BC Components: Passive Electronics from the Synergy of Multiple Companies

Beyschlag Centralab (BC) Components is a brand of giant, publically traded semiconductor and electronic components company Vishay Intertechnology specializing in passive components including: leaded metal film resistors, leaded metal glaze resistors, capacitors (ceramic, aluminum, and film), thermistors, varistors, variable resistors, and much more. The company is headquartered in Eindhoven, Netherlands with plants in Europe, North America, India, Taiwan, and China.

BC Components is a combination of two separate companies: Beyschlag and Centralab. Beyschlag was originally founded in 1931 in Berlin, Germany by Dr. Bernhard Beyschlag as a producer of rectifiers for use in the then-emerging radio technology industry. The company expanded to produce carbon film resistors. In the 1970s, Beyschlag was purchased by Philips Components and operated as Philips’ passive components subsidiary until 1999. In 2002, Beyschlag became a part of Vishay.

Centralab, established in Hong Kong in 1962, was originally known as Globe Union. After acquisition by Philips Electronics in 1972 the company was merged with Beyschlag to form a branch dedicated to passive electronics and renamed BC Components. In 1999, the Philips Company divested its entire passive component segment, leaving BC Components independently operated. In 2002, Centralab (as BC Components) became a part of Vishay.

After the BC Components acquisition Vishay restructured the merged company and split its product portfolio into two divisions Vishay Beyschlag and Vishay BC Components. Vishay Beyschlag’s product portfolio consists primarily of resistors, including chip arrays (thin and thick film cermet), fuses, carbon or thin film leaded, and carbon or thin film MELF. The product portfolio of Vishay BC Components can be categorized into the following: capacitors (aluminum, ceramic, and film), linear metal film resistors, variable resistors, and non-linear resistors (including PTC thermistors, NTC thermistors, and varistors).

Vishay BC Components developed a number of now-standard products including aluminum capacitors with temperature capabilities in SMD and leaded configurations. The company has developed numerous SMD styles of non-linear PTC and NTC thermistors, safety leaded ceramic capacitors, high-performance aluminum and power film capacitors. BC Components also boasts patents for an NTC element up to 900 degrees Celsius and a thermal switch for safety for their non-linear resistors product line.

A few capabilities of the company’s products include: their ceramic capacitors which retain HVArc Guard® MLCCs and board-flex resistance, making them ideal for high-voltage applications and their varistors which can absorb high transient energies and suppress both positive and negative transients.