TTI to carry discretes

By Jim Carbone -- Purchasing, 5/17/2007 1:19:00 PM

Passives and connector distributor TTI says it will soon begin selling discrete semiconductors.

The distributor says it will carry discretes manufactured by Vishay Intertechnology, based in Malvern, Penn., and will add several more lines in the near future.

TTI carries Vishay passive components and adding the component manufacturer’s discrete semiconductors is an “appropriate extension of our relationship with Vishay,” says Craig Conrad, senior vice president and chief marketing and strategic planning officer forthe Fort Worth, Texas-based TTI. He says TTI will add more discrete lines because the distributor has to have a “portfolio that is interesting to buyers.”

“We will be selective in what lines we add,” he says.

While TTI will sell discrete semiconductors, it has no plans sell higher end chips. ‘TTI is not going to get into integrated circuits or broad-based semiconductors,” says Conrad. “We feel our role in the market is to be a specialized company and we are extremely committed to not losing that specialization,” he says.

He says discrete semiconductors are similar to passive components in some ways.They both are considered “C” items by buyers. “They are low-cost, high-volume items and in some cases their sizes are similar to passives,” says Conrad.

He says in customer surveys buyers often have asked TTI to carry discrete semiconductors.

TTI will be “up and running with discrete semiconductors” in a few weeks, says Conrad.