Delivering World-Class Value for Over 40 Years
The history of PACE Electronics is a story of continuous investments in relationships, processes, and know-how that differentiates the company today.
The breadth and depth of this history makes PACE uniquely capable of providing low-cost, high-quality electronics assemblies, subassemblies and components from PACE facilities in China and those of other trusted suppliers throughout Asia. Compared to brand name manufacturers, PACE delivers dramatic value and expertise that comes only with experience.
How did PACE become the company that provides such high-value service?
The Beginning
In 1969, Pat Kehoe was a manufacturer’s representative for a west coast wire and cable company, a fledgling Intel Corporation, and Panasonic, which was trying to expand its share of the U.S. electronics parts market. Panasonic needed warehouse space to handle the growing volume of components it provided to East Coast manufacturers. Pat seized the opportunity, rented a 10,000 square foot warehouse in Upstate New York, and started his own business. PACE Electronics was born.
The Search for Low Cost Components
PACE served as component distributor for Panasonic exclusively until the early 1970’s, when the CB craze hit the U.S. market. Panasonic consumed its own inventory of electronic parts, churning out CB radios to meet the demand. Pat, committed to meeting the ongoing needs of his customers, turned to Japan for new component sources. It was the beginning of PACE's long experience sourcing and procuring low-cost, high-quality electronic components from Pacific Rim suppliers.
In 1977, Panasonic, having learned from PACE about U.S. distribution, opened its own warehouse facilities. By this time, PACE had established with its customers the ability to find low-cost, high-quality electronic parts sourced from Asian suppliers.
Soon thereafter, PACE opened a purchasing office in Hong Kong to establish a local Asian presence that could further enhance PACE’s ability to work with up-and-coming Asian manufacturers. Pat also met Peter Yang, a well-respected Taiwanese businessman, and formed the partnership that would last to this day. Together, they opened a purchasing office in Taipei so that PACE could maintain a presence closer to their Taiwanese suppliers and provide more responsive customer service.
Investment and Expansion
In 1982, PACE closed a $7 million contract with Texas Instruments, providing a cash infusion that catapulted PACE to a new level in the international electronics industry. PACE built new headquarters in Sodus, NY to manage the expanding business and meet the demands of a growing number of world-class clients.
Pat and Peter continued to grow the business and build up the PACE reputation for providing top-quality electronic parts, low prices and excellent service. Then, in the early 1990s, component prices in Taiwan and Japan began to rise. PACE, always seeking to better serve their customers, was one of the first companies to look to mainland China for new sources of low-cost, high-quality components.
The Search Resumes
Pat and Peter canvassed China searching for the highest quality component sources and manufacturing facilities. Months later, Pat and Peter returned to Hong Kong with the names of new suppliers that could provide the high-quality and low-prices that PACE was known for.
In 1995, one of PACE's largest customers closed a production plant and needed to find a new source for the board-level assemblies they required. PACE accepted the challenge. With the energy and resourcefulness that had defined the company since the beginning, PACE acquired a factory in South China to meet the customer’s need. It was the beginning of PACE's foray into contract manufacturing. Once again, the business leapt ahead in capabilities and customers.
Putting Down Roots in China
In 1999, PACE built its own factory in Heshan, just north of Hong Kong, to provide expanded capabilities, quality, and engineering oversight for its growing number of contract manufacturing customers. The ISO-certified facility, which employs up to 700 workers, is able to generate high volumes of labor intensive assembly work at prices that help our customers compete more effectively in the world market. Capabilities include through-hole board assembly, plastic injection molding and tooling, on-site cost and value engineering, in-circuit testing, and turnkey electronics product assembly.
PACE Today
From its modest origins 40 years ago, PACE has grown to an international company serving clients around the world. With dedicated employees at both ends of the global supply chain, PACE provides customers with end-to-end program management and quality control. No other electronics company in the world has more experience with low-cost Asian sources, international shipping logistics, and turnkey manufacturing.
Whether you’re planning to build an electronics subassembly or turnkey assembly, or searching for electronics or mechanical components at the lowest price, PACE can meet your needs.