The Arrow Spoerle Electronic Group is comprised of the following subsidiaries: Spoerle offers a broad product range of semiconductors, passive and electromechanical components as well as value-added services. Sasco Holz offers a broad product range that includes active, passive and electromechanical components, as well as power supplies, displays, motion control encoders, chip card ICs, wireless modules and technical silicones for electronics. Arrow Direct is a dedicated sales organization that services Spoerle and Sasco Holz customers who need small and medium-size quantities of electronic components quickly. Microtronica serves a broad base of commercial customers, including systems integrators, value-added resellers, IT retailers and PC manufacturers, and focuses on the sale of notebooks, PC and server components. _________________________________________ Arrow serves the following countries in Central Europe: Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Switzerland and Ukraine.

A university student in Frankfurt, Germany orders five semiconductors to finish his engineering assignment. In Stuttgart, a large automobile manufacturer looks for help developing a supply chain solution. For nearly 40 years, Arrow Spoerle Electronic has been serving tens of thousands of customers like these that simply need electronic components, and thousands more that need complex solutions for their business.

Fulfilling Customer Needs for Decades
Founded in 1967, Arrow Spoerle has been a part of Arrow Electronics since the mid-80s. With headquarters in Dreieich, Germany, Arrow Spoerle, a part of Arrow Europe, Middle East, Africa and South America (EMEASA), provides more than 25,000 customers in Central Europe with a range of semiconductors, and passive and electromechanical components, as well as design solutions, logistics and other value-added services, such as forecast and inventory management. Arrow Spoerle’s end markets range from factory automation, to home and building controls, such as light switches, to automotive and motor controls. The business has grown to be the largest distributor of electronic components in Central Europe, with more than 100 of the most competitive suppliers worldwide on its line card.

Eric Schuck, senior vice president, Sales, says Arrow Spoerle’s success is based on a continued focus to better understand customer needs.

“Our success is based on our continued focus to better understand each customer’s specific needs, develop individual customer strategies, and ensure our resources are properly aligned with each market segment,” says Eric Schuck, senior vice president, Sales, Arrow Spoerle, Dreieich.

A Changing Business Climate

Customer needs have gotten more complex as they look to succeed in an increasingly competitive market. The total available distribution market is estimated at more than US$4.7 billion (4 billion euros). “Customers want assistance in managing their supply chain and controlling their inventory levels,” says Schuck. “Arrow Spoerle works to identify inefficiencies in their supply chain and to help them reduce costs, and provides innovative solutions that will meet their individual needs.”

Arrow Spoerle’s customer base also has changed during the past several years to include more contract manufacturers (CM) as many original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) now outsource production to CMs. Arrow Spoerle provides engineering support and design assistance to the OEM and the components for production to the CM in many cases. Typically, this requires coordination among multiple facilities and departments. Today, design work may be done in Munich, for example, while the end product may be manufactured in Hungary.

As more companies look to expand their manufacturing into the lower-cost Eastern European region and beyond, this offers new growth opportunities for Arrow Spoerle. To capitalize on this opportunity, Arrow Spoerle opened a new office in Kiev, Ukraine in March 2006, and now has nine locations serving manufacturers in this fast growing region.

With more than 26 offices and 1,200 employees throughout Central and Eastern Europe, Arrow Spoerle is well positioned for future growth.