Harwin extends Avnet Abacus agreement

High-reliability interconnect company Harwin has extended its distribution agreement with Avnet Abacus to cover the whole of Europe, including Eastern Europe and Spain. The agreement builds on a long term and successful partnership between the two companies.

According to Andrew McQuilken, Managing Director at Harwin: “Avnet Abacus provides exemplary customer service through an extensive network of regional offices covering all major European nations. They have the scale and resources of a large global organisation, allied to the personal service, customer presence and relationships of a local distributor. We are excited about taking our association with them into new geographies.” Alan Jermyn, Vice President of Marketing for Avnet Abacus, added, “This agreement represents a major endorsement from such a prestigious established name in the electronic component industry. Harwin is a responsive and innovative manufacturer with a reputation for coming to market quickly with new solutions as the requirements of new technology emerge. They will benefit very fully from our product to customer approach. We are offering Harwin customers throughout Europe in depth, system level support from an exceptional team of product specialists.”

Avnet Abacus brings together Avnet Time and the associated products represented by the Abacus Group, which was acquired by Avnet in January 2009. Abacus Group was named as Harwin’s Pan-European Distributor of the Year in 2008. Avnet Abacus is a pan-European organisation with aggregate gross sales in 2008 of over €300 million through 45 offices in 19 countries. Headquartered in Poing, Germany, Avnet Abacus has over 450 staff supporting in excess of 13,000 customers with products from 42 pan-European franchised suppliers and complimented by a further range of strong local suppliers. Avnet Abacus is part of Avnet Electronics Marketing, the number one distributor of electronic components to the industrial market in EMEA. Avnet Abacus is served internally by Avnet Logistics, the common integrated pan-European logistical backbone and enjoys Avnet’s industry leading supply-chain services & management capabilities as well as the global corporate power and financial strength of Avnet Electronics Marketing.

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‘Ask the Expert’ with Wendy Bourne

Harwin, the leading manufacturer of connectors and interconnect solutions for high-reliability applications, is featured prominently on element14 (www.element-14.com), the new technology portal and e-community for electronics engineers run by global high service distributor, Farnell.

Harwin has its own page on element14 with links to downloadable catalogues, datasheets, 3D CAD models, videos and more. Also, Harwin’s Technical Support Engineer & RoHS Compliance Project Manager Wendy Bourne is featured in the ‘Ask an Expert’ slot ready to answer any questions element14 users may have concerning high reliability interconnect systems. Bourne also addresses tricky connector issues on Harwin’s Live Chat slot at http://harwin.com.

Comments Ben Green, Harwin’s Marketing Manager: “element14 is a fast-growing resource that combines the appeal and usability of social networking spaces such as Facebook and Twitter with dedicated online technology sites to deliver information in a fresh, new and immediate manner. We are already seeing element14 produce real business, so users must be finding it a valuable.”

Jamie Furness, Global Technology Development Manager, Premier Farnell said: “The participation of leading suppliers such as Harwin is one of the key elements that is making element14 such a success and a powerful resource for electronics engineers. Having so much variety and quality of detailed technical information in an e-community environment is unique and highly valued.”

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High scoring distributor receives award at lowest point on earth

Harwin, the leading manufacturer of connectors and interconnect solutions for high-reliability applications, has recently named STG International as its Distributor of the Year in Israel, at a ceremony beside the Dead Sea – the lowest place on earth. STG was established in 1965 as a Hi-Tech engineering and distribution organization, and is ranked among the top five similar organizations in the country. The company is ISO9002 qualified and has additional customer specific qualifications and approvals.

STG’s business model is that of a stocking rep. In recent years the company has expanded its distribution activities with significant year-on-year growth, working with every major telecom, networking, medical, industrial and wireless communications manufacturer in Israel. The company is also well-positioned to service all major avionics programs.

Commented Andrew McQuilken, Harwin’s CEO: “STG has greatly helped Harwin penetrate the Israeli market. The company employs highly qualified and very experienced application and sales personnel with extensive engineering backgrounds in all industries who are renowned for their knowledge of connectors and other electronics components. This has led to their success in designing in our high performance 2mm pitch Datamate connector family, for example.”

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Stockholding, NPI and Customer Support cited

Harwin, the leading manufacturer of connectors and interconnect solutions for high-reliability applications, has named TTI, Inc., the global distributor of passives, connectors, electromechanical and discrete components, as its European Distributor of the Year.

