Blog

The Life of Gordon Moore

Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel and creator of Moore’s Law, has passed away at the age of 94. The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation announced on March 24 that Moore had passed away at his home in Hawaii. Humble beginnings As a child, Moore was more interested in chemistry than electronics. After completing his bachelor’s, […]
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What is computational lithography?

Computational lithography is a process that could speed up the chip design time. There are many things that need to be considered when designing or manufacturing a semiconductor. In the early stages the chip’s design will have to be developed – a process that could take considerable time. As chips get smaller and more powerful, […]
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UK semiconductor industry and government

The government has responded to a report released late last year on the UK semiconductor industry. The report, released by the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee, details recommendations on how the UK semiconductor industry needs to improve to keep up with global development. It also emphasises the urgency to publish the UK’s long-awaited […]
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Using AI to design microchips

Artificial intelligence (AI) is on everyone’s mind right now. With the rise of ChatGPT  and other AI software expanding our potential, every industry is wondering how AI can help them. The electronics industry will not miss out. The market One company providing industry insights, Deloitte Global, predicted this year semiconductor companies will spend around $300 […]
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What is Borophene?

Borophene is one of the newest innovations in the two-dimensional material market and could have many uses in the future. There has been an increasing interest in 2D materials in recent history. It started with graphene in the early 2000s and borophene is one of the latest. The material itself wasn’t synthesised until 2015, but […]
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Australia’s semiconductor industry

Australia is not a country known for its chip production, but it felt the shortages as much as the rest of us. Despite the shortages being less severe for the country, however it still mostly relies on imported semiconductors. The current semiconductor industry is quite small, consisting of local companies and branches of some larger […]
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EU Chips Act developed further

Following a vote on Tuesday 24th of January, the latest drafts of the EU Chips Act and the Chips Joint undertaking were adopted by The Industry and Energy Committee. Proposals for the EU Chips Act were first published in February of 2022, and has since developed through committee discussions. The European Commission said the Act […]
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The future of semiconductor manufacturing, is it digital twins

What is a digital twin? The concept of digital twins has been around since the early 90s. Since then, it has been further developed and become a time and money saver for many manufacturers. The purpose of a digital twin is to mimic a physical system exactly. It gives those using it the ability to […]
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The inner workings of a flexible screen

Flexible screens that the consumer can fold or roll were once a complex novelty. Now, they are becoming increasingly more commonplace. More and more phones and electronic devices are offering flexible screens. Only recently were the newest Samsung Galaxy phones released with folding screens. Oppo, LG and other providers are also beginning to offer flexible […]
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Is it possible to make compostable PCBs?

Decades ago we wouldn’t have thought it possible to create printed circuit boards (PCBs). Now, in 2023, we’re discussing the possibility of biodegradable ones. A research group from the Johannes Kepler University in Austria developed the biodegradable base for the PCBs. The mix consists of beech wood shavings, organise full-grain spelt flour, fine plaster (CaSO4) […]
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Improvements to smart materials in the works

Improvements to smart materials in the works A team of scientists and engineers has developed a new way of producing thin film perovskite semiconductors. This ‘smart material’ can adapt depending on stimuli like light, magnetic fields or electric fields. This could lead to the material being combined with other nano-scale materials to produce sensors, smart […]
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Should we be investing in GaN fabs?

The wide bandgap semiconductor Gallium Nitride (GaN) has many advantageous properties, but it has been difficult to scale up production. During such an invigorating period in the industry, silicon semiconductors have been in massive demand. And in short supply. It has not been the best time to consider switching to a new wafer material. Not […]
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Process nodes and transistor density

There are regular news articles published claiming that the smallest ever process node has been produced. We hear all the time about how small chips are becoming. But how can we measure this progress and does size really matter? Moore’s Law The concept of Moore’s Law, loosely, is that the number of transistors in a […]
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Keeping clean and going green for Electronica

The Cyclops staff are busy preparing for the biggest event in the Cyclops calendar: Electronica. This is the time for us to meet our customers, both returning and new. But this year, we are making sure we’re doing things the clean, green way. Since Covid, we are paying special attention to the hygiene services we […]
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The benefits of flexible electronics

