Innovation, diversification, and support leads to 85% growth for reed relay manufacturer

Pickering Electronics, the reed relay company with a focus on miniaturisation and high performance has announced significant growth as it enters its 55th year. With a sales revenue increase of over 85% in the last two years, Pickering Electronics puts its success down to continuous product innovation.

A reed relay, of course, is only as good as the reed switch itself, and Pickering uses instrumentation-grade switches with appropriate switchblade coatings for the currents and voltages demanded by the application. The introduction of SoftCenter technology protects the reed switch and minimises internal stresses, resulting in extended life and contact resistance stability.

The use of magnetic shielding, followed last year by the introduction of electrostatic screening in high-voltage relays, prevents faulty operation. And of course, miniaturisation, such as the recent 4mm2 range, which stacks on a tiny 4mmx4mm pitch whilst still switching up to 1A, 20W.

Another reason for the company’s success is Pickering’s diversification of its product range. New directions for the company include a strong focus on high-voltage reed relays which are suitable for mixed-signal semiconductor testers, high-end cable testers, medical electronics, electric vehicles, solar energy, big physics, and high-voltage instrumentation.

Recent releases include Series 67HV relays with a Form C option, a new 100HV product high-voltage relay with high coil resistances, and the increase in rating of the popular Series 104 product family, now up to 4kV and with optional electrostatic shielding. Series 67 and 68 high-voltage relays are now also rated up to 200W.

Commented Kevin Mallett, Technical Specialist at Pickering Electronics: “Pickering has consistently led the reed relay industry, basing our business on three key pillars, innovation, diversification and technical support. We believe this approach is responsible for our success, not only in recent times, but also across our history which now spans more than half a century.”