Auckland International Company Profile

Obsolete Components: the Auckland Advantage

We believe we provide the best solution for sourcing obsolete electronic components.  Here’s why:

• Component Stock levels available 24/7: accurate stock levels of a vast range of obsolete electronic components are available online 24/7
• Fast response to RFQs: we confirm price and delivery a.s.a.p.
• Component testing: we can provide a wide range of tests on a wide range of components
• Established business: we are a successful, financially stable, long-term partner
• Quality-focused reliable supplier: our ISO 9001 registration and ERAI membership demonstrate our commitment to quality and reliability
• Sourcing made easy: we solve your component sourcing problems.

30 years of success

We have been solving component sourcing problems for our clients since 1984.  This has given us over 30 years of successful trading, which assures our clients that they are working with a successful, financial stable partner.

Long-term relationships

We aim to build up long-term relationships with both suppliers and clients.  We find the trust and understanding this brings helps us understand and meet the needs of our customers.

Industry knowledge and connections

In our 30 years of doing business we have built up a vast store of industry knowledge, and built up many valuable industry connections.  We use both of these to solve component sourcing problems for our clients.

How our component search works

To start your search simply put in the part number and hit return.  Don’t worry about getting the exact format : the search is smart enough to manage this. For example, searching for 1234 will find parts numbered 12-34.  And don’t worry if you don’t have the full part number.  The search results will show you all the parts that match the text you enter.

For each part in the results the manufacturer and quantity available are shown, plus the status, showing if it is available, and highlighting if it ships today.  If you are happy with the part you can simply enter the quantity you need and click “add to cart”.  Alternatively, clicking “show details” enables you to enter the quantity you need and your target price, and add it to your basket.

When you are ready click “Send RFQ” and  enter your contact details, then click “Send RFQ”.  It’s that simple!

Other Services

Our other services are delivered with the same focus on quality, reliability, and customer service.  They include:

• Converting excess electronic parts & components into cash for your business
• Custom flexible air ducting for extraction and ventilation
• Contact switches that are the same quality as those from big name brands but much cheaper
• The UK distributors for Oil-Rite automatic lubrication equipment
• Cree LEDs that deliver superior price/performance, including help with specific binning requirements

Why are component shortages becoming more common?

Most companies that purchase electronic components are find that shortages are becoming more and more common, just as more industry sectors become reliant on those components. Here’s why.

First, of course, the world wide dislocation caused by covid. Some of the countries that produce the most parts, especially in the Far East, also had the strictest lock-downs, which halted production. Once the initial spread of COVID was contained and it’s effect managed it took time for the manufacturers to get back to full capacity. At the same time, all their customers were also getting back to full capacity, resulting in the well-publicised chip shortages hitting the car industry and many others.

Second, the long-term effects of this. Many big manufacturers are now consistently ordering more parts than they need immediately, to cushion themselves from future shortages. This just pushes the shortage down the line, to smaller companies with less purchasing power.

Third, industry consolidation. Electronics is a dynamic industry that always sees a lot of takeovers and mergers. The financial problems caused by COVID increased this. After every merger or takeover the combined product lines are merged, too, and some products made obsolete even if they are currently profitable. Where 2 products which are very similar, so that they compete against each other, one will be made obsolete. Components which do not fit with the new company’s new strategy will also be made obsolete.

Fourth, consumer demand for new products. The favourite customer of the big consumer electronic companies like Apple and Samsung is the early adopter who is willing to pay a price premium to be at the bleeding edge of technology, and is willing to replace their current device with a newer one even if the current device does everything they need. These customers expect regular releases of new models. New models create component shortages in two ways. First, the manufacturer will buy up a large proportion of the total output of a part needed in the new model. Second, launching new model means an old model is discontinued, and the parts manufacturers might decide it is no longer profitable to produce the components it used.

Why we make your supply chain more resilient

Every company that relies on a supply electronic components, and that is most manufacturing companies, are now looking to make their component supply chains more resilient. The COVID pandemic showed the fragility of supply existing chains. The fighting in the Ukraine is a reminder that the vast supply of components from Taiwan could be vulnerable.

Independent companies like us are increasingly seen as part of the solution. Traditional distributors are tied to the manufacturer as their sole source of supply. Independents are more flexible and adaptable, and use a wider range of sources.

Our years of experience, and vast range of international contacts, mean we can find pools of inventory when the usual franchised distributors have none. This gives our customers the resilience they need to manage the risks of a single point of failure in their supply chain.

The risks of buying from an unknown supplier

There are many ways of sourcing electronic components. Manufacturers recommend that you use their recommended distributors, but that’s not always possible, especially for small quantities and obsolete components.
If you work in purchasing for an electronics company you may receive a regular supply of spam emails from overseas distributors: most people are wise enough to delete these on sight. Components can be sourced on EBay. Searching eBAY for STM8S005C6T6, a popular microcontroller from STMicroelectronics, returns 20 or more suppliers, mostly in China.

The risk of using an unknow supplier is that there is no traceability, to show how they obtained the components. The components could be pre-used, recovered from redundant equipment. They may be incorrectly labelled. They might be stock that was rejected by the manufacturer after testing, and they may be counterfeit. The supplier is not necessarily to blame, as they may have been deceived by their supplier, but it’s still the end user who takes all the risk.

Buying from Auckland takes out the risk. They have thirty years of experience of the component market, and a worldwide network of trusted supplier. They are members of ERAI, and offer component testing. For component sourcing from without the risks, use Auckland.

Why the global supply chain disruption increased demand for specialists like us.

Sometimes we solve problems for two clients in one deal, by helping one client get a cash return on unused components, at the same time as helping the other client source the components they need.  We use our years of industry experience, and our worldwide network of contacts, to do this.  Often the components are not on offer on any public market place: it’s our expertise that knows where to find them.

The global supply chain has increased the demand for this service.  Partly because more components are now hard to find or on long lead times. And partly because some companies are finding for the first time that they have excess stock to sell.

Companies are ordering further ahead.  They do not want a shortage of components to jeopardise a project, so as soon as the project gets the go-ahead they order everything they need.

Projects are more volatile.  They are more at risk of cancellation due to shortage of components, or shortage of staff, or global issues.  A car manufacturer might cancel an order for in-car entertainment systems, because they can’t source components needed for the ABS system.  This leaves the entertainment system manufacturer with excess stock.  Their is supplier is unlikely to be helpful: most limit returns to 30 days form purchase.

Components are more valuable.  Many components are fetching higher prices than ever before.  This makes it more worthwhile for a manufacturer to find a way of selling their excess, and harder to justify dumping the stock or just leaving it on the shelf.  Especially when we make it simple, easy and profitable to sell the excess stock.

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