charcroft

Charcroft adds new franchise and specialist field-based engineer

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 13:37:22 GMT

Charcroft adds new franchise and specialist field-based engineer neer

Charcroft Electronics, a specialist distributor and manufacturer of electronic components, has added Central Semiconductor, as an extension to the existing franchise with AEM Inc. The company has also welcomed a new specialist to its field-based team.

“It is the ability to evolve and adapt that is key to maintaining the specialist support which is vital to customers in harsh and critical industries such as space, defence and high-end industry,” explained Roger Tall, Charcroft director. “Delivering this level of support relies on combining 50 years of in-depth understanding of the industries, components and standards, with the ability to offer a solution to the unique challenge faced by individual customers.”

As the new technical sales engineer, James Spencer brings a degree in Astrophysics combined with his technical experience supporting the design of cutting-edge power conversion systems for data centres, humanoid robotics, specialist off-road vehicles and high-end industrial applications, in addition to his experience covering space and aerospace applications. James is based in the East Midlands and enjoys taking part in regular track-days at circuits across the UK as well as playing lead-guitar in a rock band.

Customers will benefit from the Central Semiconductor portfolio of products including the latest GaN FETs and Super Junction MOSFETs as well as an enhanced Super Industrial range offering ruggedised components for harsh environments, including radiation-tolerant parts suitable for LEO satellite applications. Another key aspect is the offering of legacy semiconductors, which strengthen the support provided to aerospace and defence customers.

According to Roger Tall: “These additions ensure that customers operating in high-end and critical sectors can access the highest level of specialist support, especially when they manufacture systems in lower volume and with extended lifetimes.”

www.charcroft.com

For more news please visit: News – CIE

Charcroft Secures Central Semiconductor Supply Chain Franchise

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 13:26:43 GMT

Specialist electronics distribution firm Charcroft Electronics has just added Central Semiconductor to its portfolio of suppliers.

Spe cialist electronics distribution firm Charcroft Electronics has just added Central Semiconductor to its portfolio of suppliers.

The diodes, rectifiers, MOSFETs, JFETs and circuit protection devices produced by Central are aimed at use in space, defence, avionics and other mission-critical applications. To support this new franchise, Charcroft has just recruited James Spencer to serve as a field-based Technical Sales Engineer. As well as extensive prior commercial experience (working for the likes of RS, Murata and TT Electronics), he can also draw upon a BSc in Astrophysics from the University of Leicester.

"It is the ability to evolve and adapt that is key to maintaining the specialist support which is vital to customers in harsh and critical industries such as space, defence and high-end industry," notes Roger Tall, Director at Charcroft. "Delivering this level of support relies on combining 50 years of in-depth understanding of the industries, components and standards, with the ability to offer a solution to the unique challenge faced by individual customers."

Link to article

Green Growth Pledge

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 13:51:31 GMT

Charcroft Green Growth Pledge plans 40 per cent reduction in carbon emissions

Charcroft Green Growth Pledge plans 40 per cent reduction in carbon emissions

Charcroft Electronics Ltd., – a specialist distributor and manufacturer of electronic components – has taken the Green Growth Pledge to support carbon reduction of 40 per cent by 2035.

Part of a commitment by the Welsh government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, the Green Growth Pledge requires businesses in Wales to take pro-active steps to improve sustainability, reduce emissions, and deliver a positive impact on people as well as the environment.

“With our location in the Brecon Beacons, or Bannau Brycheiniog, as well as in Wrexham, close partnership with the local community and safeguarding the environment have always been key priorities for Charcroft,” said director Vicky Mellor. To reduce the carbon emissions from heating, the plan is to evaluate a change from conventional liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), to using BioLPG, which is produced from renewable sources such as waste, residues, and biomass.

Sustainable transport is supported by staff being incentivised to use car sharing or to use public or active transport for commuting and other business travel. In active transport, staff are encouraged to walk or cycle at the start or end of a journey on public transport, to promote sustainability in addition to increasing physical activity. There is also a move towards using electric vehicles, with two of the directors having already made this change.

Active engagement with green skills training programmes such as, Accelerating Decarbonisation and Productivity through Technology and Skills (ADAPTS) will boost decarbonisation in addition to increasing efficiency and productivity.

To measure the impact of the Charcroft Green Growth Pledge, annual carbon emissions will be monitored to track progress towards achieving the 40% reduction in emissions by 2035.

For more news please visit: News – CIE

DC-link capacitors featured by Charcroft at Cenex Expo 2025

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 14:13:23 GMT

Charcroft Electronics Ltd - a specialist distributor and manufacturer of electronic components - highlights UK-manufactured custom and high-voltage metallised plastic film capacitors on the Cymru Wales, Welsh Government stand number C3-217 at Cenex Expo 2025.

Used as a DC link in power-conversion battery energy storage systems (BESS), the high-voltage film capacitors are manufactured by Industrial Capacitors Wrexham (ICW), which is a part of Charcroft.

To support carbon reduction, all of the DC-link film capacitors offer full customisation, allowing very high volumetric efficiency and high current handling. Designs provide for low equivalent series-resistance (ESR) and extremely low self-inductance (ESL), which is important for designs using the latest fast switching technology such as Silicon-Carbide (SiC).

The film capacitors offer a range of layout and packaging options to make effective use of available space; terminal options include feed-through terminals which can be bolted directly to a layered busbar or fully integrating a busbar into the packaging to suit the required feed-out. For prototyping, thermal-sensors can be embedded into the package, providing useful system test data.

"Covering land, sea and aerospace, the Charcroft ICW custom DC-link film capacitors provide a valuable resource to designers seeking to optimise high-performance electrical powertrain systems where off-the-shelf components require too much compromise."

With full film traceability, the ICW film capacitors also offer the option of complying with the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) automotive standard. www.icwltd.co.uk

Press Contact

Shayna Nixon
Tel: 01945 583738 or 0788 78 788 61
Email shayna@saltyfish.co.uk

ICW has designed and manufactured metallised plastic film capacitors in Wrexham North Wales since 1974, and became part of Charcroft Electronics in 2020. The capacitors are used in power electronics and offer either polyester or polypropylene plastic film, metallised with aluminium or zinc alloys. The voltages offered are from 63Vdc to 2000Vdc, and up to 660Vac, with a capacitance range from 10nF to 2000uF in a single winding, or higher with combined windings. ICW also manufactures ClarityCap™ audio-grade film capacitors. www.icwltd.co.uk

About ICW

About Charcroft

Charcroft Electronics is a privately-owned specialist distributor and manufacturer of electronic components for harsh and high-end applications. The distribution linecard is focussed on passive, interconnect, electromechanical and optoelectronic components, load cells and strain gauges, as well as power supplies and rugged semiconductors.

At its UK-based, BS-approved production facility Charcroft manufactures custom passive assemblies, audio and precision foil resistors in addition to silver mica and legacy ceramic capacitors. This facility is a VPG-approved Precision Centre for Bulk Metal® Foil resistors and offers taping and reeling, in addition to Precision Express® manufacturing for prototype and pre-production quantities. Charcroft is certified to AS 9120 and approved to BS 9000 and BS EN ISO 9001:2015 and has 50 years of experience as an Approved Supplier to major OEMs and CEMs in the industrial, defence and other high-end sectors.

Artist Wows Wrexham and Chester Judges at Powys Competition

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 14:09:21 GMT

The winners of an art competition organised by the Llanwrtyd and District Heritage and Arts Centre were announced at a special preview evening held in early July.

More than 70 guests viewed the exhibition which comprised of 80 pieces chosen from the original 100 submissions and there was a varied interpretation of the theme ‘A Moment in Time’ from the Welsh-based artists.

