Inventory Management – What’s your strategy?

Corrie Hartline on March 18, 2024

In today’s on-demand market, proper inventory management is critical for success. Having the materials you need, when you need them, is one of the key factors in determining your performance as a supplier. With a heavy emphasis being placed on On-Time Delivery, being able to react to your customer’s needs quickly and effectively can have a huge impact on future business opportunities. For many companies, this means carrying additional inventory to ensure materials are on hand at all times, which can be particularly problematic for small businesses with limited cash flow or storage space.

Carrying costs can represent as much as 20% to 30% of total inventory value. Tangible costs such as storage, handling, and insuring goods are obvious, however intangibles such as opportunity cost due to reduction of cash flow, or the cost of deterioration and obsolescence of goods are often overlooked. With an increasing number of items restricted by shelf life or customer-driven product age limitations, these types of costs are more prevalent than ever.

The solution? A partnership with FDH Aero, a proven leader in effective inventory management.

With a wide range of flexible Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) options, we offer tailor-made programs that provide comprehensive solutions based on your specific business model. We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all, we focus on what makes sense for you and your customers and build from there. Whether your strategy is “just in time” delivery, on-site Vendor Inventory Management, blanket orders with scheduled ship dates, or a unique combination of several approaches – we’ve got your inventory management needs covered. With millions of dollars in inventory and same day turnaround for most orders, we have the resources to provide you with the materials you need, when you need them, every time. Some of the benefits of our VMI programs are:

  • Reduced Inventory, Overstocks and Stock Shortages: Not having the right products in stock can be a big problem for you and your customers. Having too much product can be just as damaging to your bottom line – our VMI programs eliminate these issues and allow you to focus on your growth and success.
  • Smaller Manufacturing Footprint: Floor and shelf space are valuable assets in your production facility, and extra inventory only uses up that space without contributing to immediate income or production needs. Additional storage not only means greater overhead costs, but that space could go toward manufacturing activities for other production floor opportunities.
  • Increased Sales: Implementing a VMI can increase sales by giving you the ability to deliver your products faster than your competitors. Reduced lead times will boost the quality of customer service and foster brand loyalty. This means more returning customers and increased sales over time.
  • Less Responsibility: When you reduce the financial and operational burden of managing inventory, it lowers costs, reduces admin work, allowing you to minimize inventory while simultaneously maximizing profits. Spend less time and resources on maintaining purchase records and issuing discrete orders. Let us do the work for you!

Contact your sales representative today to inquire about our VMI programs.

Whitmor/Wirenetics Product Spotlight: Heat Shrink Boots

Corrie Hartline on January 5, 2024

With the largest stocking inventory of heat-shrink boots in the United States, Whitmor/Wirenetics provides over 50,000 possible combinations to give you the exact fit, form, and function your project needs. With temperature ratings from -75° C to +200° C, we have options suitable for every industry including mil-aero, commercial, automotive, and more.

Not sure what shape or material type is right for your application? Our experienced product engineers are standing by to assist you every step of the way. Whether you’re looking for strain relief, cosmetic coverings for cable division spots, environmental sealing, encapsulating or mechanical support, we have the solution you’re looking for.

Materials and Wire Boot Varieties

Working with boot materials such as polyolefin, fluid-resistant elastomers, fluorocarbon blends, low-smoke fire hazard elastomers, and viton-polyester blends, Whitmor/Wirenetics offers a variety of wire boot types, including:

  • High and low profiled, straight bottle shaped transitions
  • High and low profiled, right-angled style transitions
  • T-shaped and angled t-shaped transitions
  • Y-shaped transitions
  • 2, 3,  and 4-legged fan-tailed transitions
  • 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6-legged in-line transitions
  • End Caps
  • Custom shapes, modifications, sizes, and colors

Value Added Services for Heat Shrink Boots

Regardless of the application, Whitmor/Wirenetics offers value added services such as adhesive lining, potting ports, drain holes, custom labeling, and bar-coding.  With 10 different material types and 8 adhesive options, we can help you create a custom design that will give you the solution you need.

You can browse our extensive catalog of heatshrink shapes here or contact one of our specialists today to find out more:

Are Rising Copper Prices Impacting Copper Wire and Cable Prices?

