AFDEC's lousy outlook for the component distribution market in UK and Ireland (see yesterday's blog) says as much about the changed structure of the electronics industry in the UK, as the impact of the current financial crisis.
How important is the UK as part of the European electronics market? was the rhetorical question posed by Adam Fletcher (pictured), AFDEC's chairman. On some forecasts it has relinquished its long term place, behind Germany, as Europe's second largest distribution market to Italy.
Italy has maintained a large, local industrial manufacturing base. In the UK this has been depleted over the past decade. Foreign investment which drove UK manufacturing forward has dried up, and many companies have taken their manufacturing facilities to cheaper climes.
Nick Lidington, deputy chairman of AFDED and managing director of UK distributor Sequoia Technology has seen a surge in demand for the technical support his company supplies to the market. His explanation is a withdrawal or at least diminishing of local UK support by component suppliers.
"The manufacturers aren't around so much, and the burden is falling on the distributors," he says.
AFDEC is keen to keep the UK market visibility high. Adam Fletcher points to the increased entrepreneurial activity in the UK, and the high quality of design activity still taking place in the UK.
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