A panel of judges included Wrexham University art lecturer Wendy Connelly, Robin Bailey from Raw-I Studios in Chester, Brent Blair, owner of the Lion Street Gallery in Hay-on-Wye, and art restorer Chris Matchett.

Eventually, Charlotte Vickery was chosen as the winner for ‘Calidos Recuerdos’, which the judges felt was a challenging composition with an excellent use of a minimal palette, and with flashes of under painting adding vibrancy. She received a prize of £500, sponsored by local business Charcroft Electronics Ltd .

Second prize of £250, sponsored by Lofftwen Forest Farm, was awarded to Barbara Simon for her work ‘Doorstep’; while third prize of £100, sponsored by Llanwrtyd resident Colonel Tim Van Rees, will be awarded as a result of a visitors’ choice vote.

Visitors to the Heritage Centre throughout July have the opportunity to view the exhibition and vote for their favourite. The display included a variety of mediums including work in oils, pastels, pencil, acrylics, litho-prints, photography, collage and mixed media. The panel of judges were impressed by the brilliant and creative photography and interesting technical pieces in addition to the more traditional work and felt that the standard was very high with wonderful pieces providing great variety and a superb exhibition. Particular commendation was given to Simon Lilly.

“We were delighted with the number of entries, diverse interpretation of the theme, various mediums used and the wide-ranging geographical response,” said Lynne Brookes, centre manager.

“We are so lucky that Wales has such a wealth of talent and creativity and the centre is honoured to have the opportunity to display some of this artistic ability through this competition.

“We hope that visitors will come to the heritage centre to view the exhibition and vote for their favourite.”

The exhibition runs throughout July. Opening times are Thursday to Sunday 10am-4pm.

PEMD - The UK’s Next High-Value Sector?

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 15:23:32 GMT

The potential for hydrogen fuel-cells was well represented with Intelligent Energy displaying a range of their fuel cells - with mobile versions intended for vehicle integration, to larger static systems intended for use as backup power or providing power in off-grid locations. (3)

Power Electronics Machines and Drives: PEMD - The UK’s Next High-Value Sector?

ICE Breaker uses power dense Equipmake motors and hydrogen storage tanks integrated into the side skirts, enabled this system to fit the existing form of the HGV-unit.

Roger Tall reflects on Charcroft Electronics exhibiting at a successful 2024 CENEX-Expo held at the UTAC Millbrook proving ground. There was much to take in with many different technologies on display.

An article by Professor Mike Capaldi , Chair of Driving the Electric Revolution Industrialisation Centres (DER-IC) caught my eye on the show website and is worth a read. We are fortunate to have a heritage of technological developments and industrial firsts in the UK. From invention of the steam-engine & railway locomotive in Victorian times to radio, television and the internet in modern times - the drive towards carbon reduction has undoubtably led to further breakthroughs.

The PEMD sector has also undergone many years of research and development at UK academic institutions and within industry. It’s encouraging to see institutions emerging offering highly valued skills and expertise in these areas and for at that knowledge to be utilised by UK companies in this fast-growing sector.

Mercedes Benz AMG HPP, based at the Brixworth site, displayed a cut-away of their solid-state battery concept. (1) This technology promises recharge-times comparable to filling up a tank with petrol or diesel.

An interesting point to note with this technology is the need to apply a high level of pressure across the battery-cells - necessary to ensure good interface between the cell layers to allow the movement of electrons. However, something I had not understood, is that as cells are charged, the cells will expand significantly. Hence, there is some care and attention needed to provide a controlled pressure across the cells, as well as allowing them to expand and contract - however, the Engineer I spoke to did not want to expand on how this was achieved!

Hydrogen featured heavily - while not readily available across the UK, electrolysed hydrogen represents a potential energy storage solution for excess renewable (wind, solar, hydro, tidal) as well as baseline nuclear energy at times of low grid-demand. This included an impressive in-situ display of a twin hydrogen fuel cell stack in an HGV, dubbed ‘ICEBreaker’! (2)

Equipmake also displayed their new direct-drive heavy-duty electric motor on their stand, with double the power-rating of their existing motor, now achieving 200kW. Their latest inverter-drives were on display and it's great to see this UK company, building a powertrain with UK-manufactured components already powering many forms of transport: from electric-hypercars to re-powered buses, commercial vehicles and even space rockets! (4)

On a subsequent trip to Scotland for customer meetings this week, I happened upon a static hydrogen powered electrical generator setup at the Westmorland Cairn Lodge M74 services in Lanarkshire - while this passed by most of the users, I couldn't help investigating further.

Checking the Westmorland Family website, I found out that after the group saw demand for eV charging increase, they installed 6 high-power chargers - this couldn’t be supported by the local grid, so they took the initiative and installed a hydrogen powered generator from GeoPura - the first of its kind in the UK! (5)

Hydrogen can be used as a direct fuel alternative for combustion engines as JCB have spent much effort in proving and can now provide a low-carbon solution for the construction industry, able to power earthmoving equipment and provide site-power from electrical generators sets (6). Alternatively it can be used as a fuel to burn and provide heating, as set out in a recent Government overview (7).

In yet another global first, the H100 Fife project is building the first 100% hydrogen-to-homes zero carbon network anywhere in the world, to demonstrate the potential for the UK gas network to deliver hydrogen gas. 65% of the planned 8.2km of network has been installed with foundations in place for the hydrogen electrolyser and six storage vessels at the Fife Energy Park. (8)

There are many challenges ahead in the quest to reduce our reliance on carbon-emitting sources of energy - the solution is likely to come from a combination of technologies and most of them will require some form of power and control electronics. This indicates that there is clearly further room for this sector to grow which is good news for the electronics industry in the UK and beyond.

Roger Tall is Technical Director Charcroft Electronics who recently celebrated their 50th year in business. As a UK-based franchised distributor and manufacture of electronic components with field-based engineers and product-specialists, Charcroft specialises in providing tailored support at all stages: design, proof of concept, validation, prototyping, initial and series production as well as support of legacy systems and platforms.

Charcroft will be exhibiting at DVD 2024 www.theevent.co.uk at the Millbrook Proving Ground and InnoTrans www.innotrans.de/en/ at the Messe in Berlin this month.

References and further information:

Charcroft Celebrates 50 years

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 15:17:45 GMT

The company has been servicing customers for decades on long-term programs, from initial design to end-of-life, with additional focused support during periods of allocation or obsolescence.

Charcroft also operates a VPG approved Precision Centre, holding a large stock of foil resistors for rapid supply. Foil resistors have many benefits for audio applications—offering very low-noise and good pulse handling capability. This is useful in small-signal conditioning applications and larger devices provide solutions for high-power applications such as amplifier output stage and loudspeaker crossover applications.

Paul Newman started this electronic components business in 1974 from his home, Charcroft House, in Essex, UK. He saw the potential of electronics and 50 years later, Charcroft is now an established privately-owned specialist manufacturer and distributor offering a wide range of passive and electromechanical components as well as power supplies and high-temperature semiconductors.

After acquisition of a specialist Silver-Mica capacitor manufacturer, Charcroft now offers a range of Audio-Mica capacitors utilizing pure-silver throughout the signal-path—ensuring signal clarity is maintained.

In November 2020 Charcroft acquired ClarityCap and has since launched the Purity range, building upon years of research and experience in manufacturing audio grade capacitors.

Looking toward the future, we continue to invest for growth and look to increase our portfolio of products for high-end audio.

Powys Business Awards 2023 - People Development Award

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 13:51:18 GMT

Charcroft Electronics were finalists for the Powys Business Awards 2023 People Development Award. Watch the recent video below to learn more about Charcroft Electronics.

OPTEK Technology - Opto Electronics

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 13:45:13 GMT

TT Electronics OPTEK has created a concise video providing an overview of their organisation.

