EBV vil sælge egenudviklede chips

EBV Elektronik vil under navnet EBVchip sælge standard chips, der er udviklet i samarbejde med nøglekunder (in english).

With immediate effect, EBV Elektronik is offering via EBVchips a brand-new additional service in which it collaborates with customers to design its own semiconductors. EBVchips are produced by EBV’s manufacturers and distributed exclusively by EBV.

According to EBV this is the first time in the history of the semiconductor industry, one distributor is providing even small and mediumsized companies with access to specially customized products featuring state-of-the-art technology with the best price/performance ratio.

- With EBVchips, we now represent the interface between many thousands of customers and the manufacturer, explains Slobodan Puljarevic, President and CEO of EBV Elektronik.
- This takes semiconductor distribution to a whole new level. 2009 was the ‘Darwin year’ of the semiconductor industry. Anyone who carries on as before and fails to reach the next evolutionary stage with the products and services they offer will find things very difficult in the long run. 

Small and medium-sized companies as ‘key accounts’

When it comes to sales and product marketing, semiconductor manufacturers work very closely with their key account customers. By contrast, contact with small and mediumsized companies has so far been maintained exclusively at the distribution level. EBV, however, is now extending this indirect relationship to the product marketing and definition level.

- When it comes to product marketing, the manufacturers do not have the manpower to look after thousands of customers, continues Puljarevic.
- In addition, customers cannot generally achieve by themselves the quantities required in order to make a new product attractive for manufacturers. EBV, therefore, is helping to turn medium-sized companies as a whole into ‘key account customers’ for semiconductor manufacturers.

Customised semiconductors

With dedicated sales teams, EBV is supporting customers throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) in the vertical market segments Automotive, General Lighting, RFID, Medical, Renewable Energies and Consumer. It is using these areas to generate key data and product ideas for EBVchips.

However, any customer has access to EBVchips! Slobodan Puljarevic continues:
- If customers have an idea for an EBVchip, they simply need to get in touch with their local EBV contact. All ideas are greatly appreciated, regardless of the application or market segment. With regard to the various conditions, EBV is also happy to make concessions for customers who play a key role in defining a new chip. 

Exclusively with EBV

Based on the wishes and requirements of its customers, EBV will define its own semiconductors and then arrange for these to be manufactured. The EBVchips will bear an original component number assigned by the manufacturer and are also stamped with the manufacturer’s logo.

EBV will then hold exclusive distribution rights for the component for between three and five years, a period typical for this particular industry. The manufacturer is responsible for ensuring compliance with specifications. As is the case with all semiconductors in the range, EBV will act solely as a distribution channel for these new application-specific  semiconductors too.

Therefore, with regard to the EBVchips, issues such as liability, warranty, qualification and long-term availability are also the responsibility of the manufacturers themselves.
- EBV Elektronik is, however, the intellectual property owner of the chip, explains Slobodan Puljarevic.

The first EBVchips

EBV already has some specific ideas for EBVchips in a range of markets and applications. Puljarevic currently sees the biggest potential for EBVchips in analogue and mixed-signal products, where the ‘power’ segment (e.g. wind turbines) will play a particularly important role.

- We will be especially active in the area of power semiconductors, which are used in applications for renewable energies. In short, these products will benefit from considerable know-how, while the project will remain transparent.

The first EBVchips will be launched during the course of 2010.