RS Components launches first industry standard packaging facility in China and Asia Pacific

SHANGHAI, CHINA: RS Components (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc, the world's leading high service distributor of electronics and maintenance products, has announced the opening of its first production packaging facility for electronic components in Shanghai, China. The facility will provide greater convenience, flexibility and cost effective solutions to customers who require small batch purchases and industry production packaging.

The industry standard packaging facility is the first in Asia Pacific for RS Components and its third in the world, designed to tap into the expanding market for small batch production customers in China and the rest of Asia Pacific. The facility is able to support up to 600 order a day and offers industry standard packaging for over 30,000 products from the semiconductor, passive, connector and electromechanical lines. Available in tape and reel, tube, tray and other industry standard packaging, this offering will be an added benefit for customers who are engaged in small volume production in China.

Clement Zheng, country manager, RS Components China said: "The new facility helps to encourage innovation and meet the needs of customers engaged in small volume production and R&D across a diverse range of industries, such as electronics, renewable energy and transportation. This new facility is part of our continued investments in China and our commitment to enhance the buying experience for China customers, and at the same time ensures more choices and cost-effective solutions, as well as shorter time-to-market."

The investment in a local industry standard packaging facility is a key initiative in RS Components' overall China and Asia Pacific strategy. The company's business in China has posted a robust growth of 26 percent, contributing to a healthy 12 percent revenue growth for Asia Pacific for the six months ended 30 September 2011. China holds immense opportunities for RS Components with approximately RMB$5.28 trillion (Note 1) spent in the manufacturing sector. China also accounts for 12 percent of global R&D spending (Note 2)。

Sun Jun, Electrical Engineers, Shanghai Yanfeng Visteon Automotive Trim Systems Co. Ltd, said: "As the world's leading high service distributor, RS' increased investment of electronics products with the China warehouse has greatly benefitted local customers. With the newly launched industry standard packaging facility for electronic products, the value added service solves the challenges faced by small batch production customers, and at the same time provide more product lead time assurance. (I) believe that this will provide an additional boost for RS Components' business growth in China."

RS Components has continuously introduced new customer initiatives to provide improved product offerings and service levels for China customers. These include an intuitive website with access to 550,000 products available globally and most recently the introduction of PayEase, a new payment gateway for a seamless online customer experience.

These initiatives have reaped positive customer feedback, with the company winning "China Best Customer Contact Centre Industry Promising Star of the Year" at the 2011 China Best Customer Contact Centre and CRM Awards, a prestigious annual awards event that recognises China's best call centre and customer relationship management.