Exec wants manufacturing in Europe

One of Europe’s senior component distribution executives has called for action by governments and the industry itself to protect its electronics manufacturing capability from being eroded further by the continuing exodus of plants to south east Asia.

Axel Hartstang, president of Avnet EM Europe, told Electronics Weekly at Electronica in Munich this week that it was time for the industry and governments to wake to the realiy of the situation and work together to support the future of the European manufacturing sector.

“Europe has to protect its manufacturing areas, we live off our manufacturing and cannot live from services sector alone,” said Hartstang.

He said the industry should focus on its strengths in lower volume, but higher complexity and higher mix manufacturing capabilities.

Hartstang believes there needs to be action both by government in the form of more favourable tax and labour laws, but also from industry which he say must make a bigger committment to investment in Europe.

“Investment of non-European firms in Europe was low, European investment outside Europe is high and this is wrong,” said Hartstang.