Our Distributors

With headquarters in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, USA, Digi-Key Electronics is recognised as the leader and continuous innovator in the high service distribution of electronic components and automation products worldwide. Founded in 1972, Digi-Key was a pioneer in the mail-order catalogue business and a key resource for design engineers. Today, Digi-Key offers the world's largest selection of electronic components in stock that are available for immediate shipment. Beyond the products that drive technology innovation, Digi-Key also supports design engineers and procurement professionals with a wealth of digital solutions and tools to make their jobs more efficient. From prototype to production, they fuel innovation worldwide. 

Digikey is proud to be highly recognised as the leader for:

• Availability of Products
• On-Time Delivery
• Overall Performance
• Engineer-Friendly Website

Corporate Responsibility:

Digi-Key has always been customer-driven and quality-focused. Numerous independent industry surveys confirm this fact. Continuous improvement and ongoing statistical analysis of processes have always been integral to their approach to business, making Digi-Key a world-class distributor of electronic components.

As a significant employer in Northwest Minnesota, Digi-Key has long been aware of its potential impact on our shared resources and, therefore, its responsibility to be a good environmental steward. As Digi-Key continues to grow, they are committed to minimising the impact of their business on the environment while providing the best customer service in the industry. 

Farnell's history started over 80 years ago with two businesses on opposite sides of the Atlantic, each breaking new ground as the radio industry changed how the world communicated. The entrepreneurial start-ups known as Farnell in Europe and Newark in North America each began with a simple mission – to help customers get the parts they need when they need them.

The world has changed a lot since the 1930s. The radio engineer has given way to other engineers: maintenance and facilities engineers, industrial engineers, design engineers, student engineers, and the purchasing professionals who work with them. And what was a simple trade counter and catalogue business has evolved into a global technology company, with over 30,000 products shipped per day.

Farnell charted their course along the way, delivering industry-first innovations that have defined what is expected of a high-service distributor.

One of the broadest lines cards in high service distribution:

It includes products, services and solutions that support the design journey, from prototype and test right through to production and maintenance. Their engineers actively identify and source innovative niche manufacturers for today's most in-demand application areas to keep pace with changing technology. Direct relationships with industry-leading manufacturers mean you can access the latest technology and information first. As an authorised distributor, they only sell authentic products, so you can be confident you receive the highest quality components and services available from proven suppliers.

With more than 950,000 products and brands from over 2,000 suppliers in stock, 5000 new products added each month, and access to over four million more on-demand. Farnell ship more than 19 million order lines every year, with most products available for same-day despatch. In addition, their Exclusive Brand portfolio from Multicomp PRO offers reliable components and equipment at low prices, providing you with great value.

For over 80 years, RS Components have provided products and solutions to engineers, making it easy for our customers to do business and saving them time and money.

Today, they are a global omnichannel solutions partner for industrial customers and suppliers involved in designing, building or maintaining industrial equipment and facilities.

RS Components aim to offer customers an unrivalled choice of product technologies, solve problems with innovative solutions and deliver a world-class customer experience. They have over 500,000 industrial and electronic products in stock, sourced from over 2,500 leading suppliers and providing a wide range of value-added solutions to over one million customers.

Their Purpose:

Making amazing happen - RS Components plan to inspire a more sustainable world through education and innovative solutions that improve lives. Through a range of projects and activities, they support the engineers of today and tomorrow, ensuring that they have all they require – from a broad product range to several core services that help add real value to their customers.

Founded in 1967, CPC has earned its place as one of the UK's leading distributors of electrical, electronics and related products.

Working closely with businesses, tradespeople, installers, consumers and Makers and Educators, the CPC team is constantly striving to deliver only the best when it comes to product quality, value and customer service.

With 50-years' experience and a broad range of 100,000 lines (all stocked on-site in their Preston Distribution Centre), CPC is confident that they have what it takes to make it work for you.

The remarkable breadth of the CPC range means you can purchase many of your day-to-day requirements from a single source.

No matter what your industry is, they won't let you down.

From 1979 to the present day, Rapid has been committed to helping you make it. As one of the UK's leading distributors of electronic components, consumables and industrial equipment, the company has been helping people design, manufacture and service high-quality products. Rapid supplies education and industry, providing schools, universities, and colleges with the products and resources to develop science, technology, and engineering careers.

A comprehensive range of products, combined with competitive pricing, fast dispatch times and unrivalled customer service, make Rapid a trusted partner for thousands of businesses within the UK and worldwide. Rapid is proud to have achieved ISO certification indicating excellence in many areas such as environmental practice, occupational health and safety and customer service. They are also committed to supporting initiatives that contribute to a greener economy and reduce the UK's carbon footprint.

Rapid's Quality management system is exemplified in how it serves customers, sources products, maintains employees' working conditions, and operates with social and environmental responsibility. The company is proud to have achieved ISO certification in several areas and is committed to serving an Integrated Management System that benefits its employees, customers and stakeholders.

Committed to caring for the environment, employees and community:

Rapid Electronics is fully aware of its responsibilities to its staff, the environment and the community in which it operates. The company is committed to achieving best practices and a policy of continuous improvement in sustainability, health and safety, procurement, and contribution to charity, educational, and non-profit organisations.

Rapid's Corporate Social Responsibility Policy provides the framework for these activities and offers a specific commitment to the following:

• Ensuring all of its customer-facing services and business operations continue to develop and facilitate ethical, environmental practices
• Continue to set best-practice standards to meet or surpass the requirements of environmental legislation.
• Continue to develop procurement procedures to encompass social, ethical and environmental criteria to achieve the best overall value.
• Continue to observe the highest standards of health and safety practice for company employees and clients.
• Continue to donate to local and national charities educational initiatives and support emergency causes.
• Continue to take reasonable steps to ensure that we do not employ someone who is being exploited.

Farnell operates as Newark (also known as Element 14) in North America. Newark is a high-service distributor of technology products, services and solutions for electronic system design, maintenance and repair.

Global access, with service that’s close to home

Newark has operations in the US, Canada and Mexico, serviced from our regional distribution hub in South Carolina. We are committed to supporting local language, currency, product and shipment needs across North America and around the world. As part of Farnell’s global operations, our access to stock and stronger relationships with suppliers, we are better able to serve your needs.

A commitment to innovation that powers change

We have a history of innovation and have developed many industry firsts that save precious time for our Design Engineer customers, such as the first online Community for engineers – element14. More recently we continue to bring the latest technologies to market, from development tools that speed up the design process to modular devices that engineers can quickly and easily build into their devices and the latest in easy-to-deploy artificial intelligence.