Rapid Electronics
Encyclopedia
Rapid Electronics is a UK distributor of electronic components and educational products, and supporter of science
, engineering
and educational initiatives, based in Colchester
, Essex
.
, Kent
, holding stock of around 200 products. Advertising in the retail electronics press generated sales and a small single sheet catalogue was mailed to customers. By 2008 Rapid had increased its stock-holding to around 50,000 products and moved premises several times. Employing around 150 people, the company is currently located in premises close to the A12 and the Colchester Community Stadium.
.
and model railway enthusiasts.
Rapid Electronics are also a supplier to primary schools, secondary schools and further education
institutions in the UK, specialising in equipment for the science
, electronics
and technology
areas of the National Curriculum.
developing and co-ordinating the Toyota Technology Challenge
. Pupils design, build and race environmentally friendly vehicles using solar power
or PIC microcontroller
technology. The company are also an official partner of the Jaguar Cars Maths in Motion scheme, and a sponsor of industry awards and events, such as the European Electronics Industry Awards. Rapid also provides resources and technical support to the Young Engineers organisation, which runs a network of engineering
challenges and clubs across the UK.
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
and educational initiatives, based in Colchester
Colchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
.
History
Rapid Electronics was established by Mike Lee and Chris Stevenson in 1979. The company at this time was based in a converted barn at EynsfordEynsford
Eynsford is a village and civil parish in the Sevenoaks District of Kent, England. It is located on the River Darent, south of Dartford in Kent.-The village:...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, holding stock of around 200 products. Advertising in the retail electronics press generated sales and a small single sheet catalogue was mailed to customers. By 2008 Rapid had increased its stock-holding to around 50,000 products and moved premises several times. Employing around 150 people, the company is currently located in premises close to the A12 and the Colchester Community Stadium.
Products
The company's core products are electrical components such as resistors, capacitors and LEDsLEDS
LEDS can be initials for:* Law Enforcement Data System* Link Eleven Display System* Low Energy Dislocation Structure* Land Electronic Defence System * LEDs * Life-Events and Difficulties Schedule...
.
Customers
Among the company's customers are electrical contractors, design engineers and assembly manufacturers, amateur radioAmateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
and model railway enthusiasts.
Rapid Electronics are also a supplier to primary schools, secondary schools and further education
Further education
Further education is a term mainly used in connection with education in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is post-compulsory education , that is distinct from the education offered in universities...
institutions in the UK, specialising in equipment for the science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, electronics
Electronics
Electronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...
and technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
areas of the National Curriculum.
Educational initiatives
Since 2004 Rapid Electronics have partnered Toyota Manufacturing UKToyota Manufacturing UK
Toyota Manufacturing UK is the UK manufacturing operation of Toyota, established in December 1989. The vehicle manufacturing plant at Burnaston, Derbyshire assembles cars. The first car off the production line was a Carina on 16 December 1992. Since then production has included Avensis, Corolla...
developing and co-ordinating the Toyota Technology Challenge
Toyota Technology Challenge
The Toyota Technology Challenge is an environmentally friendly engineering and technology competition for young people in the United Kingdom. The competition has been developed by Toyota Manufacturing UK in partnership with Rapid Electronics.- Purpose :...
. Pupils design, build and race environmentally friendly vehicles using solar power
Solar power
Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available...
or PIC microcontroller
PIC microcontroller
PIC is a family of Harvard architecture microcontrollers made by Microchip Technology, derived from the PIC1650 originally developed by General Instrument's Microelectronics Division...
technology. The company are also an official partner of the Jaguar Cars Maths in Motion scheme, and a sponsor of industry awards and events, such as the European Electronics Industry Awards. Rapid also provides resources and technical support to the Young Engineers organisation, which runs a network of engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
challenges and clubs across the UK.