Managing Uncertainty

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 15:14:37 GMT

To comply with the latest Government measures to combat Covid-19, a key team of Charcroft’s staff will work from the office, following strict social distance guidelines, while others will work from home.

As we share the current uncertainty, Charcroft is staying in daily contact with suppliers and customers to actively monitor the response to the developing situation. The intense level of communication will be the basis for efficient planning which will enable us to deliver the highest possible service to our customers.

The changes that we have seen include a reduction in production capacity and the temporary closure of manufacturing facilities in China and Europe. The result of this has been a slippage in some lead-times. As the lockdown continues across a number of countries it is expected that more impact will be felt in the short and medium term.

Despite the uncertainty, we are still seeing a growth in bookings and delivering product. As a fully UK-based business, our whole inventory is stored locally, and our staff are ready to help you to maintain a stable supply. We will also help you to mitigate the effects of the current uncertainty.

We understand that, in this difficult and challenging time, we must give you the same consistent and steady presence that we have provided for the last 45 years.

If you have any questions, or need help in managing these uncertain times, we will be here for you.

2020 Vision

Mon, 16 Dec 2019 15:13:27 GMT

We also expect to see a growth in new product development. With all capacity and resources being allocated to managing demand when production was stretched, there is now the opportunity to look to development of new products again.

2020 is also expected to see a rise in demand for capacitors. With increasing electrification of vehicles in the automotive industry, there are now around ten times as many capacitors being used in sub-systems within standard vehicles, as well as the growth of the electric vehicle market. Within the aerospace and defence sector, we are also seeing increased activity, as with the space sector, where projects are starting to come to fruition. High-reliability passives is one area where we expect to see growth from these sectors in the coming year.

As 2019 draws to a close, we can reflect on what a challenging year it has been. The start of the year saw long lead-times and high demand, creating a period of instability.

With lead-times reducing through the latter half of the year and becoming more manageable, the focus has shifted from managing customer demand to maintaining continuity. Stability and support are key factors as we move into 2020, as the challenge changes from allocation to growth. Inventory that was built up during the lead-time crisis is now being utilised, and so we expect to see an upturn in demand once these stocks are depleted.

As we move from a period of allocation to consolidation, Charcroft look to continue our support to our customers. Working closely with engineers from OEMs and their CEM partners, as well as investing in a customer-driven inventory, enabled Charcroft to maintain an On-Time Delivery (OTD) rate of 98% throughout the period of allocation.

As we move into 2020, Charcroft can provide a positive partnership to our customers to ensure a successful new year.

Investing in the future

Tue, 08 Oct 2019 15:11:41 GMT

Although we are primarily known for being a specialist distributor, we have recently invested in extending our in-house value-add engineering capabilities to meet this growing demand. In addition to the existing manufacturing capabilities, we have created a whole new department of engineers tasked with the specific role of addressing bespoke manufacturing projects. Alongside this, we have invested in a new facility also within the town of Llanwrtyd Wells. This extra space enables the specialist manufacturing team to work on prototypes and development and also serves to extend the storage space available for stock.

With customer requirements becoming increasingly demanding and differentiated, Charcroft have seen a surge of interest in bespoke manufacturing projects. Whether it be small volume builds, prototyping and development, or simply the weird and wonderful – there has been a definite increase in demand for the more ‘off-the menu’ requests. The beauty of being a privately owned business is the adaptability – we have seen this shift and are able to respond and adapt to meet it.

With design-support available from our team of engineers and technical specialists, Charcroft can offer life extension to parts by aiding with managing process obsolescence. By supporting and liaising with the customer to meet their requirements, Charcroft have been able to assist with several special projects. Previously offering custom passive assemblies, flying leads options, printing and labelling, this has now been extended to include a broad repertoire of additional capabilities such as specialist technical solutions, design support, low production volumes and prototype builds.

Despite times within the electronics sector being particularly turbulent and uncertain, Charcroft continue to invest in the future. We pride ourselves on being a consistent presence and we continue to support our customers in all ways possible.

You can read more about our specialist manufacturing facility and what it offers here .

Charcroft will be joined at the UK Space Conference by AEM, Inc. - a high reliability component solutions provider, and Kemet - a leading global supplier of electronic components, on stand C3, where we will be presenting our full range of Space approved products.

Space: Endless Possibilities

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 15:09:20 GMT

The UK Space Industry continues to attract significant investment and development, which can be seen through the establishment of Space hubs in Cornwall, Glasgow, North Wales and Sutherland. These Space hubs aim to be completed by 2021, and will enable the UK to launch small satellites and space planes into orbit using both horizontal and vertical launch sites.

This strong growth in the Space sector is evident both within the UK and wider. There are now 430 launches of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites estimated to take place in 2019. This is compared to under 300 that were launched in 2017 and a drop to 240 launches in 2018. The basis for the growth lies in the difference between the performance and cost of a LEO satellite, compared to the those of a major satellite operating beyond LEO. For every major satellite, there are perhaps 50 smaller satellites working to a shorter lifecycle and with a lower threshold of reliability.

September 24th to 26th will see the UK Space Conference being held in the ICC in Newport.

Space continues to be an extremely dynamic market with plenty of opportunities for development and innovation. As an established UK-based supplier to the Space sector, offering a wide range of EEE components; Passive, Active, Protection, Sensors and Electro-mechanical solutions from Franchised manufacturers with many years of Space-heritage, Charcroft Electronics are best placed to support this rapidly expanding industry.

Our Product Specialists are able to provide assistance in component selection at every stage of development, from BB to FM, selecting from the range of available quality levels; from Automotive-grades considered for High-Altitude Pseudo Satellites & LEO Nano/Cube satellites, to components on the EPPL, up to full ESCC-QPL or the relevant MIL-PRF qualification for the extended mission length of MEO/GEO satellites, rovers & deep-space missions. We also provide advice on the available screening options.

Prime Position for Sensors

Mon, 19 Aug 2019 15:06:28 GMT

he Kavlico brand covers mission-critical, linear and rotary position sensors used by aerospace OEMs and Tier One suppliers as well as pressure sensors used in the industrial market. BEI’s position sensors, motion control sensors and optical and magnetic encoders are used in the industrial, aerospace, agricultural and medical device markets. The Crydom range of Solid-State Relays and Contactors (SSR/SSC) specialises in applications in the industrial market.

These new brands complement the sensors, switches, circuit breakers and thermostats available from Sensata’s Airpax and Klixon brands, and also serve to extend the repertoire of sensing products that are available from Charcroft.

Alongside the Sensata range of products, Charcroft also offer a wide range of optoelectronic sensors and switches from TT Electronics’ Optek range, such as the OPB9000 and the new OPF352A/350A fibre optic transmitters. We are also a franchised distributor for Fredericks, who manufacture a wide range of precision tilt sensors and switches and inclinometers for industrial applications.

Charcroft have been a specialist distributor for the Sensata franchise, offering both Airpax and Klixon brands along with the core Sensata range, for a number of years. Offering specialised technical support both in-house and from our field-based Product Specialist team located throughout the UK, this strong relationship has allowed Charcroft to offer Sensata unparalleled support for the UK market, growing both sales and brand awareness.

As a result of this ongoing positive partnership, Sensata have now extended their franchise agreement with Charcroft to cover three more of its brands. Charcroft are now able to offer Crydom, BEI Sensors and Kavlico, alongside our pre-existing ranges from Airpax and Klixon.

The new brands from Sensata will be on display at Sensors & Instrumentation show in September, where Charcroft will be hosting a stand together with Sensata and TT Electronics. We will have our Product Specialists in attendance alongside representatives from both Sensata and TT Electronics. In the technology showcase, Sensata plan to display their 116CP Pressure Sensor, whilst on the main stand (stand 61), you will find further samples and product literature available. Make sure you drop by the stand and see the full range of products that we can offer. For sensing problems, Charcroft can find the solution.

