Rochester Electronics Transforms Semiconductor End-of-Life into Extension-of-Life

PRLog (Press Release) – Oct 28, 2009 – Rochester Electronics, the world’s most comprehensive and authorized source for discontinued semiconductors, provides continuing manufacturing and customer support for semiconductor products that are being discontinued by the original manufacturer. As part of the Extension-of-Life™ process, Rochester Electronics acquires the original manufacturer’s remaining inventory, including packaged devices, finished devices, die, intellectual property, tooling, test programs and test equipment, to provide continuous supply and extend the life of many semiconductor series.

Typically, when an original semiconductor manufacturer discontinues a device, it is difficult for customers to accurately forecast last-time buy requirements, absorb the additional inventory and storage costs associated with last-time buys, or find an available drop-in replacement.  A discontinued semiconductor announcement creates a costly inconvenience of reallocating engineering resources, and results in time-consuming re-design, retest and re-qualification, particularly when the part is used in government, mil/aero, medical, high-reliability or long-life applications.  

“Every product and technology has a life cycle, but the end-of-life schedule for the semiconductor manufacturer usually does not support the needs of all customers.  With our new Extension-of-Life process, end-of-life does not have to mean start-of-panic,” said George Karalias, director of marketing and communications at Rochester Electronics. “More than 50 semiconductor manufacturers worldwide have authorized us to manufacture and supply many of the products they have discontinued.  Partnering with Rochester further up the product life cycle curve means the semiconductor product never truly reaches end-of-life and can ease a customer’s end-of-life planning. Along with a strategic last time buy from the original manufacturer, plans can be made to have Rochester be the continuing source for their critical devices.”     

For the semiconductor buyer and system designer, Rochester’s Extension-of-Life process assures a legitimate and stable continuous supply of authorized and certified devices for the duration of their systems’ life cycles.  For the original semiconductor manufacturer, the timely technology transfer to Rochester Electronics enables optimal production schedules for its next-generation devices, while preserving relationships with OEM customers and their participation in future designs.

Planning ahead for semiconductor extension-of-life can protect the semiconductor manufacturer’s reputation and the customer’s product reliability, while making semiconductor part obsolescence obsolete.

For more information, contact Rochester Electronics at 16 Malcolm Hoyt Drive, Newburyport, Massachusetts 01950; by calling 978-462-9332; by fax at 978-462-9512; e-mail sales@rocelec.com; or on the Web at www.rocelec.com.

About Rochester Electronics, LLC
Rochester Electronics, LLC. is the world’s most comprehensive source and solution for discontinued semiconductors. Authorized by over 50 leading semiconductor manufacturers, Rochester purchases all remaining finished devices, wafer/die and available intellectual property. All products are 100% manufacturer traceable and certified. Rochester’s product offering includes more than five billion finished devices, ten billion die and over 20,000 Rochester continuing manufacturing device types. Rochester is privately held and worldwide corporate headquarters are located at 16 Malcolm Hoyt Drive, Newburyport, MA 01950 USA, sales offices are also located throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia.