Farnell marks 25 years of success with Bourns

Bourns is a manufacturer and supplier of position and speed sensors, circuit protection solutions, magnetic components, microelectronic modules, panel controls and resistive products. Headquartered in Riverside, California, USA, Bourns serves a broad range of markets, including automotive, industrial, consumer, communications, non-critical life support medical (low/medium risk), audio and various other market segments. Bourns makes more than 10,000 different products with its fastest-growing segments in support of electric vehicles, charging stations, and energy storage. The electronics company continues to expand its components portfolio to match design specifications in solar energy, autonomous vehicles, telemedicine and telecommunications.

Marlan and Rosemary Bourns started Bourns in their California garage 75-years ago. Their invention of the first miniature linear motion and vane position potentiometers propelled the Bourns' small start-up into the global corporation it is today. From the development of a single product, the company is now known as a trusted innovator and manufacturer of a wide range of advanced products that are used in thousands of electronics industry applications.

Available on fast delivery from Farnell, a few key products from Bourns include:

• The 4600X series:  Thick film, conformal SIP resistor networks in single, low profile inline package offering resistance value ranges from 10Ω to 10MΩ, with operating temperature from -55°C to +125°C. A wide assortment of pin packages enhances design flexibility, and they are recommended for rosin flux and solvent clean or no clean flux processes
• Surface mount TVS diodes: The CDSOT23-SM712 device provides ESD, EFT and surge protection for data ports meeting IEC 61000-4-2 (ESD), IEC 61000-4-4 (EFT) and IEC 61000-4-5 (Surge) requirements. The Transient Voltage Suppressor Array offers two TVS diodes with a Working Peak Reverse Voltage of 7V or 12V and Minimum Breakdown Voltage of 7.5V or 13.3V respectively. The SOT23 packaged device will mount directly onto the industry standard SOT23 footprint. Bourns chip diodes conform to JEDEC standards with standard pick and place equipment, and the flat configuration minimises roll away. They provide surge protection, working peak voltage 7V or 12V and ESD protection 30kV max
• 3296W-1-103LF:  a Trimpot 3296 series 3/8” square trimming potentiometer used in measuring linear distance, angle or rotation in production equipment. It provides 25 turns and has a rotational life of 200 cycles, with an operating temperature range from -55°C to +125°C. It has a coefficient temperature of ±100ppm/°C, power rating 0.5W, and features a chevron seal design
• CR Series - thick Film Chip Resistors: featuring tight tolerances of bottom electrode width, the CR Series has a three-layer contacting process with nickel barrier to prevent leaching and provide excellent solderability, suitable for all types of soldering processes and is Halogen free

Simon Meadmore, vice president of product and supplier management, at Farnell says, “It gives us immense pleasure to congratulate Bourns on their 75th anniversary.  Not many companies have reached this momentous milestone, which illustrates the enduring legacy Bourns has built in the electronic components industry. Our relationship with Bourns began in 1997, and together we have enjoyed 25 years of building excellent relationships with our mutual customers by meeting the increasing demand for Bourns products.

“We are honoured to be a long-term strategic partner with such an industry innovator and look forward to strengthening our relationship well into the future. We applaud the significant technology and market-influencing contributions Bourns has achieved.”

The full range of Bourns products are available from Farnell in EMEA, Newark in North America and element14 in APAC.