Connector expansion sees 2400 new lines

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team May 17, 2002

Farnell has significantly increased its connector offerings with 2400 new products and the appointment of a dedicated sector manager.

Farnell has significantly increased its connector offerings with 2400 new products and the appointment of a dedicated sector manager.

The range expansion, carefully selected from 23 suppliers including Tyco, FCI, Lemo, Molex, Harting, Harwin, Contact and Amphenol, is already available online, with 1700 of the new products due to make their catalogue debut in June.

The appointment of Martin O'Hara, in the role of Product and Supplier Team Manager - Connectors, will provide high-level support for the expansion of Farnell's connectors range.

With a background in manufacturing, O'Hara comes to Farnell with a great depth of experience in the marketing and supply chain strategies of global companies.

He will be responsible for managing a dedicated connectors team and creating an industry leading product segment portfolio.

Commenting on these developments at Farnell, Gary Nevison, Head of Product and Supplier Development, Premier Farnell Europe and Asia Pacific, says: "Farnell is a customer driven company and, as such, is constantly looking to ensure it satisfies all of their needs, providing the very best support for design engineers and growing its product range to reflect demand and growth areas.

The augmentation of Farnell's connectors range is the result of several months of intensive research into the marketplace and in-depth consultation with the world's leading manufacturers.

Farnell is now a very serious player, given the breadth and depth of the range today, and the signing of such prestigious brands as Lemo is an early indication of the success we expect for this product segment".

Lemo is delighted to be working with Farnell and will benefit from its wide reach and market position; "Lemo fits well into Farnell's overall package", says Richard Thomas, Managing Director, Lemo UK.

Thomas believes Lemo's inclusion in Farnell's catalogue will give engineers the opportunity to choose smaller quantities of its high quality connectors when selecting components, cabling, cable accessories and other hardware from Farnell's wide-ranging catalogue.

It will also be able to fulfil smaller deliveries for emergency requirements as a result of Farnell's 24 hour, 365 days a year service and next day delivery promise.

Thomas explains: "Engineers are using the 'one-stop-shop' approach more and more, for prototypes and development.

We believe Lemo's inclusion in Farnell's catalogue will mean engineers will not have to compromise in design choices or opportunities when sourcing precision electrical and electronic connectors".

Harwin has also added to the positive supplier reaction as Dave Burns, its European Distribution Manager, remarks: "One of the major assets to our distribution business has been Farnell and the relationship we continue to develop.

As more demanding markets drive us to revise our strategies, it is of huge benefit to find that these revisions are so closely aligned with our partner Farnell, in particular, the strong focus being placed on its connector business.

The level of service that Farnell offers Harwin is exceptional and, more importantly, the level of customer service received by our end customers is superb".