Tuesday 21 April 2015

Printable Electronics Symposium - starts today!

The Canadian Printable Electronics Industry Association have got over 50 members signed up just in time for the 2015 Symposium. The Canadian Printed Electronics is the single largest event of its kind in Canada. It is completely devoted to printable electronics and will be a great place to learn about the industry, plus developments and applications for the technology.

All points of the supply chain from developers to consumer product manufacturers will be there including Canadian companies and global companies. It is a huge event for Canada and will be great to get a large selection of electronics companies together. For more information about the event, visit the CPEIA website 

Whether you are looking into 3D printing for your own products and need components or just need electronic components for any other project, Atlantis Electronics can help you out. Use our Fast Component Search to see what we have in stock for you.

Tuesday 7 April 2015

How can pizza help combat counterfeit components?

Each April the pizza restaurant Pizza Pizza holds a 'Slices for Device' campaign across Canada at over 400 locations. Customers are encouraged to trade in unwanted or outdated electronic devices in return for a free slice of pizza. So far, so good. You get rid of some clutter, the environment is helped and you get a slice of delicious pizza- but the impact of this marketing campaign goes much further.

Pizza Pizza are focusing on the environmental impact of the campaign but they are also helping, perhaps inadvertently, to stop the supply of counterfeit components:

Counterfeits come from consumer electronics being dumped in landfill sites and then smuggled to China. Goods are broken apart to get to the components which are then heated to remove the solder and free the parts. The components are then washed, often in rivers or using collected rainwater then treated in a process known as 'blacktopping' to make them look genuine. They are then sold back into the supply chain.

We all know how bad counterfeit parts are for our industry. They are dangerous and even life threatening. By ensuring electronic goods are recycled rather than dumped in landfill, Pizza Pizza are thwarting the flow of goods to China, helping to stop counterfeits and giving the environment a helping hand.

Three cheers to Pizza Pizza for making a positive impact in the world – and for making awesome pizzas!!