Focus on Distributors - Tech-Knowledge Ltd. (Israel)
Every month we like to visit with various members of the Taiyo team and see what they are up to. I ask them six key questions (hence the name Dan's Six Pack) and see what we find out. In this issue I am talking to Avi Gitlin and Sigal G. Cohen of Tech-Knowledge (our main distributor in Israel) to get their perspective on what it is like to sell Taiyo products in their country.
DAN: Tell us a little bit about your firm. What area do you cover? How long have you been in business?
Founded in 1986, Tech-Knowledge represents some of the world's leading manufacturers and suppliers of materials, equipment, and technical services for the PCB industry, the electronics industry, and materials (epoxies and silicones) for manufacturers of optical and medical equipment in Israel. Tech-Knowledge has built its reputation upon its knowledge, experience and professionalism, and above all, the quality of service it provides to its customers. Customer satisfaction is a top priority at Tech-Knowledge, and Tech-Knowledge takes care to give each of its customers personal and individual attention.
Avi Gitlin -
"For many years I was the PCB plant manager at IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries), this gave me a vast amount of experience, but then I decided to start a new venture as the founder of Tech-Knowledge in 1986 and Tech-Knowledge became Taiyo's distributor in 1990."
Sigal G. Cohen -
"Mass communications, advertising and PR are the fields that l came from to Tech-Knowledge, and as such, I was able to contribute my skills in promoting Tech-Knowledge. In recent years, I wrote and published children books that present and reflect on my life experience as a world-wide business woman and as a mother of 3 boys who needs to find the delicate balance between career and motherhood. Each story in my books brings some personal experience and is accompanied by psychological research."
DAN: How are things going right now in your territory?
AVI & SIGAL: In Israel we have 3 major PCB board shops that specialize in Flex, Flex/Rigid and High Count Multilayer technology. Taiyo's materials are implemented at Eltek Ltd, PCB Ltd. and Print Electronics. Taiyo is considered as a supplier of high quality products, as well as a market leader whose reputation is well known and respected in Israel.
DAN: What do you consider Taiyo's best-selling product in your region?
AVI & SIGAL: The most popular Taiyo materials in Israel are the THP-100DX1 and the IJR-4000 series of products.
DAN: What do you think is the biggest advantage that Taiyo products have over the competition?
AVI & SIGAL: Quality is the outstanding advantage of Taiyo products. Another advantage is the great technical support we receive from Bob MacRae and Steve Campisi, who visit Israel.
DAN: I agree, with you about those guys. They are certainly an asset to the Taiyo marketing effort in Europe. Tell me how is business in your region in general?
AVI & SIGAL: The Israeli industry is very much influenced by the global business climate as we're part of the "global village". It's important to mention that Israel is a "start-up society" which means that many start-up companies start their projects in Israel and when they reach production level, they move to other countries in the Far East or Eastern Europe. Many of the applications come from the Aerospace and Military industries and by approving Taiyo material to an application in these fields, we can guarantee years of supply of Taiyo products.
DAN: How do you see the market going in the next year? In the next five years. We'd like to hear your opinion.
AVI & SIGAL: We believe that in the future Printed Electronics will replace a big portion of PCB technology, although being a market that is heavily based in Military and Aerospace, the PCBs will still exist in our market for many years because changes are taking a long time to adapt.
Thank you both. I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me today. I love the idea of getting another perspective on the PCB market in other parts of the world. I appreciate your openness and candor and look forward to talking with you again in the future!
