The Avnet Electronics Marketing operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT) and Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. are celebrating their 50-year alliance.

When the clock ticked to 12:01 a.m., Jan. 1, 1960, America was a nation full of promise. That year, the Civil Rights Act of 1960 was passed, the first planar Integrated Circuit was fabricated and President Dwight D. Eisenhower predicted 1960 would be the most prosperous year in U.S. history. It was also the year that Hamilton Electro Sales and Motorola Corp. signed a regional semiconductor distribution agreement that set the groundwork for one of the industry’s most enduring and prolific supply and design chain partnerships.

Despite the mergers and spin-offs that transformed Hamilton and Motorola’s semiconductor division into the entities known today as Avnet Electronics Marketing and Freescale Semiconductor, the two companies have remained committed to bringing state-of-the-art technology and solutions to market.

Today, Avnet and Freescale collaborate to bring one of the largest selections of power management solutions, microprocessors, microcontrollers, sensors, radio frequency semiconductors, analog and mixed signal circuits, and software technologies to customers worldwide. With more than 18 billion semiconductors sold, Freescale products have infiltrated most aspects of everyday life, from automobiles and media players to washers, dryers and networking infrastructures.

“From the first silicon-based transistors in the 1960s and the introduction of the world’s first communications processor in 1989 to today’s embedded devices and industry-leading i.MX515 multimedia applications processors, Freescale and its predecessors have been central to the advancement of semiconductor technology,” said Ed Smith, president of Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas. “Being a part of this journey has been an amazing experience, and I fully expect the next half century will be just as exciting and rewarding.”

“Freescale is immensely proud to be part of Avnet’s rich 50-year history. Essential to Avnet’s longevity – and its continued future success – is the company’s ability to embrace an entrepreneurial spirit while remaining true to its core values. Freescale shares Avnet’s passion for enabling our mutual customers’ success by delivering innovative technology and service,” said Henri Richard, Freescale senior vice president, chief sales and marketing officer. “Together, we continue to shape and lead markets to benefit our customers and grow our companies.”

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