Flexible electronics is an area of study that has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years and is an area of interest for many electronics companies. Liquid metal circuits are being researched as a potential step-up for wearable tech and biomedical devices. At present, there are certain elements that make the advancement of […]
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3D printing of electronic components

We talk a lot about the ways modern technology are a benefit to the electronics industry. There’s no better example of this than the ability to 3D print electronic components. Print preview The first 3D printer was invented in the 1980s, and used a technique called stereolithography (SLA). You might recognise the term from photolithography, […]
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Price of semiconductor equipment increasing

The price of chip manufacturing is increasing. From skyrocketing raw material prices to continual high demand for semiconductors, it/ is an expensive business right now. Semiconductor manufacturing prices are also on the rise. Global manufacturers are announcing price hikes to combat the expected rise in inflation, passing the cost onto the customer. Is reshoring reassuring? […]
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The future of bioelectronics

Bioelectronics are electronic devices that are specifically used for biological or treatment purposes. Often this circuitry is used as an alternative or to complement medical treatment. Why are bioelectronics used? With certain medical issues, medication may not always be the best or easiest choice. There are many pharmaceutical treatments that can have side effects, and […]
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The future of memory

Memory is an essential electronic component. Not only can it store data, but it can also process vast amounts of code. As it is so vital, manufacturers are upgrading it and adding improvements constantly. This could improve the way our computers and gadgets run but could also help people’s memories in the future. Next-gen memory […]
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India increasing chip manufacture

In recent years India has been increasing its share in the electronics industry, planning to become a hub in the future. Currently India has a lot of dependence on imported chips, heavily relying on the Chinese supply chain. One of its goals is to be, in part, autonomous in its chip production. The supply chain […]
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The effect of AI on the electronics supply chain

AI and machine learning technology is improving all the time and, consequently, the electronics industry is taking more notice. Experts predict that the application of AI in the semiconductor industry is likely to accelerate in the coming years. The industry will not only produce AI chips, but the chips themselves could be harnessed to improve […]
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Price hikes in the electronics industry

Chip prices will continue to increase, despite some component lead times improving. This is due to inflation, labour shortages, and scarcity of raw materials, among other things. Intel was the latest company to announce price increases, which it will supposedly introduce at the end of this year. It joins firms including TSMC, Samsung, and Texas […]
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Optoelectronics

Intro Optoelectronic devices are products relating to the detection or creation of light. Chances are you deal with optoelectronics quite often, whether it’s in the form of LEDs in remote controls, solar panels, or fibre optic broadband. Optoelectronic devices A lot of markets utilise optoelectronics, namely military, consumer and industrial. Laser radars, optical sonar systems, […]
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PCB Assembly

Circuit boards, Assemble! We’re not quite the Avengers, but we do know a thing or two about assembly. As an electronic component supplier, Cyclops works to get customers the electronic components they are looking for. Further down the line, manufacturers construct the printed circuit boards (PCBs) featuring our sourced components. The assembly of a PCB […]
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Procurement executives concerned about digital innovation

Manufacturers are using digital advancements to battle current supply chain disruptions. Almost all (97%) of those surveyed said they had significant disruptions in their direct materials supply chain. 67% said they were not confident that the technology can cope with the current or near-future challenges. The most significant technology disadvantages seem to come with lack […]
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The importance of batteries to the future of electronics

A brief history Batteries were first invented long before electricity was even discovered in the 1700s. Around the 1900s the first iterations of what would become modern batteries began to appear. Since then, the tech going into them has improved dramatically, and other battery types are also in development. Commonly used battery types Lithium batteries […]
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What is fabless production?

What is fabless production? A fab is short for ‘fabrication’, which is a facility that produces electronic components. When it comes to fabless production, it refers to when companies outsource their manufacturing. The development of fabless production is a pretty recent development, but one that has flourished since its conception. How did it come about? […]
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Thermal management of semiconductors

Too hot to handle Every electronic device or circuit will create heat when in use, and it’s important to manage this. If the thermal output isn’t carefully controlled it can end up damaging, or even destroying the circuit. This is especially an issue in the area of power electronics, where circuits reaching high temperatures are […]
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What is Superconductivity