Best of British

Wed, 07 Aug 2019 15:03:11 GMT

Despite the pressures of an impending exit from the EU, elements of British industry continue to flourish, particularly the British audio market. This sector is unique in that products are not necessarily required to meet high-specifications or certifications, but instead, must satisfy the high expectations of the end user, where the emphasis is on sound quality. Charcroft customer, Rega, is one such producer, operating at the forefront of the high-end audio movement.

This UK specialist works with around 650 suppliers, 80 per cent of which are also located in the UK. Rega has dedicated significant research to developing its high-end range of audio products, such as the Aura MC, a fully adjustable, three-stage symmetrical preamplifier. Cohesion between British based businesses, such as Rega and Charcroft, encourages this home-grown innovation and development. For instance, Charcroft worked with Rega to ensure the capacitors provided to the Aura MC system were performing to the highest possible standard in order to support Rega’s emphasis on quality.

Backed by its industrial heritage, Britain’s homegrown successes continue to serve the industry to a high standard. Specialist UK-based distributors and manufacturers such as Charcroft Electronics, for example, provide a bespoke, tailored service with all staff, stock and manufacturing based in the UK. This centralisation enables British companies to be flexible by offering order-scheduling, UK-held buffer stocks and call-off as required, all of which can help to service customers facing challenging lead time and availability issues.

Moreover, with Brexit (potentially!) looming, the question on everyone’s lips is ‘how will it affect us?’ British based manufacturers utilising UK-based procurement could be in a better position come the end of March, as local-partner companies can take steps to mitigate the risk of a hard Brexit.

Charcroft’s in-house capability also continues to support Rega through the manufacture of accurate, high-stability components. Offerings such as the ‘naked’ resistor and other specialist components, screening services and matching, add clarity and balance to Rega’s high-value audio systems.

Ongoing relationships between British based manufacturers and distributors can only serve to enhance home market sectors, while also serving customers through continued flexibility, locally based technical support, and rapid response times. Opportunities provided by British based businesses within local communities are also something to celebrate.

The importance of technical expertise within the industry cannot be underestimated, and the more homegrown talent that can be nurtured and developed, the better. Businesses such as Charcroft and Rega offer in-house opportunities for development, with on the job training, support on external qualifications, and technical and industry understanding. This development and retention of staff and skills will only serve to support the UK-based electronics industry into the future.

Rail - The Reliability Challenge

Tue, 14 May 2019 15:00:21 GMT

The combination of the patented encapsulation process and the IP65 rating eliminated the hand-assembly which was required protect the original open-frame unit. This enabled the PCMDS150WK-IP65 to also provide a 20% reduction in the overall unit cost of each supply.

In addition to successfully overcoming the main reliability challenge, the replacement was also able to deliver additional benefits. The standard unit’s nominal input ranges of 24V (16.8V to 33.6V) and 110V (50.4 to 154V) were sufficient to cover the three input voltages required by the system.This allowed the OEM to replace the three original versions of the open-frame supply with just two PCMDS150 variants. A secondary circuit, with fully independent isolation and regulation, was also added to the supply to provide a 40V rail for use as a reset operating independently of the 12V board net.

To provide assured reliability for operation in the rail environment the new supply was fully tested for compliance to EN50155 and EN50121-3-2 by the manufacturer. A built-in heat-sink further improved reliability by eliminating the need for external cooling fans which are often a cause of failure in power supplies.

Take the example of a power supply which was used to drive an on-board Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS). Although the original unit provided a good fit for the system’s electrical and mechanical specifications, concerns over its operational reliability soon began to surface and a more reliable alternative was needed urgently.

The original approach was to use three different variants of an open-frame power supply to cover input voltages of 24V, 72V and 100V. To provide protection against vibration, water, dust and other potential contaminants, the open-frame supply was enclosed in a metal case with wires connecting the printed circuit board to the outside world.

With reliability at the core of the challenge, the starting point for the replacement unit was a 150W PCMDS150WK-IP65 DC-DC converter manufactured by MTM Power. The standard version of this supply features patented thermoselective vacuum encapsulation and an IP65 rating for maximum protection against external contaminants.

The thermoselective vacuum encapsulation process completely and permanently encapsulates the power supply to create a cemented joint to provide an inseparable link between the potting material and the components. This ensures that ageing, heat, cold, rapid temperature changes and other environmental influences do not result in delamination, cracking or air pockets which can compromise reliability and potentially lead to failure.

Railtex 2019 - Meet the experts

Mon, 06 May 2019 14:58:03 GMT

This increase in subsystems is also creating a demand for more DC/DC converters being required – the majority of train battery voltages are 110V, and these DC/DC converters are utilised to covert this to more manageable voltages for the various subsystems and functionalities, such as CCTV systems.

The increased use of electronic components is seen in both new builds and in major maintenance overhaul. During major maintenance overhaul safety critical components such as thermostats in heaters and HVAC are routinely changed, however, we are also seeing the opportunity being taken to modernise the facilities and capabilities within the train with the installation of new systems at this stage, such as wi-fi and charging facilities.

Stringent requirements for meeting strict industry standards, coupled with the necessity for robust, rugged components often means that sourcing components for the Rail industry can be very challenging. Sourcing for Rail, rolling stock, infrastructure and signalling covers a surprisingly wide variety of electronic components. Various types of circuit breakers, sensors, power conversion, power supplies, magnetics, optoelectronics, capacitors, resistors, thermostats and motor protectors are all supplied by Charcroft Electronics into Rail applications.

Over the last 10 years, Charcroft have seen some significant changes to the Rail component sector. The largest change is the dramatic increase in the volume of electronic components required. With a large increase in the amount of electronic systems being installed in Rail applications, there has been a shift, moving from the traditional electromechanical components to electronic components instead. We are seeing features being incorporated into carriages such as Wi-Fi, LED lighting, sockets in seats and charging facilities, all of which require more electronic components.

t Charcroft, we see the main future advancement for Rail and rolling stock as a move to greener power. With the UK government pledging to phase out diesel only trains completely by 2040, various other technologies are being developed, with the most likely replacement being hydrogen trains. Hydrogen trains are proposed to be introduced within the next 2 years on certain lines, offering emissions-free rolling stock, more effective performance whilst accelerating, and nearly zero noise.

As with the rest of the electronics industry, lead times for Rail components have been affected, and it can be tempting to consider sourcing outside of usual channels – however, at Charcroft we strongly recommend that you do not fall into that trap. Make sure you continue to rely on franchised sources, and ensure you use reputable distributors who know the Rail industry and requirements.

An understanding of the approvals required, and the harsh, rugged components needed, can allow the customer to be offered alternatives that meet the required fit, form and function. Also, where possible, it means the flexibility to offer customised solutions.

For expert advice on the Rail industry requirements, product demonstrations, and technical support, you can find Charcroft Electronics on Stand J03 at Railtex, May 14-16. We will be joined on the stand by MTM Power, who will be showcasing their range of rail-approved power solutions, including the new AC/DC Modules for Railway Applications. For a free visitor pass, contact our sales team who will be happy to help.

Defensively Focused

Mon, 11 Mar 2019 14:55:03 GMT

As such, the addition of our newest franchises, Euroquartz and Nexeya , are excellent fits for our business, serving to extend the repertoire of products that can be supplied into military and defence applications. Nexeya designs, manufactures, and supports specialized high criticality products and provides high value added services. These include test and integration solutions, space systems, mission management systems, and power conversion.