Corrie Hartline on August 9, 2021

Due to the volatile cost and limited availability of raw materials, acquiring copper domestically has recently undergone its fair share of challenges. Manufacturers, distributors, and end-users of copper wires and cables have all felt the global impacts of the rising pricing trendline.

Number three on the world’s most used metals list, one-third of the world’s supply of copper comes from Chile, and copper’s number one stockpile is China. Traded at the London Metal Exchange, COMEX, and at India’s Multi-Commodity Exchange, the standard contract for copper weighs twenty-five thousand pounds.

Steadily rising rates per unit since July 2019 saw a slight dip in cost (correlating to China exporting more raw material inventory) in February 2021. Yet, the price of importing copper is once again on the rise. The lack of influx of this vital metal has direct causality on the copper-based marketplace, including the availability and cost of copper wire and cables.

How Can FDH Electronics Assist You During a Copper Shortage? 

Being proactive against the dwindling supply to end-users and escalating prices, FDH Electronics continues to invest in a package of wire and cable to help keep costs from fluctuating. Considering these are uncertain times in the copper commodity market, we have stocked up to help our customers mitigate shortages.

However, we are fully committed to helping our Mil-Aero clients maintain the acquisition of essential wiring and cable components for vital equipment applications, including defense, space and air travel, and satellites. In response to the current international copper shortage, we are working behind the scenes with our strategic suppliers to limit the impact to our valued end-users. One such example is FDH Electronics TE Copper Wire Stocking Package.

About the TE Copper Wire Stocking Package From FDH Electronics

Comprised of Spec 44 and 55 Wire (M81044, M22759, and M27500 constructions), these top-of-the-line wires and cables provide exceptional chemical resistance to defluxing agents, hydraulic fluids, fuels, etc. and are temperature rated from -65˚C to 150/200˚C (and up to 400˚C in short bursts).

Spec 44 and 55 products from TE Connectivity are insulated with radiation crosslinking to resist electrical arc tracking in wet and dry conditions (aircraft applications). They are fully functional in harsh weather environments, and have cut-through and creep resistance. Special additives increase flame retardance and flammability. The products also come in medium and lightweights, are outer space suitable and are constructed with single or dual walls; all reasons these are the backbone of the Mil-Aero industries and the go-to choice for multiple critical applications.

Additionally, many other copper wires and cables are readily available, in stock, and ready to ship out to meet your specific specifications and requirements. Examples include M17 ( COAX ), AA / QQ B575 ( Braid), M16878, M85485, DATA CABLES, BMS ( Boeing Matl Standard), EN / ANSE (Euro & Airbus Specs). We also proudly offer an extensive range of high-quality cable management and identification solutions, conduit, heat shrink, solder sleeves, and shrink boots prepped and ready for on-time delivery, including M23053, M83519, MS3109, MS3117.

Click here to Request a Quote for your TE Stocking Package or call us today to find other right-fit solutions for your specific applications at (800) 847-7127. For more real-time information on shortages, solutions, and current product offerings, price locks, and promotions, follow FDH Electronics on LinkedIn.

BJG & Eaton – Making the Right Connection, Each and Every Time

Corrie Hartline on May 3, 2021

BJG Electronics (now FDH Electronics) was founded in 1979 with the knowledge that military and aerospace customers would want to do business with a company that maintained the highest quality standards and always put its customers first. To always ensure this is true, it is our responsibility to choose the right solutions every time.

When those solutions are connectors, backshells, or even conduits, we turn to our close relationship with Eaton Souriau-Sunbank, a global leader that has proven its dependability and innovation for over a century.

Our customers rely on us to work with only the highest quality products. We know interconnect products must be durable and reliable under incredibly demanding and unique conditions to ensure high-power systems are ready when they are most needed, whether within a plane, defensive platforms, missiles, ground-based vehicles, battlefield connectors, microphones, radios, radar, satellites, or any of a myriad of mission-critical applications.

Our team here at FDH knows that even the smallest part of any electrical system is mission-critical and can mean the difference in not only efficiency and effectiveness, but also in lives. We believe that recognizing this and providing the right solutions for each application is just the first step in providing outstanding customer service and experiences to those we work with.

