Independent distributor group comes to Europe

A US trade body set up to represent independent distributors is launching itself in Europe.

Called the Independent Distributors of Electronics Association (IDEA), the group will be led in Europe by Coventry-based Dionics.

“Already established in the US, IDEA has not only become a marque of excellence, but is fast becoming the preferred source of supply for OEMs and CEMs,” said Paul Chinery, managing director of Dionics and chairman of IDEA’s European development committee. “The aim is now to mirror this success throughout Europe.”

IDEA said it will challenge assertions made by some franchised distributors that using independent sources of components can result in poor quality or counterfeit products.

These, said the group, “are just some of the misleading seeds of doubt that have been carefully sown by distributors wary of losing revenue to the independent channel”.

Independent distribution is now “a multi-billion dollar industry”, said IDEA, “far removed from the traditional ‘broker’ of old”.

IDEA has a quality certification programme with ISO9001:2000 a criterion for membership, as are strict ESD controls, it said. It also runs seminars and conferences.

The trade body was established this time last year. More information can be found at www.idofea.org.