Charcroft Electronics supply components into many different market areas and for a wide variety of end applications. This includes Rail, Specialist Automotive, Audio, Space, and Instrumentation to name but a few. However, the most significant proportion of the components supplied by Charcroft go into military and defence applications. The military and defence market is extremely demanding and different to any other. Characterised by the need for high reliability, military qualified products, sourcing for the military and defence sector can often be a challenge.

Charcroft’s COTS, BS/CECC, DSCC, MIL-PRF product range can meet the demands of any potential sourcing challenges for this sector and is also supported by specialist skills such as qualified tin-whisker mitigation. Specially equipped to fully support all Military & NATO specified electronic components, with an extensive database of NATO numbers enabling us to identify complete parts lists, we supply to many leading defence contractors. We also focus on our knowledge base along with our technical offering, with active tracking of military and defence projects. Charcroft continues to be a strategically essential partner for military customers.

Euroquartz manufacturer and supply quartz crystals, oscillators, filters and frequency-related products to the electronics manufacturing industry world-wide. They have recently announced the release of a new range of surface mount miniature oven-controlled crystal oscillators (OCXO) offering the best frequency stability from a quartz IT cut crystal, for high stability applications.

Both Euroquartz and Nexeya will be exhibiting at DPRTE 2019 on March 28th in Farnborough Exhibition Centre, and both will be joined on their stands by Charcroft’s product specialists. To learn more about Nexeya and Euroquartz, visit them at the DPRTE show:

You can visit Euroquartz , joined by Charcroft on stand 64.

You can find Nexeya , joined by Charcroft on stand 29.

Managing Obsolescence

Mon, 04 Feb 2019 14:52:25 GMT

How important is specialist distribution when managing obsolescence?

Particularly within the mil-aero market, the programme lifecycle is changing. We are now seeing more emphasis on refurbishment rather than new development, and so programme lifecycles are stretched out further than originally intended. The result of this is that component lifetimes are often required for longer than originally planned from a programme perspective, but this is not aligned with the manufacturers commitment to the provision of the component.

Specialist distributors, such as Charcroft, can assist with obsolescence management in ways that larger distributors often cannot. In instances where a component is made obsolete before the end of the programme lifecycle, we can support by sourcing alternatives, often by utilising access to legacy catalogues and datasheets to find the closest fit, form and function. If there is no alternative to be found, there is also the opportunity for us – as we have the capability, to manufacture a direct alternative, potentially using modern techniques and components of a higher specification, thus supporting the programme from cradle to grave.

As challenging market conditions continue with no immediate signs of demand slowing down, sourcing components remains a struggle. The ongoing pressures of demand on manufacturers has led to a slew of components being made obsolete over the past months. With capacity at a premium, manufacturers are prioritising the production and supply of higher margin products, often at the expense of more mature, lower demand parts. Indeed, ongoing issues with demand into 2019 will likely see a continuation in component obsolescence.

Large blue-chip companies often have no commitment to long term programmes, and so decisions on obsolescence are predominantly financially driven with little thought given to the potential impact. The long-reaching implications of these decisions may mean that we will see OEM’s struggle to source components for next stages of programme lifecycles over the coming months and years, with the more immediate market demands being prioritised over long term requirements.

Sourcing of alternatives is but one facet of managing obsolescence. Industry knowledge and expertise is another efficient tool for mitigating the effects. When one manufacturer announced the first round of obsolescence for its tantalum buttons, Charcroft were able to foresee the potential implication of this in the long term, predicting the obsolescence of the whole range at a later date and advising customers to place orders to negate the impact as much as possible. This prediction has indeed come true with the full obsoleting of the range in 2019. With this initial foresight, customers had the potential to avoid the frantic rush on LTB and instead act to design-in alternatives.

Through-life specialist support for extended programme life cycles is something best handled by the experts. As the more ‘niche’ requirements of customers are falling to the wayside for the higher ticket items to be prioritised, Charcroft can help to bridge the gap between demand and availability. Efficient management of LTB opportunities and proactive management and forward planning of stock can also assist with ensuring support for obsolescence issues.

Challenging Environments

Wed, 10 Oct 2018 14:50:05 GMT

Here at Charcroft, we operate from a challenging local environment – nestled in the heart of the Cambrian mountains in mid-Wales, although beautiful, can often involve scenarios such as extreme weather and all the incumbent problems to accompany it. It does have many positives however, such as the proximity to the mach loop and military training areas. We often hear the jets flying over our offices or see the latest helicopters and armoured vehicles out on operation, so we are fortunate enough to get to see many of our products in action in their end capacity!

Our surrounding rugged environment is reflected in our rugged product uses, with our product portfolio focusing on harsh and high-end applications; defence and aerospace being integral market sectors for Charcroft. Although the procurement for these can often be complex, the combination of specialist systems and expertise, with over 40 years as a preferred supplier to major aerospace OEMs, enables us to ensure faster and more secure sourcing.

In addition to this expertise in these fields, our dedicated aerospace quality programme has evolved and Charcroft have recently achieved the aerospace certification AS9120. This is a fantastic achievement for all our staff, who endured rigorous auditing and months of hard work to enable us to be awarded with this certification. It is testament to our dedication to continuous improvement.

Along with our AS9120 certification, there are other exciting developments in the aerospace and defence sectors, such as the latest Exxelia MIL-qualified wet tantalum capacitors that we are able to offer. The DSCC 93026 wet tantalum capacitor offers high capacitance and high ripple current. Exxelia has also received the M-Level (1.0%/1000h) MIL-PRF-39006/22 and MIL-PRF-39006/25, qualifications approval for its new ranges of wet tantalum capacitors. These state-of-the-art MIL-qualified wet tantalum capacitors are widely used in avionics applications where high performance and extreme reliability are required.

As we continue to thrive in our challenging local environment, we also continue to thrive within challenging times within the market. If you are in need of assistance with sourcing issues, or want further information on our AS certification or latest Mil-qualified products, contact the Charcroft Sales team who will be eager to help.

New Franchises

Tue, 25 Sep 2018 14:46:37 GMT

Over the last year with market conditions and sourcing issues being so challenging, it has been of utmost importance for Charcroft to ensure we are able to offer as wide a selection of solutions as possible to our customers. This is reflected in both our activities as a sales team – by constantly seeking out best lead times, sourcing alternatives, and liaising with multiple channels of procurement – and our evolution as a distributor to ensure we have as many options available for our customers as possible.

This commitment to our customers is evident in the extension of our product offering. The last year has seen Charcroft expand and develop our existing portfolio of products & services for Space, Rail, Industrial, Aerospace and Military applications, through the addition of Nexeya, AEM and Euroquartz to our franchises. Coupled with Kemet’s acquisition of Tokin, which also enables us to expand our range of electronic component products, including sensors, which we were able to showcase at the Sensors & Instrumentation show last month.

ur exclusive UK and Ireland franchised distributor and representation agreement with NEXEYA enables us to offer key products, capability & services with extended life support and high value support services into a range of mission critical applications. NEXEYA provide consulting, design, manufacture, & support services to specialized, high-criticality systems, along with being at the cutting edge of mission-management (C4S, ISR) systems.

Charcroft are also now fully franchised for the full Euroquartz range of products. Euroquartz has several specialist product areas, particularly in the design and manufacture of custom electronic filters, high reliability oscillators for defence related applications and radiation tolerant oscillators for high-altitude aerospace and space satellite applications.

Charcroft’s exclusive distribution franchise agreement with AEM serves to provide our customers with greater choice and enable our Product Specialists to offer a more complete solution for Space-grade systems. AEM’s range includes the only solid body, current-limiting fuses with QPL listing and high-reliability ferrite chip beads designed for applications in which replacement is not an option. These components are used extensively in military and commercial satellites and in manned space vehicles.

