Recently, our team travelled to Munich, Germany, to participate in one of the world’s largest and leading electronics trade fairs and conferences—Electronica 2024!
This year marked Component Sense’s second appearance at Electronica, and it was an honour to return. Keep reading to see our highlights from an unforgettable four days in Munich:
Day One:
With our kilts buckled and sashes on, we kicked off the first day showcasing our Scottish pride! Although foot traffic was slow initially, the day quickly gained momentum as we connected with potential customers and industry leaders over Scottish shortbread, teacakes, and hot coffee.
After munching on our Scottish snacks, our team wandered to different stalls and exhibitions. We discovered cutting-edge technology—from robotic dogs to F1 simulators—and even took professional team headshots.
In the evening, we concluded with traditional Bavarian food—a hearty meal that left our stomachs full for the rest of the day. Our team indulged in a sharing platter filled with different cuts of meat and dished on schnitzel afterwards!
Catch our Day 1 video recap here!
Day Two:
With the sun barely rising, thousands of people were already queueing up to enter Electronica. The fair was off to a buzzing start on the second day, with over 70,000 visitors from across the globe! Our sales team was in their element, fully booked with back-to-back meetings while building valuable connections.
After a long yet rewarding day, some Component Sense team members made their way to a networking social event filled with music, cocktails, and friendly competition. Our very own Ben Dent from the business development placed third out of 50 participants in the Chip 1 poker tournament, taking home a prize of €1500!
Watch our Day 2 highlights here!
Day Three:
With nearly half of Component Sense’s leadership positions held by women, we were proud to sponsor Women in Electronics (WE) for its industry discussion at Electronica. Did you know that only 18% of industry executive conferences are attended by women, and 8% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women? WE is an organisation dedicated to expanding opportunities for women and promoting gender parity in the electronics and industrial sectors. Attending their conferences was an eye-opening reminder of the resilience and dedication required to succeed in a male-dominated industry.
To end the day, Component Sense Founder and CEO Kenny McGee delivered his first-ever industry talk on the Electronica stage, sharing strategies to break down barriers in E&O redistribution and providing critical insights on how to turn excess inventory into valuable assets.
Catch our day 3 highlights here!
Day Four:
Wrapping up the final day, our team attended a powerful talk on addressing the global e-waste (electronic waste) crisis. These were the key takeaways:
-
Electronic components comprise up to 25% (15 million tonnes) of e-waste in landfills, while consumer electronics account for the other 75% (47 million tonnes).
-
Manufacturers typically keep components for just two years before labelling them as unwanted or obsolete. Many of these parts then end up in landfills instead of being responsibly recycled.
-
Many participants in other industries, like fashion, have already adopted recycling practices; however, many in the electronics sector have yet to follow suit. It is time to change that!
Our final activity at the trade fair was an Obsolescence in Electronics-themed roundtable—a topic close to Component Sense’s heart! This discussion delved into the current challenges and expectations regarding obsolescence management in cybersecurity and AI in particular. Typically, costs incurred by obsolescence go under the table in financial reporting, leaving management unaware of its true impact on the business and operations. That is why transparency and honesty are the top priorities for end consumers in the electronics industry—whether its implications are positive or negative. Component Sense has an open transparency policy guided by our EPIC values. We are enterprising and positive, and we always work with integrity and clarity for the customer. All of our components are sourced from tier-one OEMs and EMSs and are fully traceable back to the original manufacturer. Learn more about how you can outsmart obsolescence with the grey (secondary) market here.
Electronica Takeaways
Electronica 2024 was an incredible week of innovation, connection, and learning. From promoting sustainability in the electronics industry to celebrating diversity, we are proud to be part of the conversations shaping the future of electronics. After meeting with clients, competitors, and potential partners, we left feeling inspired.
Let us keep the conversation going! Discover our sustainable solutions or how we can help electronic manufacturers tackle excess and obsolete (E&O) challenges.