Avnet Abacus and FCI partner to address connector needs

Avnet Abacus - one of Europe's leading interconnect, passive, electromechanical and power distributors - and world-renowned connector maker, FCI are launching a joint Europe-wide initiative aimed at helping designers choose the right connector for demanding applications in the industrial market. Renewable energy, Machine-to-Machine (M2M) interfacing and industrial control systems are typical examples of the Demanding Applications market segments that pose particular design and manufacturing challenges. Explained Marco Enge, Product Marketing manager at Avnet Abacus: "Today, electronics systems are everywhere - in factories, warehouses, shops, the home, in cars and mass transportation. Equipment must operate under severe environmental, mechanical and electrical conditions, as well as tough regulatory conditions and high consumer expectations. Additionally, products must withstand frequent use over many years, both by experts and less experienced users. These factors have a significant impact on the selection of components such as connectors." Avnet Abacus has a long-established and successful distribution relationship with FCI across Europe, and the two companies have leveraged their respective expertise and strengths in product development, manufacturing and market knowledge to create a balanced connector product portfolio that addresses the fast-growing Demanding Applications industrial market sector. The companies have also created a microsite www.avnet-abacus.eu/fci that provides technical design-in information, animations and other downloads. "FCI is fully committed to supporting the Demanding Applications industrial sector and is able to provide industry standard connectors with specific features relevant to specific requirements", said Michael Clarner, Distribution Key Account Manger at FCI. "Examples include our Ribcage industrial board-to-board connector range with a contact system designed to ensure signal integrity under extremes of shock and vibration, and our flexible connector system with secure cable locking system that is manufactured in LCP to withstand high temperatures." For more information, visit the dedicated FCI pages on the Avnet Abacus website at www.avnet-abacus.eu/fci About Avnet Abacus Avnet Abacus is a pan-European demand creation distributor specialising in interconnect, passive, electromechanical, power supply and battery products. Avnet Abacus' extensive product range and exceptional linecard is supported by a team of over 50 product specialists based across Europe, delivering technical expertise and technology focused initiatives. Avnet Abacus is a business unit of Avnet Electronics Marketing EMEA, a business region of Avnet, Inc., (NYSE: AVT) About Avnet, Inc. Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology serving customers in more than 70 countries worldwide. Avnet accelerates its partners' success by connecting the world's leading technology suppliers with a broad base of more than 100,000 customers by providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended July 3, 2010, Avnet generated revenue of $19.16 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com. About FCI With operations in 30 countries and sales of 1.28billion Euros in 2010, FCI is a leading manufacturer of connectors. Over 14,000 employees are committed to providing customers with high quality innovative products for a wide range of consumer and industrial applications. For more information: www.fci.com