The reliability in quality and delivery that Souriau-Sunbank by Eaton brings to interconnect products is exactly why FDH Electronics has more Sunbank inventory than anyone in the world, coming in as the #1 distributor worldwide. We also are in the top 5 distributors in the world for Souriau in both inventory and sales. We carry available inventory measured in the millions of pieces.

When you work with FDH Electronics, you know you can rely not only on the quality of the product but that it will arrive when you need it most with quick order turnarounds.

Who is Souriau-Sunbank by Eaton?

From their start, more than 100 years ago, Eaton has developed products and services that have become globally recognized. Their mission is to improve the quality of life and the environment through the use of power management technologies and services, and they do this through sustainable solutions that help their customers effectively manage electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical power – more safely, more efficiently, and more reliably.

As a power management company with over 92,000 employees, they also do business in more than 175 countries. They are dedicated to improving people’s lives and the environment with power management technologies that are more reliable, efficient, safe, and sustainable.

In 2019, Eaton Corporation acquired Souriau-Sunbank Connection Technologies (with facilities in France, the Dominican Republic, India, Morocco, Mexico, and the United States). Adding Souriau-Sunbank’s highly engineered electrical interconnect solutions for harsh environments specifically created for customers in the aerospace, defense, industrial, energy, and transport industries to their already well-established offerings.

As an Eaton brand, Souriau-Sunbank by Eaton is a world leader in high-performance interconnect technologies. When you need connectors that are guaranteed to make the right connection, every time, you can trust Eaton and BJG Electronics.

Connectors: Connecting Excellence

FDH knows connectors, and Eaton provides a wide range of connectors that we are proud to stand behind.

Their connectors are designed to withstand the harsh conditions that are presented from everything from the deep sea to deep space. Our team at FDH Electronics can also provide the connector assembly, inventory management, or custom design your connectors need.

When you need connectors that are guaranteed to make the right connection, every time, you can trust Eaton and FDH Electronics.

Get A Quote Today

Connectors We Carry

  • UTO Series
  • UTS Series
  • UTL Series
  • UTG Series
  • SMS Series
  • 06 Series
  • 09 Series
  • 8D Series
  • 853 Series
  • 8STA Series
  • 8TA Series
  • Micro38999
  • MQuick Series
  • JBX Series
  • D38999 Series
  • EN2997 Series
  • ENC Series
  • EN3155 Series
  • 8599 Series
  • 8291 Series
  • M39029 Series
  • Trim Trio Tooling
  • Trim Trio Backshells
  • UTS Accessories
  • HAUTL Series
  • HAUTS Series
  • RC/RM Series
  • SC/SM Series

Backshells: Mission Critical

Selecting the proper backshell for each application is mission-critical, and our partnership with Eaton means we provide the best selection in the world. Eaton’s connectors, backshells, contacts, and cable assemblies have paved the way when it comes to providing the benchmark for reliability in harsh environments.

If you are already familiar with the Eaton connectors, pairing Eaton backshells with Eaton connectors means the same high level of quality is applied to all points in the system.

BJG Electronics enjoys a unique partnership with Souriau Sunbank, distributing millions of pieces that can be trusted in the most challenging of applications. Our large stock of inventory means we can provide the backshells you need quickly.

Get A Quote Today

Backshells and Accessories We Carry:

  • D38999/22, D38999/32, D38999/33
  • M28840, M28876, M85049, AS85049, M38999
  • MS25042, MS25043, MS27501, MS27502, MS27506
  • MS27510, MS27511, MS3180, MS3181, MS3416, MS3115, MS3417
  • TXR

Conduits: Rugged Protection

FDH Electronics protects electrical systems in harsh environments worldwide with our rugged conduit solutions, both light and heavy-weighted. And our partnership with Souriau Sunbank means we provide conduit solutions from an organization that is known around the globe for their quality.

For example, Sunflex (a SUNBANK product) provides an extensive selection of braids, armoring sheathing, and convoluted fluorocarbon tubing for conduits. The rugged Sunflex conduit systems display high-temperature survivability (heat to +500°F / cold to -95°F) with long flexure life and superior shielding.

