Charcroft adds new franchise and specialist field-based engineer neer
Specialist electronics distribution firm Charcroft Electronics has just added Central Semiconductor to its portfolio of suppliers.
Charcroft Green Growth Pledge plans 40 per cent reduction in carbon emissions
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.
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.
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)
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.
Charcroft Electronics were finalists for the Powys Business Awards 2023 People Development Award. Watch the recent video below to learn more about Charcroft Electronics.
TT Electronics OPTEK has created a concise video providing an overview of their organisation.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
