FEATURE DISTRIBUTION
HOW CAN WE HELP? Staple supply in changing times
More than ever, the UK market needs distributors who will take the time to listen to what their customers need, rather than pushing them down a pre-conceived route, says Paul Bandy, product director at Aerco
M
ay you live in interesting times: is the old Chinese curse. It’s tempting
to believe that ‘times have never been more interesting’ as old guards around the world are thrown out – certainly 2016 has seen more than its fair share of political upheaval, causing massive uncertainties, huge currency swings and trading conditions which can be described without overstatement as ‘challenging’. Yet challenges have always existed and the UK is a trading nation that has always managed to find ways not only to survive, but to thrive and prosper. The electronics components sector is an example
of how change has been managed. 25 years ago, many famous manufacturing names had a significant direct presence in the UK, now increasingly they rely on an online presence with distribution as the main conduit to service the needs of their customers. That, of course, puts a lot of responsibility onto distributors: they must be knowledgeable, flexible and responsive. They must hold stock. They must have access to the right product lines to suit their particular market sector. They say that every customer is unique, which is perhaps why there are still so many electronic component distributors, even following the intense rationalisation of the past 20 years. So while four or five major broadliners plus new ‘catalogue giants’ have emerged, other companies have quietly and efficiently continued about their business – proving exactly the service that their customers require. In September 2016, Aerco celebrated 60 years as a stockist and distributor of electrical components, supplying manufacturers and service companies within the aerospace, defence, medical, industrial, rail and transportation markets throughout the world. The company’s development has been impressive due to organic growth and the acquisition of companies like Fan Technology in 2000, Spartan Europe in 2008 and Electro Cables in 2015. Still family-owned it is now an SME with a turnover of just over £13 million. While it is a challenge to maintain growth and
profitability in a changing market in which large, broad-line, multinational distributors dominate, Aerco claims it has always striven very hard to maintain the close and vital interaction that it has with its customers. The distributors basic principals are to form strong working partnerships with both suppliers and customers while continuing to invest in long-term price agreements and call-off orders. These, backed up by a large stock holding of top quality products and high customer service levels,
10 DECEMBER/JANUARY 2017 | ELECTRONICS
Continue to work with customers throughout design, prototyping and testing
Supply components to required schedules when the product is in production With a long history in sourcing and supplying electromechanical components, and the accumulated experience and knowledge of its technical team, Aerco can partner with customers’ design engineers. Its expertise encompass connectors, backshells, coaxial products, cable & wire, fuses, switches, lamps, lighting, LEDs, solenoids, sensors, circuit breakers, mains filters, fans, terminal blocks, relays and associated products. Offering a comprehensive range of stock from
many different manufacturers at competitive prices is just part of the picture to being a top class distributor. Aerco also offers:
Figure 1:
Oxley LED DESC panel from Aerco
are said to be the keys to its continued success. Aerco’s ability to forge partnerships with its
Figure 2:
The AE 359 D38999 military connector range extended at Aerco
customers and suppliers alike relies on the company’s Design Support team which consists of product specialists recruited and trained for their skill and knowledge in component selection. The distributor will locate the ideal product for your project and deliver data and samples saving you both time and effort. This is a free service, with no commitment on the part of the customer. Aerco advises it will:
Help to find the components for a new design or improvement or cost reduction of an existing design
Find alternatives and obtain data and samples
CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY: TO MINIMISE LEAD TIMES Customisation and Modification: leads can be cropped, connectors added or other modifications performed saving you time and money. Stock Holding: Aerco will buy in quantity to
ensure customers get the best price, then hold product in stock for up to 12 months, scheduling delivery to meet production requirements. The company can offer Kanban delivery and ship to line services.
Part Number Translation: Aerco has access to
NATO, Mil spec, BS spec, CECC spec, PAN spec and more and can accurately cross-reference part numbers. Worldwide Sourcing: Aerco offers worldwide
sourcing capabilities. If a part is obsolete it will work to determine and locate a suitable alternative. The company has robust procedures in place to ensure that the scourge of counterfeit products is avoided Kitting: Using a Bill of Materials Aerco is able to:
Identify a Kit of Parts to fulfil the needs at each of your production workstations
Hold stock, typically twelve months worth Schedule delivery of entire kits to requirement Fixed priced contracts: Given the volatile nature of the currency markets, many customers have contracts that they are expected to support over a period of time. Fixed pricing can facilitate this. The bottom line – literally – is that
Aerco is here to help. As one size does not fit all, the company tailors its services to meet customers’ needs.
Aerco
www.aerco.com T: 01403 260206
/ ELECTRONICS
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