A happy and innovative New Year from New Electronics
When the financial crisis hit a couple of years ago, spending on consumer electronics was expected to crash. But it didn't; customers have continued to buy tvs, iPhones, cameras and, more recently, iPads.
But sales into 'industrial' markets dropped significantly; a situation that was reversed in 2010, with automotive the biggest growing of all markets. So what does 2011 hold in store for the UK's electronics industry?
While UK manufacturing output is set to increase, distribution association afdec remains less than bullish. In its latest forecast, it expects sales by member companies to grow by just 4.3% in 2011. It adds that, while order books remain strong, there are signs that growth will slow in the second half of the year.
The general economic climate may not be too encouraging, but there remain opportunities for companies to innovate, to focus on particular markets - power conversion, MEMs, medical and healthcare, and rf technologies are just some examples - and to develop solutions that customers need.
New Electronics wishes you a happy and innovative New Year.