Superconductivity is the absence of any electrical resistance of some materials at specific low temperatures. As a starting point this is pretty vague, so let’s define it a bit more clearly. The benefits of a superconductor is that it can sustain a current indefinitely, without the drawback of resistance. This means it won’t lose any […]
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What is Raspberry Pi

If you work in the electronics industry you might have heard of the Raspberry Pi circuit board. This device is a single-board computer, originally made by the UK-based Raspberry Pi Foundation. Raspberry Pi boards use Linux and have a set of general purpose input/output (GPIO) pins. This means the user can attach electronic components and […]
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RoHS, REACH, and dangerous substance legislation

RoHS and REACH are two pieces of legislation referring to the control of dangerous substances and chemicals. Companies manufacturing and distributing electronic equipment in Europe must comply to be able to trade. RoHS The Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive came into force in 2004. With an aim to mitigate the effect of dangerous substances […]
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Resins and coatings for electronic components

Coating components Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are the core of many electronic devices and contain electronic components like capacitors, transistors and fuses. As such, keeping them safe and protecting them from damage is key to the continued working of electronic devices. Resins and conformal coatings can be used for this purpose. Resins Resins are the […]
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Electronic Components of a hearing aid

Hearing aids are an essential device that can help those with hearing loss to experience sound. The gadget comes in an analogue or digital format, with both using electronic components to amplify sound for the user. Main components Both types of hearing aid, analogue and digital, contain semiconductors for the conversion of sound waves to […]
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Traditional fuses and eFuses

Fuses are an essential electronic component in most circuits, and act as a safety feature to keep the other components within the circuit safe. Billions are used today to safeguard against circuit failures. The purpose of fuses If a circuit is overloaded, or there is a voltage surge, the fuse essentially self-destructs to protect the […]
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Could conductive ink replace conventional circuitry?

Intro It seems like the stuff of dreams, having a pen or a paintbrush that could conduct electricity. Well, those dreams are very real, readily available to buy online, and at a relatively cheap rate, too. Conductive ink pens and conductive paint that can be used with a pen, paintbrush, or a printer is a […]
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Chip shortage impact on electric car sales

Many renowned car companies have, by this point, tested the waters of the electric vehicle (EV) market. However, thanks to the roaring success of electric car sales last year, and governmental and environmental incentives, the EV market is about to shift up a gear. Global shortage The vehicle market was not able to avoid the […]
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The Angstrom Era of Electronics

Angstrom is a unit of measurement that is most commonly used for extremely small particles or atoms in the fields of physics and chemistry. However, nanometres are almost too big for new electronic components, and in the not-so-distant future angstrom may be used to measure the size of semiconductors. It could happen soon Some large […]
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What are GaN and SiC?

Silicon will eventually go out of fashion, and companies are currently heavily investing in finding its protégé. Gallium Nitride (GaN) and Silicon Carbide (SiC) are two semiconductors that are marked as being possible replacements. Compound semiconductors Both materials contain more than one element, so they are given the name compound semiconductors. They are also both […]
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Semiconductors in space

Blast off A post about semiconductors being used in space travel would be the perfect place to make dozens of space-themed puns, but let’s stay down to earth on this one. There are around 2,000 chips used in the manufacture of a single electric vehicle. Imagine, then, how many chips might be used in the […]
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What alternatives to WiFi are available?

WiFi has been an integral part of our life since the 90s when it first came into being. Originally created for wireless connections in cashier systems under the name WaveLAN, the trademarked WiFi name came into existence just before the turn of the century and hasn’t looked back since. Alongside WiFi, cellular internet was also […]
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Carbon nanotubes being used to develop ‘Smart Clothes’

Since the discovery of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in 1991, the material has been utilised for commercial purposes in several areas, including anti-corrosion paints, hydrophobic coatings and engineering plastics. CNTs were one of the materials that made it possible for two-dimensional graphene to be used and researched. On a broader scale, it allowed nanoscience to branch […]
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The tech behind the touch screen

Ever wondered how the touchscreen on your phone actually works? It’s such an integral part of our lives and, despite the fast advancements, the technology is still relatively new. The first touch screen was invented in 1965 by E. A. Johnson and used a type of technology that is still widely used in touch screens […]
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The process of making silicon semiconductors

