Embedded Systems Design Europe - March 2008 - (Page 6)

news Distributors to increase embedded focus The two top electronic component distributors are both addressing the importance of the embedded systems sector by launching specialist divisions. Arrow is to increase its European focus on integrated system-level technologies with launch of Advanced Embedded Solutions (AES). AES is designed to provide a European focus on platform-level technologies, AES covers integrated solutions including displays, industrial computer products, solid state storage and power supplies, as well as wireless modules for machine-to-machine (M2M) communication and operating systems. The new organization is headed by Chris McAneny as European embedded solutions group leader. McAneny is responsible for AES teams in Arrow organisations throughout Northern, Central and Southern Europe. “Pressure on in-house engineering resource is affecting the ‘make versus buy’ balance. Increasingly, customers want to focus design effort around core competencies while buying in solutions that will allow them to minimise timeto-market. AES brings together the technologies and resources that address customer demand for the integrated solutions, while Arrow’s component teams continue to deliver the products and technical support for customers’ own circuit designs,” said McAneny. Among the technologies within the AES portfolio are LCDs, single board computers, system-on-module (SOM) solutions, solid stage storage, embedded operating systems, AC/DC power supplies, DC/DC converters and Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wireless LAN and ISM radio modules. A host of related and complementary technologies and services including wireless antennae, display controllers, conﬁguration services and training will also be handled through the AES channel. Avnet Electronics Marketing EMEA’s new channel for embedded systems, networking and display products, is called Avnet Embedded. It will initially do business in Germany, Italy, Spain and Eastern Europe, but over time extend its activities to other major European markets. Avnet Embedded will be led by Alessandro Brazzoni, formerly manager of the embedded division at Avnet Memec, now director of Avnet embedded sales & operations. Avnet Embedded will represent a number of manufacturing partners, including embedded boards from AAEON, Advantech, aValue, Protech, TQ Components and VIA Technologies; networking products from Atop, Delta Design, Digi International, Lancom, Maxstream, Tibbo, and Volktek; displays from Litemax, Promate (AUO), Sharp, Varitronix, and Xiamen. Not all of the listed manufacturers will be available in all countries of operation from the beginning. Patrick Zammit, president of Avnet Electronics Marketing EMEA, said “The market for embedded system products beyond the pure chip level is increasing rapidly. Many customers ask for solutions of higher integration, to reduce time to market and development costs, and therefore are starting to work with ﬁnished and semi-ﬁnished solutions. By providing embedded systems products, we just naturally extend our offering to meet some of our customers needs.” Brazzoni added, “The strength of the Avnet speedboats is the excellent customer relationship combined with technical expertise and the focus on a limited number of franchises. Avnet Embedded entertains a completely new and different line card with complex products that need separate technical support and, to a large extent, a different logistic handling. Offering board level solutions and displays through a new product group enables Avnet – through Avnet Embedded – to leverage the excellent market penetration of Avnet EM-EMEA while creating a speciﬁc technical focus for embedded products.” Kontron, Quanta join forces Notebook computer manufacturer Quanta Computer, Inc. (Taipei, Taiwan) has agreed with embedded computer vendor Kontron AG (Eching, Germany) to take a minority stake in Kontron’s manufacturing subsidiary Kontron Asia, Inc. With the move, Kontron hopes to beneﬁt from Quanta’s manufacturing expertise and improve its productivity. The agreement will see Quanta buy 21 percent of Kontron Asia’s shares. The closing of the transaction is expected before end of March according to Kontron. The move effectively creates a joint venture of both companies. Kontron Asia’s largest asset is a manufacturing site in Penang, Malaysia. Kontron will maintain the operative leadership in the joint venture, while both companies hope to beneﬁt 6 equally from the move: Kontron aims at achieving the same conditions in material procurement as the much larger Taiwanese partner. In addition, Kontron plans to beneﬁt from economies of scale through the partnership. Quanta is said to be the world’s largest notebook computer manufacturing services provider, producing about 30 percent of the world’s notebook motherboards. For Quanta, the move could translate in a diversiﬁcation of its production capacities for industrial markets. ■ Kontron is also in the process of buying Thales Computers S.A., a company which expects sales of about €20 million in its present ﬁnancial year. The purchase is subject to approval by the French government with deal expected to be ﬁnalized in March. MARCH 2008 | embedded systems design europe | www.embedded.com/europe 006_ESDE.indd 6 7/03/08 13:01:40 http://www.embedded.com/europe

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Embedded Systems Design Europe - March 2008 Distributors to Increase Embedded Focus Kontron and Quanta to Join Forces Coverity Raises $22m as European Business Booms Help is at Hand for Europe's Industrial Control Developers Milestones in Embedded Systems Microsoft is Recruiting for Embedded Center in Aachen European Designers to Win Cash for Green Designs Duo Work on Smaller Form Factor Europe Invests in Real-Time Java for Multicore Systems Curtiss-Wright Buys Pentland Systems Designing DSP-Based Motor Control Using Fuzzy Logic Lower the Cost of Intelligent Power Control with FPGAs Virtualizing Embedded Linux Back to the Future: Manchester Encoding Is Multicore Hype or Reality New Products Advertising Contacts

Embedded Systems Design Europe - March 2008

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