Newark element14, sometimes called Newark Electronics, Newark Corporation or Newark, is a Chicago-based electronic components distribution company serving North America and parts of Central and South America. Founded in 1934 as Newark Electric, a small Chicago shop selling radio parts, the company is now a subsidiary of catalog distributor Premier Farnell and is the sixth largest electronics distributor worldwide.^[2][3]

History

The firm was first established in 1934 as Newark Electric, a small shop in Chicago that sold radio parts.^[4] The name Newark pays homage to Newark, New Jersey, the site of the United States’ first radio station.^[4][5] The company published its first catalog in 1948. In 1968, Newark was acquired by the Premier Industrial Corporation and became the corporation's Electronics Distribution Division.^[6] In 1996 the Premier Industrial Corporation was bought by Farnell Electronics which then changed its name to Premier Farnell.^[6] At this point Newark Electronics was moved into Premier Farnell's Marketing and Distribution Division, where it has remained to date.^[7] The company's website, Newark.com, launched in 1997. The company is in the process of transitioning its brand, along with Premier Farnell's other regional businesses, to be known as element14 globally.

Operations

Newark element14 markets and distributes electronic components and test equipment for engineers and maintenance professionals throughout the US, Canada and Mexico. Products include connectors, relays, switches, semiconductors, sensors, test equipment and tools from companies including Texas Instruments, 3M, Belden, Freescale and Honeywell, among others. Newark element14 is headquartered in Chicago, but its warehouse, used to serve customers throughout the Americas, is based in Gaffney, South Carolina.^[8] The company is one of only two U.S. distributors of the Raspberry Pi microcomputer.^[3] In September 2014 the company moved its operations from 4801 N. Ravenswood Ave. to a high-rise in the Chicago Loop at 300 S. Riverside Plaza.^[9][10]

element14 Community

Newark element14 is home to the element14 Community, an online information hub and forum for electrical engineers.^[11] As of April 2015, the community has more than 330,000 members. The element14 Community hosts The Ben Heck Show, a popular online TV program featuring Internet celebrity modder Benjamin Heckendorn. As of April 2015, the show has recorded more than 23 million views on YouTube.

See also

• Premier Farnell
• Farnell element14
• element14