Global Industry Leader
Vishay is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of discrete semiconductors and passive electronic components. These components are used in virtually all types of electronic devices and equipment, in the industrial, computing, automotive, consumer, telecommunications, military, aerospace, and medical markets.
Vishay’s global footprint includes sales offices worldwide, as well as manufacturing plants in China and five other Asian countries, Europe, and the Americas. Its product innovations, successful acquisition strategy, focus on cost reductions, and ability to provide “one-stop shop” service have made Vishay a global industry leader.
Growth Through Innovations and Acquisitions
Vishay was founded in 1962 to manufacture and market foil resistors, an invention of Dr. Felix Zandman, Chairman of the Board and founder. The Company began operations with foil resistors and strain gages as its initial product offerings. In 1985, having grown from a start-up into the world's leading manufacturer of these products, Vishay began an ongoing series of strategic acquisitions to become a broad-line manufacturer of electronic components.
Vishay's acquisitions include such top names as Siliconix, Telefunken, the infrared components business of Infineon, General Semiconductor, Dale, Draloric, Sprague, Vitramon, and BCcomponents (former passive components businesses of Philips Electronics and Beyschlag). In April 2007, Vishay completed the acquisition of selected discrete semiconductor and module product lines from International Rectifier®.
Leading Worldwide Manufacturer
Vishay has market shares ranging from substantial to number-one for each of its products. Specific product rankings include the following:
Passive Components 
Number 1 worldwide in wirewound and other power resistorsNumber 1 worldwide in foil and leaded film resistorsNumber 1 worldwide in thin film SMD resistorsNumber 1 worldwide in wet and conformal-coated tantalum capacitorsNumber 1 worldwide in capacitors for power electronicsNumber 1 worldwide in strain gages and load cells
Semiconductors Number 1 worldwide in discrete power semiconductorsNumber 1 worldwide in diodesNumber 1 worldwide in power rectifiersNumber 1 worldwide in low-voltage power MOSFETsNumber 1 worldwide in infrared components
Successful Strategy, Financial Strength
Vishay’s growth through innovations and acquisitions has enabled it to remain financially strong during periodic downturns in the highly cyclical electronics industry. Vishay’s historically strong cash generation has provided money to acquire other companies and businesses. The result is a 20% compound annual growth rate of revenues from 1986 to 2006. In the process, Vishay has become a truly international company that sells into all geographic markets and all relevant market segments.
Meeting Customer Needs
Vishay’s customer mix includes original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), electronic manufacturing services (EMS) companies that manufacture for OEMs on an outsourcing basis, and distributors that, depending on their size, sell to end customers at an international, regional, or local level.
From a customer perspective, Vishay’s “one-stop shop” service for complete discrete component solutions provides key benefits: Customers are able to streamline their design and purchasing processes by ordering multiple types of components from Vishay. Customers can send their bills of materials to Vishay and ask that Vishay cross-reference Vishay products in all categories. In addition, Vishay’s product sample service for design engineers provides free product samples worldwide.
Projecting Vishay into the Future
Smaller sizes, faster data processing, improved graphics, and more versatile wireless connectivity are some of the challenges faced by designers of new end products of all kinds — from industrial machinery to medical devices to MP3 players. Vishay rolls out a steady stream of new and improved components to help designers meet these challenges.
Innovation and consolidation, guided by a strong management team and supported by Vishay’s worldwide “one face to the customer” initiative, provide the basis for Vishay’s continued growth.
