New DesignSpark 'DesignShare' from RS Components Inspires Collaboration in Electronics Design

Major new area within the RS Components DesignSpark online community spurs project sharing and design co-operation

BEIJING, June 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- RS Components( http://www.rs-components.com/index.html ) (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc( http://www.electrocomponents.com ) (LSE:ECM), the world's leading high service distributor of electronics and maintenance products, has revealed a major extension to its online DesignSpark platform for engineers with the launch of a new open-source 'DesignShare' area.

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The purpose of DesignSpark 'DesignShare'( http://designandmake.designspark.com ) is to host projects, and encourage sharing, collaboration and concept discussions in a design community environment. Developed in conjunction with Elektor, a leading magazine for electronics design engineers, 'DesignShare' is available via www.designspark.com and includes two main areas: 'Ideas' and 'Projects'.

The 'Ideas' or 'Incubator' section enables DesignSpark members to post project ideas, generate discussion and invite comment from the community. The most popular and highest rated ideas will be created as projects by Elektor via its network of engineers. As the project develops through the stages (brief, proposal, design, prototype and test & evaluation) the assets will be uploaded and shared with the DesignSpark community.

In the 'Projects' area, users will find all of the available projects tagged with relevant keywords for easy navigation. The individual project pages include details of how the project developed at each stage, along with a collection of assets that will enable users to build the project themselves. Project assets may include PCB schematics and layout files for DesignSpark PCB, for example, along with mechanical blueprints, software code and/or machine code, mechanical drawings and CAD files. There is also a plug-in to the RS Components website where users can purchase the kit of parts.

For professional projects requiring commercial confidentiality there is a 'privacy' option that allows users to limit access to selected contributors. All publicly viewable projects will be available as open source and downloadable free-of-charge.

"We have developed the new 'DesignShare' area together to make it easier for engineers, students and hobbyists in the DesignSpark and wider community to collaborate on, share, and download projects and ideas," said David Tarrant, Head of Community Development at RS Components. "This is very much part of the evolution of the online design resources we provide to support anyone involved or interested in electronics design, and is a great way for them to communicate openly on their projects, no matter whether they are designing for fun or in a professional environment."

"We chose to partner with RS Components on the 'DesignShare' initiative as we have a common goal of inspiring people at any level to develop their electronics design skills," said Wisse Hettinga, International Director for Elektor, part of the international publishing house, EIM. "The RS Components online DesignSpark community has gained enormously in popularity and reputation since it was introduced, and has an ever-increasing membership, so it is the ideal forum to reach budding and experienced engineers, and to foster collaboration and project sharing in support of continued innovation in electronics design."

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 around 44,000 parcels a day. 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 2013 had revenues of GBP1.24bn.

For more information, please visit the website at http://www.rs-components.com.

Further information is available via these links:

Twitter: @RSElectronics; @alliedelec; @designsparkRS

RS Components on LinkedIn:

http://www.linkedin.com/company/rs-components

Relevant Links:

Electrocomponents plc

www.electrocomponents.com

RS Components

www.rs-components.com

DesignSpark

http://www.designspark.com

RS Components

Tan Soo Chun

Public Relations Manager - Asia Pacific

E: soochun.tan@rs-components.com

T: +65-6391-5745

The Hoffman Agency

Rasheed Abu Bakar

Senior Account Executive

E: rscsg@hoffman.com

T: +65-6361-0250

SOURCE RS Components