As the global shortage of semiconductors (also called chips) continues, what better time is there to read up on how these intricate, tiny components are made? One of the reasons the industry can’t catch up with the heightened demand for chips is that creating them takes huge amounts of time and precision. From the starting […]
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The History of Transistors

Transistors are a vital, ubiquitous electronic component. Their main function is to switch or amplify the electrical current in a circuit, and a modern device like a smartphone can contain between 2 and 4 billion transistors. So that’s some modern context, but have you ever wondered when the transistor was invented? Or what it looked […]
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Ukraine-Russia conflict may increase global electronics shortage

Due to conflict between Russia and Ukraine, both of whom produce essential products for chip fabrication, the electronic component shortage across the globe may worsen. Ukraine produces approximately half of the global supply of neon gas, which is used in the photolithography process of chip production. Russia is responsible for about 44% of all palladium, […]
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Could Graphene be used in semiconductors?

A new discovery Graphene was first isolated at the University of Manchester in 2004. Professors Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov were experimenting on a Friday night (as you do) and found they could create very thin flakes of graphite using sticky tape. When separating these fragments further, they found they could produce flakes that were […]
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The global electronic component shortage – what happened?

Arguably the biggest ongoing crisis in the tech industry is the global semiconductor shortage. You can’t go far online without seeing news about it, and many people have seen it firsthand when trying to buy a brand-new car, or a recently released games console. When did it start? The obvious factor contributing to the shortage […]
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The European Chips Act and its impact on electronic component sales

Semiconductors are vital for our day-to-day life. They are in all the electronics you own but are also in your kitchen appliances, your car, your electric shower and many more. But what if we lost access to these components? The huge reliance on imported semiconductors was made abundantly clear last year. Europe’s current share of […]
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Electronic component market to see continued growth by 2027

The electronic component market is set to see continued growth over the next five years, with projections estimating greater demand than ever. Several forecasts have converged with the same conclusion; demand for components is set to rocket as the world adopts more advanced technologies.  This article will explore the latest research papers and market analysis […]
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How Can Companies Combat the Electronic Components Shortage?

Electronic components shortages show no signs of abating, fuelled by growing demand for electronics, limited availability of raw materials, soaring manufacturing prices and lingering COVID-19 disruptions. Shortages have hindered manufacturers since 2018, but things came to a head in 2020 with the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting supply chains. The pandemic created an imbalance in supply chains, […]
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What is causing the surge in semiconductor and passive components?

As the world becomes smarter and more connected, the components used in electronic circuits are seeing a surge in demand. Semiconductors and passive components (resistors, capacitors, inductors, transforms) are seeing a surge in demand as chip-heavy vehicles, consumer electronics and smart, Internet of Things devices are produced in larger quantities. This demand is creating a shortage […]
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Obsolescence Management Before It Becomes A Problem

Obsolescence Management Before It Becomes A Problem Like the device you are reading this on, all electronic components become obsolete eventually. As a supply chain manager, it is your job to manage obsolescence and make sure it doesn’t become a problem for your company. The three reasons for electronic component obsolescence are short product life […]
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Semiconductor Supply Chain Will Remain Vulnerable Without Robust Investment in Advanced Packaging

Semiconductor Supply Chain Will Remain Vulnerable Without Robust Investment in Advanced Packaging A new U.S. study has found that the advanced semiconductor packaging supply chain needs strengthening to meet the increasing demand for chips. According to the report, without robust federal investment, the semiconductor supply chain in the U.S. faces an uphill battle to meet demand. The […]
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Global silicon chip shortage will last until at least 2023

How long will the global silicon chip shortage last? If you were to ask ten CEO’s of leading technology companies, you’d probably get ten different answers. However, there’s one timeframe most CEO’s quote… 2023 is the date CEO’s are optimistic about  Intel’s CEO, Pat Gelsinger, has given us a realistic timeframe for the chip shortage […]
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Incoterms Explained

Incoterms (International Commercial Terms) are a set of trade rules issued by the International Chamber of Commerce to define the responsibilities of sellers and buyers globally to reduce confusion in cross-border trade. Incoterms are 11 internationally recognised rules that define things like who is responsible for managing shipment and who is responsible for customs clearance. […]
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Why is chip sovereignty so important?

