In electronics, the number one risk is not price but authenticity. The European grey market is active, and a component bought outside the official channel can be remarked, refurbished or outright counterfeit. The fault then shows up after assembly, when repair costs a hundred times the component.
So we only buy from traceable sources: authorised distributor, or broker with a certificate of conformity, batch photos, date code and the option to test. During shortages we always document the chain of custody before approving an order.
On IT fleets, the new versus professionally refurbished trade-off has become genuinely relevant. A refurbished business-grade machine with three years’ warranty often costs half of new for office use. We cost both scenarios over four years rather than on purchase price.
Typical requirements
- Workstations and servers
- Network equipment and licences
- Active and passive components
- PCBs and SMT assembly
- Cabling and harnesses
- Professional refurbished
This sector, country by country
- Sourcing IT hardware and electronics in FranceThe real trade-off: new versus professionally refurbished, over four years.
- Sourcing IT hardware and electronics in LuxembourgPlenty of corporate buying, little unit volume, high compliance demands.
- Sourcing IT hardware and electronics in the NetherlandsVenlo and Eindhoven: European stock and electronic assembly.
- Sourcing IT hardware and electronics in BelgiumSeries electronic assembly, on both sides of the language border.