If you need conduit you can rely on, BJG and Eaton can provide the protection your application requires. Our partnership means we can quickly provide you with the right conduit solutions.

Get A Quote Today

Conduits We Carry

  • Flexible Conduit
  • Shipboard Interconnect and Conduit Solutions
  • Sunflex Solutions
  • MS3109, MS3117
  • AS85049
  • M23053
  • RNF, SFR, SCL, NT/ NTFR, TMS, VITON
  • VERSAFIT, DWP, CRN, ES
  • EMS, EPS, KYNAR, NST, PSTH, VFP, EMW
  • VTN, COLD SHRINK

Now Stocking TE MTC Rectangular Connectors

Corrie Hartline on May 20, 2020

TE Connectivity MTC product line is a complete modular connector system consisting of lightweight, environmentally sealed miniature rectangular connectors (shell housings with removable inserts) and individually removable rear-release contacts.

Features

  • Low-profile rectangular design for high packaging density
  • Environmental sealing for aerospace applications
  • Modular components for design versatility and logistics savings
  • Lightweight materials for weight savings
  • Quick-disconnect or jackscrew mating hardware

Components

  • Available with quick- disconnect mating hard- ware, EME shielding accessories, and modular inserts that can accommodate a mix of signal and power crimp contacts and coaxial contacts
  • Minimized need for special termination tooling
  • Improved ease of manufacturing and maintenance

Configurations

  • Jack screws or quick- disconnect hardware
  • Stacked or panel-mounted next to each other without any provision for grip space
  • Save significant panel area
  • Available in 1-inch and 2-inch configurations
  • Modular removable inserts with size 22 and/or size 16 contact cavities can be combined into the 1-inch and 2-inch MTC housings

Inserts

  • Available in 20-cavity and 5-cavity versions
  • 20-cavity insert accepts size 20-22 (24 AWG to 20 AWG wire) crimp contacts
  • 5-cavity insert accepts size 16–14 crimp contacts
  • Rear release insertion/extraction of the contacts
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2019 Fluoropolymer Outlook

Corrie Hartline on January 18, 2019

Coming out of a turbulent 2018 marked by strong demand coupled with limitations in both compound availability & manufacturer production capacity, the current forecast for 2019 indicates a sluggish recovery that won’t begin to materialize until Q2. Due to growth of fluoropolymer use in both the automotive and food & beverage industry, compound manufacturers continue to reallocate resources resulting in additional strain as market focus continues to evolve. The fluoropolymer market is expected to register a compound annual growth rate of 6% by 2022.

Current data suggests PTFE compound availability will improve in Q2 with ETFE following later in the year. Fluorpolymer wire & cable manufacturers struggling with significant backlogs are likely to take a measured approach to recovery once compound availability improves to avoid a sudden and significant drop in demand. If the current projections for strong demand in 2019 are accurate, this cautious approach could cause additional delays that may further slow recovery well into Q3. Additional price increases on fluoropolymer products are also expected to impact the market in the coming months.

As we enter the 4th straight year of defense budget increases, the current administration projects spending to continue at this high level into the future. As a result, the military services and defense industry are making their plans on the basis of this high funding level. 2019 will likely see a continuation of the strong demand from FY18, putting additional pressure on both manufacturing and distribution to work diligently toward reducing material flow inhibitors.

As your go-to supplier for Mil-Aero wire & cable, Whitmor/Wirenetics is committed to work closely with our supply chain to ensure our partners are well positioned. We continue to employ strategies to reduce lead times and mitigate price increases in addition to providing excellent customer service. For more information on how we can help you reach your goals for 2019, give us a call today.

1-800-822-WIRE

Buying from a Distributor vs Manufacturer – Which is better?

Corrie Hartline on November 12, 2018

What’s the difference?

A distributor’s main focus is the selling of finished goods, rather than their production. This allows the distributor to focus on the customer – providing better service, quicker delivery, and competitive pricing. A distributor understands your need to get product quickly, at the best possible price allowing your business to grow. Another key benefit is that distributors offer lower minimums on standard items, so that you can get your customer what they need without excessive costs. Add the fact that distributors have access to multiple manufacturer’s products, and it sounds like you’ve got a great supplier.