These exciting new additions to Charcroft’s portfolio will enable us to provide our customers with greater choice and more complete solutions. For further information on any of our new or existing franchises and products, please get in touch and Challenge Charcroft to help with your sourcing problems.

Focus on Sensors and Instrumentation

Mon, 03 Sep 2018 14:44:27 GMT

This month, Charcroft will once again be exhibiting at the Sensors and Instrumentation show, joined on the stand by TT Electronics and VPG. With product specialists and design engineers to hand, we will be able to assist you with any queries you have.

Design engineer Kevin Smith of VPG will be on the stand to introduce the latest product from VPG - an industry-exclusive ultra-high precision current sense resistor. As an industry-first, the CSM3637F current-sense resistor combines excellent load-life stability with low TCR for applications up to 3W in military, aerospace, energy and medical markets.

You will also be able to take the opportunity to discuss alternatives with TT Electronics - with Honeywell announcing that they have discontinued their Infrared Sensors product line, many customers will be required to qualify new parts, and as such will be seeking alternative parts. In this instance, we have already identified that TT electronics’ OPTEK will have many direct, drop-in replacements we can offer from their Optoelectronics line, which covers many position and presence detectors, plus discrete sensor components.

In the Innovation Showcase we will be displaying the Fredericks Company Dual Axis Tilt Switch. Aimed at industrial applications, this wide-range, dual-axis tilt switch has settable trip angles from ±1° to ±45° with (4) relay outputs; one for each direction in each axis. These relays provide an extremely repeatable output within ±0.1° and are rated for 2 A at 30 V DC. This tilt switch also comes standard with RS-232 communications so that you can easily change settings prior to installation or in the field. The robust housing and potting environmentally seal this unit and give it an ingress protection rating of IP67.

For all this and more, come and visit us on Stand E1 and Challenge Charcroft to help you with your queries.

Alternate Thinking

Mon, 02 Jul 2018 14:41:10 GMT

Extended lead-times and component shortages are continuing to cause issues within the electronics industry. Inventories are depleting, and components are becoming ever-increasingly hard to source. MLCC’s, one of the industry’s most heavily utilised commodity products, have been hit especially hard.

With no silver lining in sight for these problems, it may be time to consider what alternative options are available to you. Whether it is a redesign or a replacement, you may have more choice than you think. Charcroft can source alternatives from a part number, product description, NATO stock number or release specification. Alongside these more ‘direct’ alternatives, Charcroft also have the know-how to be able to think outside the box with what we can offer. Through reviewing the BOM, we can advise engineers if the MLCC they require could actually be replaced with a smaller option, as downsizing the case size does not always have a negative impact on the dielectric.

At design stage, MLCC’s can even be replaced by Polymer caps - there are a number of factors which need to be in alignment for this to work - capacitance, voltage, ESR, frequency, leakage current, size, and qualifications – but meeting these specific conditions could provide a solution to your problem..

In these challenging times for passives components, send Charcroft your problem parts to offer alternatives or to help you source - let us show you what we can do...... Charcroft - Challenge Accepted!

Charcroft – Turn Up The Heat!

Mon, 25 Jun 2018 14:39:45 GMT

With temperatures outside soaring, how are you coping with the heat? If you are anything like the staff here at Charcroft, you’ll be spending a lot of time eating ice creams and hogging the desk fans. Luckily for us, our product range is far better equipped to deal with the rising temperatures than we are!

Charcroft’s extensive linecard focuses on high-reliability, high-temperature products that can endure the harshest conditions. One example of this is the new T599 KO-CAP High Humidity/High Temperature Performance Polymer series from Kemet, its first 150°C Automotive KO-CAP capacitor. T599 capacitors pass 1,000 hours of humidity bias testing under 85°C with 85% relative humidity at rated voltage, and endurance testing at 150°C up to 1,000 hours, rendering it the only 150°C AEC-Q200 qualified polymer electrolytic capacitor available today.

Also from Kemet, their High Temperature X7R Dielectric capacitors are formulated and designed for extreme temperature applications. Constructed of a robust and proprietary base metal electrode (BME) dielectric system, these devices are capable of reliable operation in temperatures up to 175°C. Providing an attractive combination of performance and robustness in general high temperature applications, High Temperature X7R dielectric capacitors are well suited for high temperature bypass and decoupling applications or frequency discriminating circuits where Q and stability of capacitance characteristics are not critical. The X7R is aimed for use in applications in extreme environments such as down-hole exploration, aerospace engine compartments and geophysical probes.

With Tantalum capacitors available for operation up to 230°C and Ceramic capacitors available for operation up to 260°C, you can also use the Kemet High Temperature Capacitor Selection Guide to help you find your best fit; this can be found here .

For more high-temperature product ranges, get in touch with Charcroft and Challenge us to help you. The temperature may be hot, but our experienced Sales team can keep their cool under the pressure of a challenge!

Charcroft: Going the Extra Mile

Mon, 21 May 2018 14:37:48 GMT

In the current climate of ever increasing lead times and lack of availability, Charcroft challenges itself to go the extra mile to find a solution for your problem. Our dedicated Sales team are on hand to draw from their extensive industry experience, and our team of UK based Product Specialists and Business Development Managers are available for in-the-field support. By providing specialist support when you need it most, we help engineers to design more reliable systems and buyers to source parts faster and more efficiently.

For buyers, we can assist with auditing BoMs to improve continuity of supply. Inventory management is also crucial to minimise inventory liability for customers; thus we ensure we invest in inventory to minimise back-to-back ordering and engage in active inventory planning based on potential demand.

In our Vishay Approved Precision Centre, we can offer fast prototyping and Precision Express lead times (where available). Our proactive Sales team are experts in getting a fast response from our franchised manufacturers, along with having the ability to establish second-source alternatives for allocated passives.

We can assist engineers with trouble-shooting design challenges and supporting design-in for continuity of supply, enabling specialist though-life support. Thinking outside the box to find a different approach, we can take responsibility for delivering a total solution. Our UK-based manufacturing facility can offer custom passive assemblies and a bespoke assembly service.

Charcroft takes great pride in the ability of our team to step up to the mark and accept whatever challenge is set to us, and we are confident that we can provide superior support and solutions wherever possible.

Sensing a Solution

Mon, 14 May 2018 14:35:38 GMT

Charcroft thrives on a good challenge, and as a specialist in obsolescence management we were excited to have one come across our desks just last month. In February, Honeywell announced that they are discontinuing their Infrared Sensors product line, effective from May. Many customers will be required to qualify new parts, and as such will be seeking alternative parts.

A key factor in Charcroft’s repertoire is the ability to source alternatives to obsolete parts. In this instance, we have already identified that TT electronics’ OPTEK will have many direct, drop-in replacements we can offer from their Optoelectronics line, which covers many position and presence detectors, plus discrete sensor components.

With over 40 years of specialist experience in sourcing obsolete components, we are able to mitigate the potential impact of parts becoming obsolete through a number of measures. We have an extensive library of legacy databooks to identify obsolete product specifications, along with passives datasheets and catalogues and legacy NATO, BS/CECC approval numbers. We have the in-house capability to cross-reference internal OEM part numbers through over 40 years of historical order records.

Charcroft Delivers!

Wed, 14 Mar 2018 14:34:06 GMT

The past 12 months have seen particularly challenging times for the industry, with lead-times for components slipping out further and further. Despite this, Charcroft have managed to maintain record on-time deliveries to Key Customers of 98.5% for the last 12 consecutive months. In comparison to a reported market average of 70%, this is an impressive statistic by anyone’s measure. But how does Charcroft achieve this?

