RS Components plays a leading role in the ‘electronica Experience’ aimed at the next generation of engineers

RS to host and sponsor Hyperloop panel discussion in brand new Hall C6, as well as showcasing FIRST® LEGO® League, Sphero educational robot demos and Titan II innovation truck

LONDON, UK, 9 November, 2018 – RS Components (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc (LSE: ECM), a global multi-channel distributor, is playing a major part in the inaugural ‘electronica Experience’ at this year’s electronica trade fair in Munich. Taking place in the brand new Hall C6, the electronica Experience aims to deliver advice and a first-hand technology experience to young people to help inspire them to pursue a career in engineering.

As well as exhibiting on its main stand (Hall C5, Stand 147), RS is using its additional 224m² space in Hall C6 to present Titan II, its 35-tonne interactive touring truck, which brings innovation to life by providing a range of STEM-based educational demos and activities in the interactive display zones. In addition, RS will have a series of FIRST® LEGO® League demonstrations and will be providing visitors with the opportunity to play with the Sphero SPRK+® STEAM educational robot.

RS is also sponsoring and hosting a panel discussion entitled: ‘Hyperloop: pioneering the future of transportation’ on the Discovery stage in Hall C6 on Wednesday, 14 November, between 15:15 and 15:45. The panel discussion will comprise student teams from across Europe that have successfully made it through to the final stages of the SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition. The competition challenges student teams to design, and potentially build, a subscale prototype transport vehicle to demonstrate the technical feasibility of the Hyperloop concept.

Mike England, President EMEA at RS, commented: “Over many years now, RS has committed itself to an extended programme of STEM activities, working in conjunction with educational institutions, businesses, industry bodies and governments, to attract the next generation of talent that will be needed to address the growing skills gap in engineering. As a leader in the electronics and industrial sectors, we recognise our responsibilities to excite young people in the possibilities offered by electronics and technology, and we strongly support the efforts of the electronica 2018 organisers and gladly welcome this new initiative.”

STEM skills are critical to innovation and creating a competitive edge in knowledge-intensive economies, and engineering skills in particular are in short supply throughout Europe. Consequently, RS participates in a wide range of activities to promote engineering in education from primary school throughout the academic years and beyond, including being heavily involved in the BrightSparks initiative (https://uk.rs-online.com/web/generalDisplay.html?id=footer1/release/181019_brightsparks_2018) , STEM ambassadorships, and providing support for educational exhibitions and several university programmes such as HYPED (https://uk.rs-online.com/web/generalDisplay.html?id=footer1/release/180207_hyped_hyperloop_uk), the University of Edinburgh’s Hyperloop team. The RS DesignSpark online resource centre is also a wealth of information for professional engineers and students, providing free software, tools and a host of other design resources.

RS will be welcoming visitors at electronica 2018 in Hall C6 as part of the electronica Experience, and via its main presence on its stand in Hall C5, Stand 147.

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