Commented Andrew McQuilken, Harwin’s CEO: “TTI is known for the focussed approach it brings to selling relatively low value components. We are impressed by the inventory the company holds and by the efforts they make to bring new components to market. Also, TTI employs very dedicated, committed people who offer customers exemplary levels of service and support.

Added John Sandy, TTI’s European Director of Supplier Marketing, Connectors: “We are delighted to receive this award. Harwin’s range of high performance connectors are a good fit with the demands of Europe’s medical, industrial, aerospace and defence sectors, and products such as the Datamate family of 2mm cable to cable, cable to board and board to board connectors are winning new design slots wherever there is a call for a rugged, reliable, flexible and affordable interconnect system.”

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Farnell expands interconnection product range by adding Mix-Tek Datamate connectors from Harwin

Farnell, the leading multi-channel distributor, now offers Harwin’s range of Mix-Tek Datamate connectors that combine high performance power and signal capabilities in one compact package. The new connectors add to the comprehensive range of over 800 Harwin product lines already stocked by Farnell from the leading manufacturer of high reliability and application-specific interconnect devices.

Mix-Tek Datamate connectors feature mixed layouts of power (up to 20 Amps) and low frequency signal (3 Amp) rated parts. The robust design of the connectors makes them ideal for use in applications that are subject to high levels of vibration and shock. An operating temperature range of -55°C to +125°C also makes them suitable for applications exposed to extremes of temperature.

By adding these high performance parts to its portfolio, Farnell underlines its continuing commitment to supporting designers across the globe with the very latest technology from leading suppliers. In line with the current 480,000 plus stocked product lines, Farnell offers free next day delivery on the Mix-Tek Datamate range of connectors.

Mix-Tek Datamate connectors are available in PC tail and solder female formats; jackscrews are also featured to provide increased security of connection. The range suits applications in the high-end industrial, aerospace, military, and test and measurement markets.

Commenting on the addition of Harwin’s Mix-Tek Datamate connectors to Farnell’s product portfolio, Steve Hallgate, Senior Product Manager – EMCO, Farnell, said: “These connectors are an important addition to our range of interconnect solutions we offer our EDE customers. Harwin is a well-known and highly respected name in the electronics sector that, coupled with our high service proposition, provides designers with an excellent range of interconnection solutions for their new product designs.”

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81% increase in sales over 2007 achieved

Mouser Electronics, Inc., known for its rapid introduction of the newest products, today announced it has received the prestigious 2008 Distributor of the Year Award, North American Market, from Harwin, a highly respected, global designer and manufacturer of specialty interconnects for over 50 years.

Mouser’s superior sales performance, customer service, and product support was the focus of the award. Mouser and Harwin worked closely throughout the year to quickly place the newest products into the hands of design engineers and small quantity buyers. As a result, an amazing 81% increase in sales over 2007 was achieved.

“Harwin is proud to present the North American Distributor of the Year Award to Mouser Electronics for Superior Sales Performance, Customer Service, and Marketing Support. Both the Mouser catalog and website provide design engineers with easy access to Harwin product and the necessary support information. Harwin looks forward to continued growth with Mouser, not only in North America, but around the world,” says Doug Steele, Harwin’s Global VP of Catalog Distribution.

Glenn Smith, President and CEO of Mouser, states “I proudly accept this award on behalf of the entire Mouser team. Harwin’s dedication to releasing new and innovative products, combined with Mouser’s advanced system for introducing those newest products and technologies to design engineers created the great synergies that made this recognition possible. The Harwin name is synonymous with quality and Mouser is proud to be their North American Distributor of the Year.”

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Harwin names Abacus Pan-European “Distributor of the Year”

High-reliability interconnect company Harwin has named Abacus Group plc as Pan-European Distributor of the Year, citing “outstanding commitment” as the differentiating factor which resulted in the Newbury UK-headquartered company being given the award.

Abacus Group plc is one of the leading distributors of electronic components in Europe, with directly-owned group companies in every major European electronics market. Commented Andrew McQuilken, Harwin’s MD: “Abacus has been a vital part of our distribution network for many years, providing exemplary customer service through a wide number of regional offices in the UK, Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Benelux, and Scandinavia. They have demonstrated very high levels of focus in taking our new and existing product portfolio to market and we are delighted to name them Pan-European Distributor of the Year.”

Replied Michelle Burns, Product Manager Emech at Abacus: “Harwin is a fine example of what you can achieve if you continue to manufacture in Europe. The company is quick to market with innovative new products and – because it retains all manufacturing processes in-house – is very quick to respond to requests for full custom or modified parts. We are honoured to receive this award.”

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