The US and EU are planning for chip sovereignty, aiming to defend domestic chip supplies and move manufacturing back home. At first glance this is a tall order, considering most chips are made in China and China controls 55% of rare earth metal production, but it is nether the less crucial to ensure that the […]
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Memory suppliers to benefit from strong demand and supplier shortages

While the downsides to electronic components shortages are well known, business is booming for smaller memory suppliers. Sales of Samsung DRAM grew 26% in Q2 2021 without meaningful production capacity growth, and as supply-demand imbalances grow, memory suppliers like Samsung, Micron and others are turning to smaller suppliers to fill gaps. As chip shortages continue, […]
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Electronic Component Shortage update

The ongoing electronic component shortage is one of the biggest challenges global supply chains face today, with demand for many components, from chips to actives and passives, well and truly outstripping supply. A lot has happened in the last month, with new research and analyst insights pointing to when demand might ease (hint: it won’t […]
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Rare earth metal prices explode

Prices for rare earth metals have exploded over the last 12 months, moving nearly 50% higher on average since March. This development could push prices of electronics components higher than ever, as a perfect storm of expensive raw materials + limited production capacity + higher demand = rocketing prices. As we are seeing with the […]
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Communications including 5G will drive the components market

According to IC Insights, the communication sector’s share of integrated circuit sales reached 35% in 2020 and is expected to grow to 36.5% by 2025. For perspective, the automotive sector’s share of integrated circuit sales was 7.5% in 2020 and will grow to 9.8% by 2025 – significantly less than communications. Industry tailwinds What’s driving […]
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Chip Shortage causing car manufacturers to cut production levels

A week doesn’t pass without an announcement from a car manufacturer that they are cutting production levels. Idling shifts and even entire factories has become normal for an industry that thrives on maximising output.  Volkswagen, Ford, General Motors, Hyundai and Toyota have cut production levels to prioritise their most lucrative models. In some cases, plants […]
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Component Prices Rise 10% to 40% – But why?

While component price rises are expected when demand outstrips supply, the scale of recent increases has come as a shock to many businesses. In its Q3 Commodity Intelligence Quarterly, CMarket intelligence platform Supplyframe reports that some electronic components have seen prices rise by as much as 40%, making it uneconomical for products to be made. […]
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Automotive electronics market set to grow

With vehicles getting smarter, more connected and more autonomous, the automotive electronics market looks set to soar. Future growth in numbers Back in March, Precedence Research predicted the automotive electronics market would hit around US$ 640.56 billion by 2030. Then, in July, Global Market Insights released research predicting the automotive electronics market would hit around […]
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Why are semiconductors so important to so many industries?

The semiconductor chip has done more to connect the world than any other technology, but why is it so important to so many industries?   Semiconductors are materials used to make semiconductor wafers, on which potentially millions of components are fabricated, to create an integrated circuit (IC), creating a single chip that can be used […]
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Passive and Interconnecting Electronic Components market to display lucrative growth

The passive and interconnecting electronic components market is predicted to display lucrative growth across all regions over 2020-2025, with North America the dominant market due to the prominence of players in the country. These predictions come from The Passive and Interconnecting Electronic Components market report from Market Study Report, which you can request a sample […]
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Chips shortage limits auto production in Brazil and the rest of the world

“Never seen anything like it,” Tesla’s Elon Musk tweeted last month about the global chips shortage, “Fear of running out is causing every company to overorder – like the toilet paper shortage, but at epic scale.” If you want a prime example of the chips shortage, look to Brazil. In 2020, the automotive industry in […]
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What Shortage? How Electronic Component Distributors Make Supply Meet Demand

When buyers can’t find electronic components, they turn to distributors like us who can source scarce and obsolete parts. Our experience has been tested to new extremes over the last several months due to the semiconductor and wider electronic components shortage. This shortage was years in the making but has been amplified by COVID-19. It […]
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Perfect storm’ creates electronic component shortages

A perfect storm has hit the electronic components market, creating supply chain problems that will be felt for several years. The perfect storm Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, most electronic component manufacturers were running at 95-98% capacity. This high demand for electronic components was fuelled by growth in technologies like automation and the Internet of […]
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Active Electronic Components Market Growing Demand

