CIE Components in Electronics
Farnell element14, the development distributor, announces the launch of “Maker to Market”: a range of capabilities that offer start-ups the support, expertise and resources to take their products to market.
These Maker to Market services are supported by Design & Manufacturing Services which enable engineers to focus on developing the best product possible by providing support at every stage of the design and manufacturing process. This includes customisation for larger scale projects or manufacturing volumes.
The Premier Farnell group of businesses’ expertise and experience helps its customers to overcome product design challenges – both technical and commercial – as well as providing advice and support with cost optimisation, volume production, certifications and compliance testing, all of which leads to a quicker time to market. Premier Farnell has a strong track record of working with start-ups and helping them to bring their products to market. One such example is FutureHome, a Norwegian start-up that has developed a Smart Hub gateway allowing users to remotely control, automate and monitor multiple smart devices in the home. Premier Farnell provided FutureHome with a full range of services, including engineering services, compliance and manufacturing, which then allowed the team at FutureHome to focus on product and business development.
Premier Farnell is an active sponsor of Startupbootcamp IoT | Connected Devices, a dedicated accelerator program offering support, mentorship and investment opportunities to global technology start-ups working in the consumer or industrial IoT sectors
Premier Farnell also manufactures some of the world’s most popular single-board computers – including Raspberry Pi, BeagleBone Black and BBC micro:bit: further evidence of its knowledge, expertise and resources for helping start-ups through the design, production and commercialisation process for technologically advanced products.
“As the Development Distributor, we at Premier Farnell pride ourselves on providing great support to engineers taking their ideas and developing them to the next level,” comments Peter Birks, business president, Farnell element14. “With our Maker to Market services, we are helping to meet the needs of both start-ups and professional makers who have great ideas and are passionate about the products or ideas they are developing – but who may not necessarily have the in-house skills or resources to be able to design, manufacture, distribute and promote their products.
“As a result, we can help designers turn a brilliant idea into a finished product that can be promoted and distributed worldwide – and we can help makers get their product ideas to market faster and at a lower overall cost.”
An additional resource for start-ups is Hardware Studio Connection, a venture between Avnet (parent company of the Premier Farnell group of businesses) and Avnet’s new Dragon Innovation division, giving designers access to hands-on support from the companies’ engineers as well as discounts on components and services. These new programs are designed to help guide start-ups through the product development cycle and get their ventures into the right channels as quickly as possible.
