Series 17 – Episode 1 – sourcing components for the A&D market
Paige West speaks with Luke Fitzpatrick, Aerospace & Defence Director, EMEA, Rochester Electronics about the A&D market.
Fitzpatrick begins by giving an overview of Rochester Electronics, explaining how the company was founded in the early 1980s to address the need for supporting components that had been made obsolete by manufacturers.
The key focus of the discussion is how Rochester Electronics helps aerospace and defence customers manage the challenge of component obsolescence. Fitzpatrick explains, "The life cycle of a defence or an aerospace application tends to be 20, 30, 40, or 50 years plus. The life cycle of a semiconductor, on average, now can be around 10 years, depending on the technology. So therefore, where we are positioned to extend the life cycle of the semiconductor for that customer to meet their production requirements over 20, 30, 40 years."
Rochester achieves this through strategic investments in obsolete components, as well as manufacturing under license to continue producing parts that have been discontinued by the original manufacturer.
In addition to extending component life cycles, Fitzpatrick highlights Rochester's unique market position due to its deep industry intelligence and end-to-end capabilities. He explains: "It's really from the very beginning of design, right the way through to the end of the products, our customers, applications, life cycle, we've got support and touch points right the way across, and that's what I think really sets us apart."
The discussion also covers the challenges faced by aerospace and defence customers, such as traceability, authenticity, and compliance with industry standards.
Looking to the future, Fitzpatrick identifies emerging trends in the industry, including the increasing role of AI and data management, as well as the potential for new technologies to drive further obsolescence. He concludes by highlighting the opportunities and challenges for Rochester, emphasising the importance of collaboration with customers to anticipate and address their evolving needs.
To hear more from Luke Fitzpatrick, you can listen to Electronic Specifier’s interview on Spotify or Apple podcasts.