DigiKey Corporation (formerly written as Digi-Key) is an American electronic components distributor. The company was founded in 1972 by Ronald Stordahl. As of 2013, DigiKey is the fourth largest electronic component distributor in North America and the fifth largest electronic component distributor overall.[3] Stordahl privately owns the company.[4]
The name "Digi-Key" is a reference to the "Digi-Keyer Kit", a digital-electronic keyer kit that Stordahl developed and marketed to amateur radio enthusiasts. Electrical schematics for the electronic keyer were published in April 1968 by the radio publication QST.[5] The part numbers, or SKUs, of its components typically end with "-ND".
History
After earning a degree in electrical engineering at the University of Minnesota, Ronald Stordahl