Electrocomponents : RS Components supports Intel Smart Cities Hackathon at city of London’s first Fab Lab

Sell out multi-city event will see weekend devoted to developing ideas and hacking hardware

Oxford, UK, 5 March 2015 - RS Components (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc (LSE:ECM), the global distributor for engineers, is supporting a weekend of collaborative coding and innovation at Intel Smart Cities Hackathon taking place at Fab Lab London on 6-8 March 2015. The multi-city hackathon is part of the global urban datafest involving diverse groups working collaboratively, with cash prizes awarded for the most innovative hacks.

The sponsorship is just part of an ongoing commitment by RS to Fab Lab London, the city's first purpose-built digital fabrication and rapid prototyping workspace for individuals and companies to develop innovative projects. This latest donation includes tools, consumables and component parts that will be used as part of the projects during the hackathon.

Over 80 people including developers, data scientists, urban experts and open hardware enthusiasts have enrolled for the event which is jointly supported with Intel. £3,500 in cash prizes will be awarded for the most innovative and inspiring hacks developed over the weekend.

Tracey Taylor, Social SEO Executive UK at RS, commented: "At RS, we believe in removing barriers to innovation, to help bring ideas to life faster. Our collaboration with Fab Lab London and Intel on this event is just one of a series of hacks we have been involved in over the past year with organisations, such as the Met Office, so it is a fantastic fit for us."

Tracey added: "It's really exciting to introduce participants with a passion for coding, data, DIY hardware or urban issues to new ideas and people, and to see what can be accomplished when they work together."

Tony Fish, co-founder of Fab Lab London, said: "Our goal is to bring the hardware community together to get their hands dirty and rapidly prototype cool ideas in the process. It's great to have RS on board and we are delighted with the response we have had to the event. With such a diverse group we typically see some fantastic results."

Fab Lab London is a 4,000 sq. ft. event space with 3D printers, laser cutters, milling machines, electronic lab and vinyl cutting equipment. The creative space provides open and membership based access to digital fabrication tools, an electronics lab, education workshops, making events and a vibrant community. RS has already donated end-of-life test equipment, electronics and lighting units as part of a regular monthly donation it has committed to. The company is also providing the initiative with access to its DesignSpark suite of rapid prototyping tools, all available free-of-charge.

For more information about Fab Lab visit www.fablablondon.org.

-Ends-

About RS Components
RS Components and Allied Electronics are the trading brands of Electrocomponents plc, the global distributor for engineers. With operations in 32 countries, we offer around 500,000 products through the internet, catalogues and at trade counters to over one million customers, shipping more than 44,000 parcels a day. Our products, sourced from 2,500 leading suppliers, include semiconductors, interconnect, passives and electromechanical, automation and control, electrical, test and measurement, tools and consumables.

Electrocomponents is listed on the London Stock Exchange and in the last financial year ended 31 March 2014 had revenues of £1.27bn.

For more information, please visit the website at www.rs-online.com.

Editorial Contact
Lisa Townsend
PR Manager - EMEA
RS Components
[e-mail]
[phone]

PR Agency Contact
Janice Fenton
Account Director
Publitek Technology PR
[e-mail]
[phone]

Further information is available via these links:
Twitter: @RSComponents; @alliedelec; @designsparkRS
RS Components on Linkedin
www.linkedin.com/company/rs-components