There are many factors that contribute to this, arguably the most important of which is the vast wealth of experience that our sales team possess. With over 40 years’ experience between us we are well-versed in weathering the storm, giving us the foresight to stage an early intervention based on our market knowledge. This knowledge also enables us to think outside the box to find flexible solutions to our customer’s queries. This can range from identifying alternative parts with faster availability, suggesting ways to design-in flexible procurement, and identifying upgraded alternatives to legacy devices. Our sales team also strive to get a swift response from our franchised manufacturers to ensure we can tackle the problem quickly, minimizing liability and procurement risk for customers.

Our sales team works closely alongside our procurement and customer services teams, ensuring a well-informed overview of the current market status. This collective approach means we can be extremely pro-active and utilize our collaborative efforts to ensure we are prepared for anything. It means we can actively plan inventories based on potential demand. With the ability to hold up to 12-months of customer buffer stock, we can invest in inventory to minimise back-to-back ordering.

Our ongoing efforts behind the scenes are all focused around ensuring that we can provide our customers with the best solution. So if you have problems with delivery times and lead times, challenge Charcroft to find you a solution!

Audio: Music To Our Ears

Mon, 05 Feb 2018 14:32:10 GMT

The Bristol Audio show is almost upon us, an annual event drawing in thousands of Audio enthusiasts, it marries two universes – the Audio manufacturer and consumer. The Audio consumer is increasingly sophisticated in their demands, and as both a manufacturer and a distributor of a wide variety of Audio components, we need to be aware of these. Charcroft’s Tina Ford will be at the Bristol Audio Show to ensure that we are kept fully abreast of the latest developments and demands.

The Audio market is unique in that products are not necessarily required to meet high-specifications or certifications, but instead, must satisfy the high expectations of the end user where the emphasis is firmly on the quality of sound. Charcroft’s in-house capability delivers this through the manufacture of accurate, high-stability components demanded by high-end Audio applications. Offerings such as the unique ‘naked’ resistor and other specialist components, screening services and matching, add clarity and balance to high-value Audio systems.

To ensure we continue to provide our customers with unique audio-components, Charcroft can now offer a Precision Mica capacitor, engineered specifically to provide the purest sound in Audio applications. Constructed from the finest Indian Ruby Mica plates, silver sintered with solid-silver leads, they are assembled and individually trimmed by hand in our fully UK based manufacturing facility.

In addition to the Silver Mica capacitor, Charcroft manufactures its own Audio resistors, the CAR (Charcroft Audio Resistor) & SCAR (Charcroft Audio resistors (Surface Mount)), composed of VPG’s Bulk Metal® Z-foil technology. Manufactured in our Vishay-Approved Precision Centre, these product ranges offer improved sound quality and provide a combination of low noise and low inductance/capacitance, which make it unrivalled for applications requiring low noise and distortion-free properties.

CAR resistors are also now offered with 100% Component Linearity Testing (CLT) to detect potential defects beyond the limits of standard visual and electrical inspection. These small defects can distort the harmonic performance of the component and only Charcroft is able to offer this testing as standard – providing the reassurance of achieving the cleanest sound possible.

Here at Charcroft we are passionate about Audio – we are the source of components that enable our customers to achieve the clarity and quality of sound that they strive for. To learn more about what we can offer, get in touch and Challenge Charcroft!

Tina will be at the Bristol Audio Show on February 23rd-25th 2018

Diamond In The Rough

Tue, 19 Dec 2017 14:30:06 GMT

2017 was a successful year for the Electronics Industry, with actual growth far exceeding predictions. However, with this success came implications. As order-books filled, component manufacturers were ill-prepared for the demand, and having previously downscaled operations to prepare for what was predicted to be a fairly flat year, lead times began to move out.

Lead times are now at the worst point they have been at for many years, stretching out over weeks and months. For the ‘new generation’ within the workforce, termed ‘Millennials’, this will have been one of the biggest industry challenges for them to face to date. The term Millennial is applied to a generation of workers who began their working lives from around the year 2000, characterised by having grown up fully immersed in digital technology. Often used as a derogatory term, there are many suggestions that this new generation are simply not up to the task when times are hard.

There have been several suggestions that these Millennials are having a negative impact on an already challenging situation, with their perceived over-reliance on communication via digital channels rather than face to face or picking up the phone for a chat, and ill equipped in skills that the previous generation had in abundance, such as communication skills, adaptability, and how to cope in a crisis. They have been dismissed by many camps as incapable of dealing with these industry challenges; they are seen as fool’s gold – shiny and full of promise, but ultimately lacking quality and value - rather than as precious gems. Here at Charcroft, we see things differently. Charcroft challenges itself to create its own precious gems in these difficult times- after all, pearls are created from irritation and stress!

Whilst some camps may wish to merely blame this generation to absolve themselves from any responsibility, at Charcroft we would not choose to dismiss an entire generation in such a sweeping manner. We have a large percentage of our workforce represented from this generation, yet we do not see these failings in our staff. This may be down to many factors – the quality of our recruitment process for example. But we believe it also comes down to the Charcroft ethos.

We see our role as to nurture and develop our talented staff, to ensure we are getting the best from them (and they are getting the best from us!). We ensure that we engage in ongoing in-house training and development to inculcate key skills in our staff, such as communication, problem solving and adaptability.

We encourage communication in all forms, along with free flow of knowledge and understanding - we do not hoard knowledge at a senior level, but cascade this down so that all staff are fully engaged.

Tough times such as these should demonstrate the ability to adapt and compromise, to be flexible and innovative. We see this as an opportunity to grow and develop our staff, so they have an appreciation of both the good times and the bad, and can deal with both accordingly. Whilst Millennials are so often dismissed as worthless pebbles, we have no doubt that we will overcome these tough times, emerging on the other side as stronger and more valuable – after all, as Henry Kissinger said, ‘A diamond is a piece of coal made good under pressure.’

High-reliability Relationships

Mon, 09 Oct 2017 14:28:03 GMT

As a Specialist distributor, our franchises are central to what we do. It is imperative for us to select the right fit for Charcroft and for our customers and markets. However, it is also imperative that the franchise select the best fit for them. AEM Inc. have selected Charcroft Electronics to be the sole UK distributor of their Space-grade fuses and Hi-rel ferrite chip beads. This is a huge achievement for us – not only for what the addition of the AEM product range adds to our existing portfolio of Space-grade and high-reliability products, but as testament to our reputation within the electronics industry.

AEM have granted us exclusivity in the UK market, thus putting their trust in us to grow their business within the UK. This demonstrates not only the high esteem in which we are held, but the faith that our suppliers have in our ability to provide the best possible platform for them within a highly competitive market. A natural fit into our existing repertoire –complementing our portfolio within the competitive Space and high-reliability market, AEM offer a differentiated product range that fits in with our differentiated service levels.

We have approached the addition of AEM in a manner which reflects our level of regard for all our suppliers. Immediately initiating a Press Release to celebrate our new addition, we have also rolled out in-house training to equip our staff with the best possible knowledge and understanding of the product. In order to best support our new relationship with AEM, we are actively working on demand creation and a thorough analysis of the market and applications.

They can boast being the sole QPL listed manufacturer of solid body, current limiting fuses. These fuses have been chosen by most major space programs and have been in orbit for the past 30-plus years with zero reported failures. Quite an achievement! AEM’s Space-grade fuses and Hi-rel ferrite chip beads are also no longer regulated by ITAR, having been reclassified as EAR99, making them easier to use. The high-rel fuses have been ESA EPPL Listed since March 2017 – the only fuse on this list.

These niche products are exactly what Charcroft do best – taking a specialised, differentiated product – something a little bit quirky and different, and working with them to develop and grow within a competitive market. Charcroft’s natural tenacity to succeed also stretches to envelop our franchises. We look forward to this latest challenge, and are excited to see where it leads us!

