Our heritage

Our history started over 80 years ago with two businesses on opposite sides of the Atlantic, each breaking new ground as the radio industry was changing the way the world communicated.

The entrepreneurial start-ups known as Farnell in Europe and Newark in North America each began with a simple mission – help customers get the parts they need, when they need it.

The world has changed a lot since the 1930s. The radio engineer has given way to other sorts of engineers: maintenance and facilities engineers, industrial engineers, design engineers, student engineers, and the purchasing professionals who work with them. And what was a simple trade counter and catalogue business has evolved into a global technology company, with over 30,000 products shipped per day.

Along the way we have charted our own course, delivering industry first innovations that have defined what is expected of a high-service distributor.

2022

Raspberry Pi celebrates it’s 10th Anniversary


2019

Farnell element14 rebranded Farnell, An Avnet Company. Newark element14 rebranded Newark, An Avnet company. Premier Farnell rebranded Farnell, globally.

2016

Premier Farnell acquired by Avnet Bidco Limited, an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Avnet, Inc. and delisted from the London Stock Exchange.

2016

New proposition “The Development Distributor” launches, displaying how Premier Farnell businesses support customers develop themselves, their products and businesses and the next generation of engineers.

2014

Acquisition of AVID Technologies.

2012

Launch of the Raspberry Pi computer; acquisition of Embest.

2011

The Knode on element14 launched; listed in the Dow Jones sustainability index; element14 TV debuts.

2010

The Ben Heck Show debuts; achieved Platinum level status in the Business in the Community Index; Asia Pacific region becomes element14.

2009

element14 Community launched; introduced DesignLink and award-winning biodegradable packaging; joined the United Nations Global Compact; acquisition of CadSoft.

2008

iBuy launched
A free add on to your web account, streamlining your purchasing process and giving you full budget visibility

1996

Premier Farnell plc established following Farnell’s purchase of Premier Electronics, which included the Newark Electronics, MCM and Akron Brass brands.

1990’s

First to offer eProcurement capabilities.

1984

First direct broadcast satellite service

1979

Invention of the Compact Disc audio player

1976

Introduction of the Apple I computer

1969

Birth of the Internet

1959

Invention of the MOSFET, also known as the MOS Transistor

1958

Jack Kilby produced the first Semiconductor Integrated Circuit (IC)

1951

Mass manufacture of Transistors begins

1947

Invention of the first transistor by Bell Telephone Laboratories, Inc.

1939

A.C.Farnell Limited founded.

1934

Newark Electronics founded.