australia, India, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia and Taiwan. These products will be stocked at Premier Farnell’s distribution centres located in China, Australia and Singapore enabling same day or next day order fulfilment to customers.

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Stock includes new TapeLite® and XpandoLite® Ribbon Lighting

Mouser Electronics, Inc., known for its rapid introduction of the newest products, today announced it is the first to stock Amphenol Spectra-Strip TapeLite® and XpandoLite® fiber optic lighting cables. Amphenol Spectra-strip is a world leader in high data rate and mass terminated cables.

Mouser’s Amphenol Spectra-Strip stock includes TapeLite® and XpandoLite®, which are fiber-optic lighting cable systems. The fiber-optic cables emit continuous side lighting along the entire length of the cables. Illuminators and color wheels add interest to the lighting with constant, moving, or changing colors across the cables. Energy efficient (1.4 watts per foot) with no bulbs to burn out, the TapeLite and XpandoLite products are safe for underwater use as no electricity flows through the cables. For more information about TapeLite and XpandoLite, visit http://www.mouser.com/AmphenolSpectraFiber.

Barry McConnell, Mouser Senior Vice President of Products, is excited about the application possibilities of the new ribbon fiber lighting. “Amphenol’s release of the TapeLite and XpandoLite product lines presents endless opportunities for lighting designers. The cables are green technology, require virtually no maintenance, are inexpensive to operate, and the unique design looks great wherever they are installed. That’s a lot to ask of lighting, but Amphenol has really come through,” says McConnell.

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TTI named as Amphenol Infocom’s Fastest Growing Distributor

TTI, Inc., the world’s leading passive and connector specialist, has followed last year’s Amphenol Distributor of the Year Award with the company’s InfoCom Fastest Growing Distributor of 2007.

Comments Serge Veld, Amphenol Infocom’s European Distribution Manager: “Although the numbers speak for themselves, TTI won this award because of excellent salesmanship all over Europe and great teamwork with the local Amphenol Distribution Managers where mind sharing is crucial. By building strong relationships in Europe and focusing on target markets TTI has achieved great success and we congratulate them.“

Replies John Sandy, Director Supplier Marketing, Connectors, Relays & Switches – TTI in Europe: “We are delighted to be honoured by Amphenol Infocom for a second consecutive year. Amphenol is one of the largest manufacturers of interconnect products in the world and includes many innovative interconnect solutions in its product portfolio which a perfect fit for our European customer base.“

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