Leading Questions

Wed, 20 Sep 2017 14:26:04 GMT

The issue on everyone’s lips right now is lead times - with them slipping out further and further across the board, what can we do to mitigate the worst of the impact? Customers are currently suffering from lead times that are extremely unfavourable, impacting a cross section of market sectors but particularly the mil-aero & space markets. High levels of activity for projects such as Captor and Galileo have led to an increase in demand for high-rel parts – this is putting pressure on capacity at the component manufacturers. They are juggling demand for higher-priced low-volume hi-rel parts against high-volume, low-cost consumer demand. This is a tricky balance to strike!

As a Specialist Distribution centre, at Charcroft we can offer Specialist support on lead-time management. Where higher capacity can lead to diluted tech-support and lack of flexibility on pricing and deliveries, Charcroft can buffer the effects of long lead times and increased demand through the technical support and knowledge that our in-house product specialists are able to offer, along with our in-house testing and manufacturing facility.

One service we provide to help to manage long lead times is by automatically checking for alternatives with slightly different specifications to allocated parts. This flexible approach to problem solving was demonstrated when one OEM required a 2% tolerance capacitor, but this was quoted with a lead time of 20+ weeks. Dissatisfied with this, our Sales team dug further to find a better solution.

A closer look at the full BoM revealed that the OEM also required the same device but with a 5% tolerance – and this was available ex-stock. The manufacturer did not have the ability to select out parts in their process, however we were able to do this ourselves using equipment in our in-house testing and manufacturing facility. We therefore purchased a higher quantity of this device and selected-out the necessary number of 2% devices. This resulted in an initial lead time of 20+ weeks being slashed to just a week, which resulted in a happy customer.

Offering flexible solutions and specialist support, challenge Charcroft to help with your problematic lead times!

Charcroft: Challenge Accepted

Mon, 14 Aug 2017 14:24:18 GMT

Here at Charcroft, how we are perceived is extremely important to us. We take great pride in our level of service and knowledge, and it’s of utmost importance to us that not only do our customers and suppliers view us in a favourable light, but also that our employees are happy and feel valued. We have recently been working on our new linecard (available online or via our sales team now!), and our new website (coming soon!), and as part of this review, we took a long hard look at our branding. We quickly realised that we needed a new slogan. Our previous slogan – ‘Knowledge of yesterday, looking after today, supporting tomorrow’ – although it is still very much relevant and captures our specific brand of expertise, is not the catchiest!

So we decided to introduce a new slogan for Charcroft….. Brains were stormed, there was blue sky thinking, and we searched outside of the box! Eventually, we ran out of steam and conceded defeat. We decided to put it to the masses to come up with something punchy yet relevant, concise yet memorable. So we sent out the challenge to our staff – how would they describe us in one sentence, what sums us up to people?

We awaited the response with trepidation – uncertain whether our employees would buy into the gauntlet set out by us, and also uncertain as to what they would say! We were utterly overwhelmed with the response. The ideas that people were coming up with were not only innovative, but incredibly positive! After a tough decision-making process, we decided to go with a slogan that particularly caught our imagination – Charcroft: Challenge Accepted!

This sung to us, appealing to our competitive nature as a business, and also to the pride we have in our ability to problem solve, offer unprecedented levels of service, and provide solutions where others may not be able to. It speaks volumes about the confidence we have in our own ability, but most importantly – the confidence our own employees have in our ability. It is a true reflection of the whole ethos of Charcroft Electronics. So if you have a challenge to set us – we accept!

Space: A Market Moving at Warp Speed!

Wed, 26 Jul 2017 14:21:44 GMT

When you think of the factors driving change within the Space market, you may think of the advancements in technology, the growth in capabilities, smarter systems… You may not necessarily think of social media and the internet as being relevant at all!

However, Charcroft Electronics’ Roger Tall recently visited the UK Space event in Manchester, where he was able to get a feeling for the current focus and interest in the space exploration market. Something that became apparent is how the growth of the internet and social media has spawned a wave of entrepreneurs who want to reach every part of the globe. This in turn has led to an increase in the number of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations being proposed - these constellations could bring those ambitions to reality.

In addition to the impact of the internet and social media, there are also a growing number of companies operating in the down-stream sector, who are utilizing the vast amount of data available for commercial exploitation from current orbiting platforms. From shipping and aircraft tracking to optical and infra-red images used to distinguish between farm crop types – there is a wealth of data available, waiting to be mined and sold.

However, for more critical applications or longer mission lengths, there is still a requirement for space-qualified parts and new components continue to be put through qualification. Industry’s first ESA-listed (EPPL) Polymer Tantalum from KEMET allows the advantages of the recent developments in technology to be utilised in Space – a reduced voltage derating allows use closer to the rated value - increasing capacitance/voltage per unit volume; allowing a reduced parts count, increased reliability, more efficient use of board-space and potential for reduction in weight. The parts also exhibit a benign failure mode and a very low ESR - reducing losses further and enabling the platform power budget to be conserved.

These market developments serve to demonstrate the importance of information to enable us to keep up with the changing face of demands and expectations within the sector. Events such as the UK Space Event 2017 are great for getting a real feel for the market – what is driving change, what is on the horizon, and sometimes just for that informal chat with a customer or supplier. With that in mind, Roger has European Microwave Week 2017 on the horizon - it helps to keep our ears to the ground about what is important in Space!

Life in the Fast Lane!

Mon, 15 May 2017 14:18:52 GMT

Charcroft’s product specialist, Roger, entered a competition this year – he bought a Continental tyre at his local Kwik-Fit and then entered the Black-Chili driving experience competition on-line. The initial prize was a day at Mercedes Benz World, based at the site of the old Brooklands racing circuit in Surrey. Roger and his brother took part in various events on the day, where there were 24 pairs competing to go through.

Roger flexed his competitive muscles and came first overall! His prize for this was to enjoy five days of driving luxury cars, including a Chevrolet Corvette C7 ‘Stingray’, Tesla-Model S, Porsche Macan S, Mercedes CLA AMG, BMW M4 and Jaguar F-Type, through picturesque Andalucia.

This was a once in a lifetime opportunity – the cars were actually owned by a millionaire ex-racing driver, with a very understanding insurance company! Naturally we were all very happy for Roger, and thoroughly enjoyed his tales of zooming around in the sunshine…. When the jealousy finally wore off, it got us chatting about what was so special about these super cars – what makes them so valuable and so sought after? After all, isn’t a car simply a car?

After much debate (which car would YOU choose if you won the lottery?! Roger is opting for the BMW M4!), we deduced that people pay a premium for super cars not just for the product itself, but for the whole package – the product, the service, the prestige. Here at Charcroft, we like to think that we have many similarities with these super cars. We may not all be sleek and glossy! But we do pride ourselves on the premium package we are able to offer.

As a specialist manufacturer and distributor, we are able to differentiate ourselves by offering a totally bespoke service offering. We have product specialists who are on hand and able to provide help and advice, we have a dedicated sales team who are at the end of the phone for any queries. We are even a CECC approved manufacturer of commercial and CECC released passive components, with short lead times and small moq.

Our products too, can draw many similarities with these super cars. Just as the Jaguar F-Type is high performance, so are our specialist automotive grade products. We pride ourselves on offering products specifically tailored to the automotive market - such as the addition by Kemet of several new HiCV values to the Surface Mount Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor (SMD MLCC) portfolio in X7R dielectric Auto Grade. These new devices meet the same high-performance quality standards of KEMET's ceramic capacitors, offering long component life, increased reliability and non-directional polarization for simplified component mounting.

Just as supercars are heralded for their high-performance, high-quality and high specification, so too is our range of specialised automotive products, and our service offering. Charcroft carries a prestigious reputation within the electronics industry, offering the same high standards and brand guarantee that can be found within the luxury car market. Just a little less glamorous!