According to a news release posted on the Wall Street Journal website, electronics distributor Digi-Key is expanding its “value-added services” by now offering product design, prototyping and production resources in addition to its current available inventory.

Some of the cable assembly services the company will offer include ribbon/modular cable assembly;  custom fan cables and harnesses; flat flex cable assemblies (cut, label, terminate pins, and attach connectors according to a user’s request); and more. Digi-Key will also offer similar services for other electronic components, including batteries, reels, resistors, pin headers, and more.

This is starting to sound like a trend with distributors, as this is the third such story I have heard in recent weeks of distribution companies expanding into manufacturing or product design. Here is another example from Walvoil Fluid Power, which did the same a few months back.

Digi-Key Corp.
www.digikey.com