Active electronic component demand is soaring. The market is expected to grow by a compound annual growth rate of 4.8% during 2021-2026, fuelled by new technologies and faster and more globally available internet connectivity. What’s driving it? An explosion of new products with AI and IoT support and tailwinds like 5G are fuelling demand for […]
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The Global Chip Shortage Has Created a New Problem: Counterfeits

The global chip shortage is officially wreaking havoc. The world’s biggest carmakers, including Toyota and Volkswagen, have had to slow down vehicle production, and Samsung – who make their own chips – has had to delay the launch of several smartphones due to be released in 2021. These are but a few examples of thousands […]
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Semiconductor production capacity expected to hit records highs in 2021

As you probably know, we are in the middle of a global semiconductor shortage. Auto manufacturers are cutting jobs, brands are delaying the release of new products, and people are struggling to buy things like games consoles. It’s a grim situation predicted to last a few years, but behind the scenes, semiconductor companies are preparing […]
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Government asks for views on supply chain security

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has called for views on security measures across digital supply chains and IT services, including data processing, infrastructure management and supplier assurance. The call comes as more organisations move their operations online and pivot to digital business models. A few obvious examples are retailers moving online […]
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Chip shortage hitting auto jobs

The global semiconductor shortage is hitting automotive manufacturers where it hurts, which will inevitably lead to job cuts across the supply chain. We are already starting to see this with Stellantis, the car company formed by the merger of Fiat and Peugeot, saying it will cut over 1,600 jobs at its Illinois Jeep plant. Elsewhere, […]
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  • By Cyclops Marketing
  • Posted 26 May 2021
  • In semiconductors

Who are the biggest players in the semiconductor industry?

Over the next decade, demand for semiconductors is going to go supersonic thanks to secular and cyclical tailwinds. Semiconductors are the building blocks of the information age; every device that will be ‘connected’ needs a semiconductor. The companies that manufacture semiconductors are the unsung heroes of the future. But who are they? In this article, […]
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Wireless-to-DALI Gateway specification from DALI Alliance

The DALI Alliance (DiiA) has published specifications for linking wireless-to-DALI gateways to DALI wired products and Bluetooth mesh and Zigbee ecosystems. The two new specifications published by the DALI Alliance are Part 341, covering Bluetooth Mesh to DALI Gateways, and Part 342, describing Zigbee to DALI Gateways. You can download the specifications you need for […]
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Equivalents keep the supply chain moving in uncertain markets

In uncertain markets, the demand for specific, branded components tends to outstrip supply. We have seen this recently with the semiconductor shortage, where specific chips are hard to come by at a time when they are needed. Equivalent components, also known as equivalents in the industry, provide an immediate solution. These ‘generic’ parts can be […]
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Keeping pace with high power terminal block demand

High power terminal block demand is soaring with the buildout of EV charging infrastructure. The reason is simple – high current requires high power terminal blocks, making these components essential for EV charging stations. The rapid growth in the adoption of electric vehicles is fuelling demand for high power terminal blocks beyond what most people […]
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Electronics Counterfeiters Capitalize on Component Shortages

The electronics industry is experiencing a components shortage which is bad news for everyone except counterfeiters who are seeing greater demand than ever. The total available market for counterfeit electronic components is billions of pounds, so it makes no wonder this illegal activity is seeing rapid growth. What is a counterfeit part? A counterfeit part […]
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Why We’re Facing a Global Semiconductor Shortage

The world is experiencing a semiconductor shortage at a time when demand for semiconductors is at an all-time high. Manufacturers can’t make enough of them and we’re now seeing this affect the availability of products. You probably remember last year Sony released the PlayStation 5 and Microsoft released the Xbox Series X. AMD released the […]
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Anglia goes solar with new photovoltaic cell range

Anglia Components has announced a new PCB-mounted photovoltaic solar cell line for electronics applications in collaboration with Anysolar, offering a new way for electronics manufacturers to harness light energy.   The technology The Anysolar PCB-mounted photovoltaic solar cell range can replace battery and mains power for low-power applications. It can be reflow soldered onto PCBs […]
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NXP Announces i.MX 9 and i.MX 8 processor line for Intelligent Multi-sensor Applications

NXP Semiconductors has announced a new line of edge processors that deliver a giant leap in performance and security at the edge. As edge computing rapidly evolves around us and demand for edge computing soars, performance demands are increasing at an exponential rate. This requires a new approach to security, power consumption and performance. Existing […]
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Is There a Passive Component Shortage?

