On March 16th, 2022, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Japan’s Fukushima prefecture. The quake cut off power to millions of people, according to a report by CNN, with over 100 people injured and 4 killed. A tsunami warning was put into effect but lifted Thursday morning after no abnormalities were detected at any of Japan’s nuclear plants.
The world’s supply chains are highly-interconnected and fragile beasts. They are prone to disruptions from crises and conflicts no matter where they strike in the world. The best example of this problem? When the initial lockdowns in China began at the start of the pandemic. What followed was the 2020-2022 global semiconductor shortage.
“Made in America” was an overarching theme in President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address on Tuesday. “That means make more cars,” he clarified, “and semiconductors in America. More infrastructure and innovation in America. More goods moving faster and cheaper in America. More jobs where you can earn a good living in America.”
The 2020-2022 chip shortage came with a lot of eye-opening information. We learned that the global supply chain is way more vulnerable than we thought. That the demand for smarter technology is only going to increase. That the future is unpredictable and the definition of normal is always set to change. And that the electronics sector, arguably, learned one of the most important lessons.
P-DUKE, a leading manufacturer of high quality AC/DC and DC/DC power supplies, recently launched a MPQ60W series of DC/DC converters aimed at the medical industry. The MPQ60W series is a high-performance DC/DC converter widely used in medical and homecare applications such as laser treatment, electrosurgical systems, physiotherapy chairs, medical aesthetic, endoscopic devices, patient monitoring, drug delivery, C-arms, defibrillation, and air ambulance, etc.
Let’s start with this simple fact, the world is changing. If one were to compare early 2019 to early 2022, despite the short three-year time span, the differences are exceedingly numerous. Yes, Covid-19 has severely impacted the majority of our lifestyles from social to professional. It has been so momentous that the global supply chain has been disrupted so extremely, the shortages are set to last into 2023.
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear 2021? The Covid-19 vaccine rollout? The Tokyo Olympics? NASA’s rover Perseverance landing on Mars? All are excellent answers. All are major events that happened over the course of 2021. This includes an ongoing event that made headlines throughout the year: the global semiconductor shortage.
Partnering with a company is very much like a courtship. You meet, discover commonalities, determine compatibility, mutual interests, and finally, form a partnership. Knowing that a potential partner shares the same values and principles is pivotal to your company’s growth and success. You want to work together to bring out the best in each other.
That’s essentially the idea behind a “collaborative advantage” – working together to make a difference and position each company for success. Area51 Electronics understands the value of offering the Collaborative Advantage.
EDAC, a global leader in interconnect solutions, recently released a new line of D-Seal series IP67-rated waterproof D-Subminiature connectors in both standard and high-density packages. The electrical connectors are designed to perform at the maximum level, even under the most adverse conditions. They provide cable-to-board or board-to-board connections.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. And the last two years, well, have been rough. The pandemic, labor shortages, natural disasters, and geopolitical tension have had rippling effects throughout the world. Everyone from baristas running out of favorite coffee flavors to Apple cutting iPhone production, is hurting. Industry experts and market analysts are warning things are going to get worse before they get better.
