The sagging semiconductor market is set to get a boost from the most unlikely of places - new requirements around environmental concerns, according to the local representative of global components supplier, Farnell.
Research data from Gartner, released in July, showed the semiconductor industry had hit the bottom of the recession.
Speaking at SemiCon 2009 Bob Johnson, vice president of research at Gartner, told delegates that the industry had bottomed out and forecasted overall growth in revenues until at least 2012.
Peter Davis, regional director at Farnell told CRN certain countries were passing legislation to ban certain types of heavy metal used in semi-conductors.
"This will require manufacturers of components will need to change the materials used in their hardware and make products that are energy efficient," he said.
Farnell is part of UK-based Premier Farnell Group, which established an Australian branch 21 years ago this November, said Davis.
The company supplies electronic components and industrial products to design and maintenance engineers.
Davis said the company has survived the changing market by not having a "volume-based" distribution business.
"We don't have any volume based customers because we would then move up and down with market," he said. "We supply products based on individual customer's needs."
Recently the supplier introduced new web capabilities for its users. Davis said eQuotes was introduced to allow web account customers to request quotes directly via its site.
The company also set up a system called DesignLink, he said, which was implemented to allow electronic designer engineers to search and find parts from within their CAD design environment.
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