FCI and Tyco Electronics Announce Pwr TwinBlade I/O Connector and HCI Power Connector Product License Agreement
June 2009—FCI Electronics has agreed to license the HCI® Power Distribution Connector System and its Pwr TwinBlade™ I/O Connector System to Tyco Electronics. This agreement builds on FCI’s and Tyco Electronics’ previous power licensing success by providing a certified second source for these products.

HCI meets customer demands for additional power density in pluggable DC or AC power supply interfaces in servers, storage enclosures, networking, or communications equipment. The connector is designed to address requirements that extend beyond the capability of existing power supply connectors, including FCI’s PwrBlade and Tyco Electronics’ MULTIBEAM XL connector systems.

The HCI connector system anticipates increasing system power demands that are driving the need for greater power density. A single HCI power contact accommodates over 82 amps based on a 30°C temperature rise with zero airflow. The high current-carrying capacity, coupled with a robust, molded-in guidance system, is ideal for high-wattage, blindmate power supplies.

HCI configurations support both standard co-planar and backplane interfaces. The fully integrated design enables DC power, AC power and signal contacts in a single molded housing. Similar to existing FCI power connector platforms, HCI is modularly tooled, allowing incredible flexibility to address custom configuration requirements.

HCI features cost-effective stamped-and-formed contacts, as well as a vented and touchproof housing to optimize airflow above, below, and through the connector. These features allow heat to escape from contact surfaces, producing the lowest product height available among comparable high-current connectors.

Pwr TwinBlade meets customer demands for high power delivery and distribution in servers, storage enclosures, networking, communications, and industrial equipment. It is designed to address requirements that extend beyond the capability of many existing cable-to-board power connectors.

“Customers are requesting next-generation power solutions to meet emerging application requirements,” said John Dodds, FCI’s global product marketing manager for power products. “The market is best served when these solutions are available with certified second sources. This agreement allows FCI and Tyco Electronics to successfully meet both criteria, thus ensuring joint intermateability and performance, along with continuity of supply.”

The Pwr TwinBlade connector system anticipates increasing system power demands that are driving the need for greater power density. This connector system accommodates up to 100 amps per twin contact based on a 30°C temperature rise with zero airflow. It supports multiple wire sizes, including 10mm2, 16mm2, and 25mm2, and is available with straight or right angle cable exit options for maximized routing flexibility. The right angle board connector enables use in front I/O applications.

In addition, Pwr TwinBlade features a robust design with touch-proof safety features, an integrated active latching system, four coding key options, and a polarized housing to ensure proper mating. Similar to other FCI power products, Pwr TwinBlade offers a vented housing design to optimize heat dissipation and features cost-effective stamped-and-formed contacts.

For more information about HCI, visit www.fci.com/hci.

For more information about FCI’s Pwr TwinBlade and other power solutions, visit www.fci.com/powersolutions.

TTI Earns Top Award from Spectrum Advanced Specialty Products
May 2009—TTI Inc. has been awarded the Stellar Achievement in Sales Award from Spectrum Advanced Specialty Products, a manufacturer of control products and systems. The award was presented at the annual Electronics Distribution Show and Conference in Las Vegas.

This marks the second year that Spectrum Advanced Specialty Products has presented this award to TTI. The award cites a combination of top point of sale (POS) market share in overall filtered connectors and low pass filters.

Jeff Ray, vice president of supplier marketing for TTI, said, “Spectrum Advanced Specialty Product’s recognition of TTI is particularly rewarding, as we have placed an emphasis on EMC products. The wide range of EMI filters and filtered connectors manufactured by Spectrum enables TTI to specify market-leading EMC components with our customer’s design engineers. Winning Spectrum’s top award two years in a row symbolizes TTI’s commitment to bringing value to our suppliers through demand creation.”

For more information about TTI, visit www.ttiinc.com.

RS Components Develops Credit-Crunch Solutions
June 2009—RS Components’ StoreManager inventory management service offers a range of solutions that have the potential to reduce costs for high-usage products by up to 40 percent.

A web-based inventory management tool, StoreManager enables the customer to achieve optimal stock levels, reduce slow moving and non-moving stock, and pool inventory to ultimately save time and money. RS not only provides the service, products, and hardware, but also the manpower to replenish the stock.

Three distinct solutions are available:

StoreManager Mobile is the most basic solution available and has also been in use the longest. It requires the least form of commitment from the customer, as there is no hardware to purchase, and is most suitable on sites where the customer is not worried about stock accountability.

StoreManager Multi-Vendor is a step up from the Mobile Solution, as it requires additional customer involvement. The customer monitors their stock with an on-site scanning system. Again, this option does not offer staff accountability, but it offers the customer more control over the stock.

The StoreManager Dispensing System option is best for accountability. This solution allows the client to track exactly who is using what, and results in a reduction in costs. The dispensing units are set up to issue stock according to the customer’s requirements, generate reports to show who has taken the products, and notifies the customer as to what stock needs to be replenished.

Supplies are issued using an identification system. This is done either via barcode, swipe card, or biometrically, as each staff member is then monitored, and the system is able to report on who is using what. Once access to the system is gained, products can be selected using touch screen navigation. Dispensing systems allow for 24-hour access, as no one is needed to open the stores—the dispensing units are able to self-monitor.

These options are available in any combination, and they can be mixed and matched in one location. However, it is likely that the “Mobile” option will be used alone, and the “Vending” and “Dispensing” options will be used together.

For more information, visit rswww.com/storemanager.

Digi-Key Website Now Includes BOM Wizard Feature
May 2009—Electronic components distributor Digi-Key Corporation has added its new BOM Wizard tool to its U.S. and Canadian websites.

This new tool gives customers the ability to upload bills of material and parts lists directly to Digi-Key’s website, save and share their BOMs, place orders, and download quotes instantaneously to their desktops. Facilitating faster time to market, the BOM Wizard is the first of several enhancements and tools planned for the “Design to Production Ecosystem” on Digikey.com.

Additional information, including a detailed tutorial about the BOM Wizard, can be accessed from Digi-Key’s homepage.

“We are very excited about the addition of this new tool to our U.S. and Canadian websites,” said Mark Larson, Digi-Key president and COO. “With the realization that time is often money in the electronics industry, we strive to make doing business with us fast and efficient. This new BOM Wizard helps Digi-Key achieve this important goal.”

For more information, visit www.digikey.com.