But what about custom or unique products?

This is where a manufacturer becomes priority. Many distributors cannot offer a better option when it comes to custom items. They are often forced to pass along the factory minimums the manufacturer imposes – forcing exorbitant costs on to the customer. Often these minimums can be up to 10 times the amount the customer needs for the job, substantially reducing profitability. In addition, most manufacturers require purchases to go through their distribution channel, preventing the customer from mitigating these costs through direct buys.

This is why Whitmor/Wirenetics is the best choice!

When our custom cable division merged with Wirenetics in 1986, the winning combination of both manufacturer and distributor was born.  Whitmor/Wirenetics understands the need for excellent customer service, off-the-shelf availability, great pricing and easy access to custom products with reasonable minimums.  Our industry-leading 100 ft minimum on custom cables is proof of our commitment to our customers – and the years of loyalty and continued business from our customers is proof that it matters.

Don’t Let Lead Time Hurt Your Performance

Corrie Hartline on July 19, 2018

With current factory lead times on fluoropolymer cables reaching concerning levels, delivery performance is at risk more than ever. During these critical times, your customers count on you to protect them from line-down and stock-out situations.

Whitmor/Wirenetics is QPL approved to manufacture over 50,000 different constructions of M27500 cable in accordance with NEMA WC27500-2015.

Our standard lead times for M27500 cables are currently less than half of most fluoropolymer cable manufacturers.  In today’s metric-driven market, when it comes to On-Time Delivery, you simply cannot afford to disappoint your customers.  The long-term consequences of late deliveries can be substantial with the vast majority of programs choosing suppliers based on performance.

In addition to our reduced standard lead times, our forgiving 100 ft minimum on custom cables allows you to get what you need without the excess inventory & spend that comes with typical factory minimums.

And with our ultra-fast Premium Expedite option, time is always on your side.

Contact your account representative today for faster options on your M27500 and other fluoropolymer cable needs.

Are you getting Genuine products from your supplier?

Corrie Hartline on July 10, 2018

Know Your Supplier

In today’s Mil-Aero market, one of the most critical challenges the industry faces is the risk of counterfeit or inferior substitute products infiltrating the supply chain. This risk increases substantially during times of severe supply constraints, such as the difficulties we see currently unfolding in the fluoropolymer market as well as increased manufacturer capacity limitations due to unprecedented demand.

Further complicating this issue, some suppliers are trying to hide the fact they are providing inferior substitutes by insinuating a product will still meet the same Mil-Spec construction and performance standards, despite the fact they cannot certify it to the required specification. This is in fact a false pretense, and typically the supplier lacks the internal testing ability required to even make such a claim.

You can protect your business and your customers from this predatory practice by requiring QPL certified products from your suppliers. These products have met the qualification requirements set forth in the applicable specification, including appropriate product identification, tests or qualification references.

The Choice is Simple

Whitmore/Wirenetics always provides certified QPL Mil-Aero products to our customers and partners around the globe. We’re also a QPL approved manufacturer of over 50,000 different constructions of M27500 cable in accordance with NEMA WC27500-2015.

When you buy from us, you’re not only getting world-class customer service, you’re getting the peace of mind that comes from knowing your supplier does the right thing – on every order, every time.

UAVs and SPACE WIRE – The Future of Unmanned Technology

Corrie Hartline on May 7, 2018

Recent estimates predict global militaries will spend $70 billion on drones by 2020. According to the FAA, in the next two years, the number of drones flying over America will nearly triple from the current 2.5 million to a staggering 7 million.

With the rapid expansion of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in both defense and commercial applications, the demand for smaller & lighter materials that can provide significant weight savings without sacrificing performance has become a top priority.

SPACE WIRE® Super Lightweight Wire & Cable

Engineered to consistently deliver outstanding results in the harshest environments, SPACE WIRE® provides cutting-edge performance for even the most demanding applications. Offering significant reductions in size and weight with superior conductivity, it’s the perfect fit for small spaces with big ambitions.

With a growing line of Super Lightweight Wire & Cable products, our SPACE WIRE® engineers continue to develop innovative solutions for unique applications. Contact us today for more information or application engineering assistance: 1-800-822-WIRE

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