Passive components include resistors, inductors, capacitors and transformers. They are among the most abundant electronic components in the world, but demand could start to outstrip supply this year in some industries. To help you grasp the exponential growth of the passive component market, the market was valued at USD 30.98 billion in 2020 and is […]
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MLCC supply is beginning to tighten?

Multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) are used in many electronics from smartphone screens to laser guidance systems. There was a prolonged lull in demand for MLCCs stretching from 2019 through to 2020, however supply is now tightening and lead times for new components are extending. This has caused some concern with those who use MLCCs to […]
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Chipageddon is upon us

Semiconductors go unseen yet they are at the heart of all our electronics. When supplies run short manufacturing lines slow down and the availability of products is affected. Last year had several examples, some of which may have affected you. AMD’s Radeon RX 6800 XT GPU was released in December but got nowhere close to […]
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New construction of the smallest microchips using graphene nano-origami

Material science and clever engineering has cut the space between components on microchips to nanometres. This has led to significant performance benefits because more components can fit on the chip. However, there is a limit to how small things can go with current chip design. 7nm is as small as chips will go from here […]
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Electronic component supply chain efficiency. Will we see another increase in supply and demand due to COVID-19 this year?

In 2020, the electronics components industry saw both increases and decreases in supply and demand depending on where you look. For example, demand for semiconductors that enable servers, connectivity and cloud usage skyrocketed due to stay at home workforces. Meanwhile, demand for semiconductors used in the automotive industry declined as car sales fell. In other […]
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How does recycling electronics help create sustainability within the industry?

Thanks to advancements in material science and recycling technologies, it’s possible to recycle around 80% of most new electronics. For example, the smartphone in your hand or pocket has around 80% recyclable components. The most valuable components in electronics are rare and precious metals. The quantity of these metals in your phone is tiny but […]
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How Cyclops helps tackle environmental issues in the electronics industry

There’s no industry as polarising as the electronics industry when it comes to the environment. This is the industry that generates 70% of all toxic waste on the planet, yet it’s also the industry that’s pioneering renewable energy to address climate change. The best way to look at the electronics industry from an environmental point […]
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How to avoid counterfeit components

Counterfeit electronic components are a plague on the electronics industry and they are an ongoing problem with no solution. The companies behind counterfeit components are unstoppable because their factories rise faster than they can be shut down. The market is set for them to continue operating forever. Counterfeit components are problematic because they are more […]
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Active and passive components to see strong 5G-driven demand

As the international rollout of 5G picks up pace, active and passive component demand is increasing at a rate of knots. The build out of 5G infrastructure requires significant investment in active and passive components for a wide range of different devices. Examples include active antennas with integrated RF radio designs, small cell power base […]
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How “Chiplets” May Help the Future of Semiconductor Technology

The global demand for semiconductors is accelerating faster than a speeding bullet, with integrated device manufacturers, systems companies, and foundries like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company making a killing. This accelerating demand is largely fuelled by the rollout of 5G infrastructure and the increasingly connected devices we use on a daily basis. From semi-autonomous driving aids […]
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Edible batteries

Researchers in Italy have made a rechargeable battery from edible materials like almonds and capers. What’s the recipe? The Milan-based researchers made the rechargeable prototype’s anode from riboflavin, a vitamin found in almonds. The cathode of the battery was made from quercetin, found in capers and is also sold as a food supplement. The researchers, […]
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Chinese New Year shipping delays

The earlier-than-usual Lunar New Year celebrations may cause more disruption than normal, according to shipping experts. Lunar New Year took place between January 22nd and February 5th 2023. The festival is well-known for causing shipping delays and supply chain disruption. The effect this year, however, may be exacerbated. Not only have factories been affected since […]
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Top car brands affected by semiconductor shortages

The semiconductor shortages have had a significant impact across a lot of industries. One hit the hardest has been the new vehicle market. Here are a few of the companies that have been the worst-affected: Jaguar Land Rover Certain models have been almost discontinued by the brand, which apparently is to catch up with demand […]
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