The Electrical and Electronic Components category of engineering and scientific industry includes all those devices and equipments that perform the task of producing, conducting, directing, converting or protecting the user from electrical discharge. While electronics components are referred to all those devices that pass current through non metal conductors, electrical refers to the flow of charge through metal conductors. In the scientific term, any electronic component indicates the physical entity in an electronic system whose main intention is to affect the electrons or their associated fields in a desired manner, consistent with the deliberate function of the electronic system.

Types of Electronic and Electrical Components

Some of the major categories adhering to which these electrical and electronic equipments can be bifurcated are -

Batteries – These are perhaps one of the most important components of electrical and electronic industry as it is they, who convert energy into electrical current and also have a wide variety of industrial applications as their key advantage.

Connectors – The devices that are designed to attach and conduct electricity through cords, wires, and appliances, as well as, entire electrical distribution systems are known as connectors. Examples include plugs, sockets, caps and strips.

Electrical Distribution Equipments – All the components of the electrical and electronic market that include items like circuit breakers, surge suppressors, fuses and safety switches and are meant to function as controlling devices for the electrical flow are termed as electrical distribution equipments. They perform automatically when a system or individual is threatened due to electrical surge or transient over voltage.

Electronic Components – The physical entity of any electronic system whose main function is to affect the electrons in order to perform the task intended by the electronic system are called as electronic components. Examples are capacitors, resistors, diodes and transistors.

Power Supplies and Conditioners – This type of electrical and electronic equipments cater to a wide range of electrical devices that convert electrical energy and is applicable in various industries ranging from back up power generators to smaller current sources.

Switches and Relays – These too form a crucial part of the electrical and electronic market that are used to allow or prevent current flow when in closed or open position. Designed in a manner that the switch is actuated, these electrical and electronic component switches can range from simple push button devices to rotary and toggle devices.

Besides these common types of electrical and electronic components, some of the other lesser known assortments of electronic and electrical equipments are counters, data input devices, electrical testing equipments, enclosures, fans electronic cooling, fuses, Industrial Counter Timers, Industrial heaters, magnets, meters readout indicators, motors, passive components, power generation storage, power supplies and power conditioners, relays and relay accessories, surge suppressors, transformers and wires and cables accessories.

Industry Growth

Like various other markets all over the world, the electronic and electrical industry too is slowly emerging to become one of the most demanded industries in the world. The fairly static growth have widened the horizon for its industrial application. Maintaining a steady growth of 18% per annum since 2002, this industry saw an upsurge from US$160.0 in 2003 to US$282.0 billion in 2008. Contradicting the present economic recession that has engulfed the world, the manufactures and suppliers of electronics and electrical equipments are predicting a 20% growth in the electronic component market in the next three years. This industry is growing in its full swing and some of the few contributing factors include - extensive research and development, high investment, increment in the living standards and fragmentation of the electrical and electric industry that keeps innovating something new.

Applications

The application on electrical and electronic components is very vast in the industries all over the world. Be its safety applications, back-up power generators, smaller current sources for testing components and sensors, powering specialized tools, controlling the flow of electric charge in any equipment, the scope and use of these electrical and electronic devices are very large. The electronic components have varied application in the electrical industry. One of the recent trends in electronic and electric industry is the ceramic electronic that have a variety of use in domestic appliances, thermo couples, carbon film and wire wound resistors, band heaters for industrial applications and many other manufacturing industries.

Major Market Players

The electrical and electronic components industry is involved in the designing, manufacturing, marketing, supporting, selling and distributing of broad range of electronic components. Some of the major markets for this industry are United States of America, European, Asian countries like Japan, China, India, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Out of them, India and China are growing at a fast pace and are all set to become the largest manufactures, suppliers and distributors of these components in the electronic and electrical markets. Asia Pacific region is emerging as the most happening place for the consumer electronics industry, as their markets have remained still unexplored.

Electrical and Electronic Publications

Electronic Component News – This is a monthly engineering magazine that was launched with the aim to build image, increase exposure and provide information. ECN's suite of products satisfies the divergent information needs of the electronics market. The publishing house terms itself to be a resource, educational tool, source guide and knowledge builder which brings electronic and electrical news to global audiences.

Components in Electronics – Components in Electronics is a leading journal that disseminates information about the recent happenings and trends in the electrical and electronic markets all over the world. It is a one stop platform for all electronic industry professionals.

Electronic Engineers Master – Designed for engineers, technical managers and purchasing professionals, Electronic Engineers Master is a comprehensive, on line reference guide resource of electronics components and equipment, where the readers can find manufacturers, locate franchised distributors of electronic components, determine part availability via distributor Inventory levels, find data sheets and much more. EEM.com also features illustrated product information pages on thousands of parts, provides links to articles about new products and technologies and furnishes updated manufacturer catalogs.

Electrical and Electronic Associations

Some of the most famous electrical and electronic components associations are -

Electronic Industries Alliance – Based in Arlington, Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) is a high tech trade organization representing the United States high technology community, sponsoring technical standards. The progressive structure of the Alliance enables each sector association to preserve unique autonomy with focus on areas of innovation & global competitiveness, international trade and market access, environment, Tele communication and Information Technology, and Cyber Security.

Electronic Component Association – This is a global supply chain that represents the manufacturers and suppliers of passive and electro-mechanical electronic components, connectors, wire and cable, component arrays and assemblies, and materials and support services. It is based in North America.

Society of Manufacturing Engineers – Society of Manufacturing Engineers is a world famous society that caters to professionals in order to advance the manufacturing knowledge and increase the awareness about the recent trends and technologies of the manufacturing engineers all over the world.