Press release
HiWave and RS Components announce worldwide distribution agreement for energy-efficient audio and haptic touch components
Cambridge, UK, July 2, 2012: HiWave Technologies (LSE:HIW), a provider of high efficiency audio amplifier ICs, full frequency range speaker drivers and bending-wave haptic touch devices, and RS Components (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc (LSE:ECM), the world’s leading high service distributor of electronics and maintenance products, have jointly announced a worldwide distribution agreement.
Under the terms of the agreement, RS will stock HiWave’s range of audio exciters, haptic touch feedback actuators, balanced mode radiator (BMR) speaker drivers and energy efficient amplifier modules. Stock availability is anticipated in August 2012 for customers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa; this will subsequently be extended to the rest of the world.
Caroline O’Brien, Chief Commercial Officer at HiWave said: “Strong distribution partnerships are a key part of HiWave’s growth strategy. We were particularly impressed by RS’ DesignSpark PCB design software and online community, which will help us to further extend our reach to OEMs and innovators globally.”
Fred Knowles, Head of Product Management - Electronics at RS Components said: “HiWave is renowned for its innovative technology, which is transforming the design of many industrial and consumer electronic products. By partnering with HiWave we are underlining our commitment to supply our engineering community with advanced technologies and components that help them differentiate their designs.”
HiWave is a leader in bending-wave haptic feedback devices, which accurately simulate the feeling of a mechanical button press, can deliver the response to anywhere on a panel or touch screen or be programmed to give a specific response at a specific set of co-ordinates. The same devices can deliver an audio response from a flat panel to replace the need for additional loud speakers.
HiWave’s audio components include amplifier ICs that consume one twentieth the power of comparable topologies, enabling 2x15W amplified speakers to be powered from a single USB port, or wireless speakers that run for 40 hours from a single AA battery. The company’s patented BMR speaker drivers are exceptionally compact units that deliver full frequency audio over a wide distribution angle.
For more information, and to order samples of HiWave’s products from RS, visit www.rs- components.com.
About HiWave
HiWave Technologies PLC develops and sells electronic components and devices with innovative audio and haptic touch technologies to add outstanding user appeal to consumer electronics.
HiWave’s audio amplifier chips and modules are as much as 20 times more efficient than other sound technologies and its loudspeaker drivers create extremely high quality sound using bending wave technology. HiWave’s patented haptic ‘touch’ technologies can transform a flat screen on a smartphone or tablet computer so that the user can feel the switch or click of a keypad but without any moving parts.
Founded in late 2010, in the rebirth of NXT, the company is headquartered in the UK and has offices in Hong Kong, California and Japan. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE:HIW).
About RS Components
RS Components and Allied Electronics are the trading brands of Electrocomponents plc, the world’s leading high service distributor of electronics and maintenance products. With operations in 32 countries, we offer more than 550,000 products through the internet, catalogues and at trade counters to over one million customers, shipping more than 46,000 parcels on the same day the orders are received. Our products, sourced from 2,500 leading suppliers, include electronics, automation and control, test and measurement, electrical and mechanical components.
Electrocomponents is listed on the London Stock Exchange and in the last financial year ended 31 March 2012 had revenues of £1.27bn.
For more information, please visit the website at www.rs-components.com.