European electronics firms: profits hit

Europeanelectronics firms:profitshit A survey of Europe’s top electronic companies has found that turnover and profitability have suffered throughout the industry during 198112. US-owned companies were especially hit by the strength of the dollar against most European currencies. European-owned companies suffered from a general depression in economic growth and output.

For the period 198 l/2, the top-selling electronics companies in Europe are shown in Table 1. Altogether the total electronics-only sales of Europe’s leading electronics groups monitored by the survey, fell nearly 4% to $96.7B, compared with $100.3B the previous year. (Berm Electronics Publications Ltd, Chiltern House, 146 Midland Road, Luton, Beds LU2 OBL, UK.)

C~Contraeu. Table 1. Top selling electronics

companies

Company

Country of origin

Philips IBM Siemens ITT Thomson-Brandt GEC AEG-Telefunken L M Ericsson Xerox Plessey

Netherlands USA West Germany USA France UK West Germany Sweden USA UK

in West Europe. Sales $M

10264 9118 8058 6891 5973 4735 2 600 2247 1837 1712

Sales/employee $‘OOO 48.7 81.9 45.3 53.4 62.3 45.2 52.9 45.8 71.8 45.8

Publ~~by

NCC

Pac~kah* npp.f7.50. Wd&es on aspects of hardware and SS&IWHE which shouid be considered &IF entering into contracts. Divided into wtions on technical, IegaI and BciaI considerations. Aimed at UEf5;marketplace, but some aspects, such as SyStfDl requiremmtb a@#&&le anywhere. Not intended as a+&&&ive textbook,

Source: Mackintosh European Electronics Companies File

Fibreopticssaves commsin nuclearattack Integration One of the other effects of nuclear attack, other than blast, fire and fallout, would be the disruption of communications networks, including military communications and electric power grids. So says a report looking at the US communications situation. One of the side products of nuclear explosions is the electromagnetic pulse. This occurs when gamma rays emitted from the explosion hit atoms in the atmosphere, producing ‘electron rain’. This in turn creates bursts of electromagnetic activity, which can

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induce excessive voltages and currents in electrical conducting-type cable, resulting in burnout. A possible solution to this problem could be fibre optic cables, says the report. Because fibre optics work with pulses of light, they are not susceptible to excess electron energy. With its other advantages, such as high capacity, low cost, small size and weight, and indefinite life, fibre optic cabling is likely to be taken up for many installations in the USA. (IRD Inc., 30 High Street, Norwalk, CT 068.51, USA.)

problems The problem of integrating equipment from different manufacturers is increasing as office automation and personal computing are introduced into all areas of organizations. It is likely to be the responsibility of the DP department to integrate incompatible machines. A study called Strategiesfor integrating multivendorenvironmentspoints out the need for a strategic corporate in-

data processing