FCI, a leading manufacturer of connector and interconnect systems, and distributor Digi-Key Corporation today announce the signing of a global distribution agreement. One of the world''s fastest growing distributors of electronic components, Digi-Key currently ships product to more than 140 countries worldwide.

FCI is a premier designer, manufacturer and supplier of innovative and high-quality electrical and electronic interconnect systems for a wide range of consumer and industrial applications. Headquartered in Versailles Cedex, France and operating in 30 countries throughout the world, FCI employs about 13,000 people.

Digi-Key will be stocking several varieties of FCI connector families, including backplane systems, card edge, D-subminiature, 2.54 mm and 2.0 mm modular systems, fine-pitch mezzanine systems, FFC/FPC, memory card connectors and more. FCI products will be available for purchase directly from Digi-Key through its print and online catalogs. This new distributorship agreement will enable Digi-Key to fulfill the design as well as the production needs of its widespread global customer base.

"FCI and Digi-Key share a commitment to customer satisfaction, which is a great basis for a strong partnership," said Mark Larson, president and COO at Digi-Key. "We are excited to add this top manufacturer to our line card, and we are certain that FCI''s innovative products will be of consequential interest and appeal to our customers."

"Digi-Key will help us tremendously in achieving our goal of increasing our exposure," said David Gerzewski, distributor sales manager for FCI''s CDC division. "We are very excited about the opportunities that Digi-Key will provide us in reaching more electronic design engineers."