EDS focuses on LEDs

There is no doubt that LED technology continues to be the hot topic for the electronics industry. Recognizing this fact, the Electronic Distribution Show (EDS), the annual event that unites suppliers and distributors, is making a concerted effort to shine a light in that direction.

“We think that LED [technology] is a hot area,” said Gerald Newman, EDS Executive Vice President. “We would like to see more LED participation at EDS.”

As a supporter of electronic component distributors, Newman and EDS hope they can help the industry figure out how to sell LED products through distribution. While he knows that some of the larger distributors are beginning to do that, he’s not sure distributors as a whole have come around yet. “The fact is we just don’t know,” he said. “We don’t think they are [selling LEDs].”

Two efforts toward this end are featured seminars dealing with LED topics. On May 6 at 11 a.m., a discussion moderated by Hearst’s own Steve Cholas attempts to gain insight on HBLEDs from the three-person panel including Avnet LightSpeed’s Cary Eskow, Tyco’s Ronald Weber, and CAO Group’s Kennie Alton. The same time on May 7 features a presentation titled “Demystifying LED Technology“ by Frank Robertazzi, an optoelectronics veteran formerly with Hewlett-Packard, Agilent, Avago, and Chicago Miniature Lamp.

Supported by organizations such as the Electronic Components Association, the Electronic Representatives Association, and the National Electronics Distributors Association, EDS is four full days of surfing the elevators of the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas to visit with a variety of suppliers to discuss their new products, the state of the industry, and other important information I can bring back to the readers. For instance, at last year’s EDS show I first learned about the Premier Farnell Live Edge design contest during my meeting with Newark Electronics.

While most of the action goes on behind the closed doors of the Paris suites, EDS does offer a relatively small but lively show floor that includes more than 300 suppliers from around the world. EDS 2008 runs from May 6 to 8 at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas. For more information, go to http://edsconnects.com.

Ralph Raiola