Digi-Key

Digi-Key is an privately held American company that distributes electronic components. Headquartered in Thief River Falls in the U.S. state of Minnesota, the company is the fourth largest electronic component distributor in North America and the fifth largest electronic component distributor in the world.[3] Founded in 1972 by Ronald Stordahl, its name is a reference to the "Digi-Keyer Kit", a digital electronic keyer kit that he developed and marketed to amateur radio enthusiasts. He continues to privately own the company.[4]

Digi-Key
Digi-Key Electronics
TypePrivate
IndustryElectronics distribution
Founded1972 (1972)
FounderRonald Stordahl
Headquarters
Thief River Falls, Minnesota
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Revenue$3 billion (2018)[1]
Number of employees
4,000+[2]
Websitedigikey.com

History

After earning a degree in electrical engineering at the University of Minnesota, Ronald Stordahl returned to his hometown of Thief River Falls, Minnesota where he took up ham radio in the early 1970s. Stordahl created a kit of electronic parts to improve transmission of Morse code over his radio. He soon began selling kits to other ham operators, and eventually branched off into the distribution of other electronic components, allowing customers to purchase parts in any quantity, no matter how small. The company quickly grew and by 1984 it was located in a one million square foot facility next door to Arctic Cat, a snowmobile manufacturer.[5]

Mark Larson, who joined Digi-Key in 1976 as its general manager, became president in 1985. He has led the company from its initial focus on the hobbyist market to the expanded market it serves today.[4] In 2015 Larson stepped down from his role within the company and transitioned to a board position. On June 1, 2015 Dave Doherty, who served as the Executive Vice President of Operations at Digi-Key, transitioned to Larson's position as President and Chief Operating Officer.[6]

Digi-Key continued to grow following the recession in 2008.[7] By 2017, Digi-Key was located in a single, centralized location in Thief River Falls, Minnesota that measured 800,000 square feet (74,000 m2). In 2017 the company began work on a one million square foot expansion to their Thief River Falls facility at an expected cost of $200 million to $300 million. The expansion was helped by government incentives and tax exemptions and was expected to add another 1,000 jobs at Digi-Key.[8]

By 2018, the company had annual revenue of $2.3 billion and more than 3,500 employees.[5]

In March of 2018 Digi-Key announced an expansion for a 1 million square foot building with over 2.2 million square feet of usable space. This space will include receiving, shipping, warehouse, and storage space for the nearly 1.5 million products ready for immediate shipment. Originally the new building was to be finalized in July of 2021[9]

See also

References
  1. "Top 50 Electronics Distributors 2018 - #5 Digi-Key Electronics". SourceToday. May 11, 2018.
  2. ""About DigiKey"". Retrieved 2019-01-15.
  3. "Digi-Key Company History". Digikey.com. Digi-Key Corporation. Archived from the original on 8 June 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  4. Rako, P (2006-09-28). "Voices: Digi-Key: growing up, privately". EDN. Retrieved 2012-06-26.
  5. Reinan, John (March 21, 2018). "From a box of radio parts, Digi-Key grew into a $2.3 billion anchor of northwest Minnesota". Star Tribune.
  6. Hageman, John. "UPDATED: Digi-Key vice president takes president position; president moves to board". Grand Folks Herald. Grand Folks Herald.
  7. "In tough economy, Minn. firm faces unusual problem". Minnesota Public Radio News. 2010-04-09. Retrieved 2012-06-26.
  8. Brian Bakst (2017-08-31). "Digi-Key boom brings good problems to Thief River Falls". MPRNews. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
  9. Lissick, Shelli (March 21, 2018). "Construction Set to Begin on Digi-Key's 1-Million-Square-Foot Product Distribution Center Expansion in Thief River Falls". Digi-Key.

Further reading
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