Heard in the Channel: LED demand to grow, plus news from Allied, TTI and more

Producers and sellers of light-emitting diode (LED) technology can count on more growth over the next three years as world demand for higher value lighting technologies continues to grow.

A new report from the Freedonia Group projects worldwide demand for lighting in general to rise 12% per year through 2016, with LED lighting devices dominating the future gains. The report cites the rising availability of LEDs and other high-efficiency light sources at more affordable prices and with improved light quality as key reasons for the shift. Acceleration in personal income and economic activity in developing regions combined with an increase in global motor vehicle output and construction spending are also key factors.

Freedonia expects world demand for lighting to hit $78 billion by 2016.

In other industry news, Allied Electronics and TTI, Inc. were among the biggest news makers early in the year. Allied announced in mid-January that Scott McLendon will replace Lee Davidson as president of the company, effective April 1. Davidson will take on a new role with Allied’s parent company, London-based Electrocomponents plc. McLendon is currently vice president of product management and marketing.

TTI launched a new and improved Web site in 2013 and also announced the activation of its warehouse locations in Fort Worth, Texas, as Foreign Trade Zones.

TTI’s new site offers users a consolidated view of the global electronics distributor, providing easier access to the company’s regional properties and affiliates while serving as a single source for information on the company’s growing global presence, according to company officials.

And in an effort to further protect its global supply chain, TTI achieved Free Trade Zone status at its connector and passives warehouse locations in Fort Worth; as of late December, all of TTI’s on-hand inventories reside in a secure, access-restricted area under the supervision of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Gary Walsh, TTI’s director of trade compliance, said the new program cements the distributor’s commitment to global supply chain security, especially when combined with its Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) certification.

"… FTZ also provides economic benefits, such as the ability to ship to a customer's FTZ duty-free, as well as enhanced supply chain efficiency and performance,” said Walsh. “We see this adding up as a big win for our customers."

In other news:

Electronics manufacturing services provider SMTC Corporation achieved the environmental certification ISO 14001 from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Smart Data Works launched a new website for its DistiStock product, offering user-friendly features, streamlined navigation and enhanced user experience.
TTI received two new supplier awards and announced improvements to its Apple app. TTI Asia was recognized for outstanding sales performance by TE Connectivity and received a Distributor of the Year Award from Molex. The distributor also enhanced its Apple iOS mobile application to include functionality that allows customers to scan part number barcodes.
Registration is open the Spring Virtual Avnet Tech Games, a nationwide technology competition for college students; the events help students prepare for real-world business opportunities and compete for a chance to win scholarships. This year’s games include developing an Android app and a green video competition.
Avnet’s Avnet Embedded business announced the launch of its Open Compute Project Innovation Labs, which will serve as technology showcases and development labs for users, developers and partners to design, deliver and integrate cost-effective, power-efficient compute, storage and networking solutions.
Connector brands RIA Connect and BTR Netcom are now Metz Connect USA, according to company officials.
The Electronic Components Industry Association launched a chapter in Canada with a kickoff meeting for members in the Toronto area in early February.
Manufacturer Alpha Wire added to its environmentally friendly product offering with EcoCable and EcoFlex, both of which use the 100% recyclable MPPE insulation found in its EcoWire product.

Still others made headlines recently with new distribution agreements:

Avnet Embedded announced a new agreement with wireless service provider KORE, which specializes in machine-to-machine communications. Avnet will now offer its customers based in the Americas region, including those in emerging M2M markets in Latin America, access to the KORE network.
Distributor BTC Electronic Components signed a new distribution agreement with Meritec, which makes high-performance electrical and electronics interconnect embedded systems and connectors.
Future Electronics signed a global distribution agreement with CUI Inc. to stock its power supplies and board-level components. Future also announced a new worldwide franchise with Intersil Corporation, offering immediate availability of the company’s high quality analog, mixed signal and power management ICs.
Avnet Express announced it is the first distributor to stock Pulse Electronics’ near-field communications antennas.
Peerless Electronics signed an agreement to distribute the complete line of Carling Technologies products.
Mouser Electronics announced the availability of Murata’s new DMF series of EDLCs, measuring an ultra-thin 2.5 mm.