RFMW broadens portfolio with Ohmite’s high-reliability resistors and load bank solutions.
RFMW, a division of Exponential Technology Group and a specialized distributor of RF, microwave, and power management components, has announced a new distribution agreement with Ohmite Manufacturing, a century-old leader in resistive and thermal management technologies. The strategic partnership significantly broadens RFMW’s product portfolio by adding Ohmite’s comprehensive range of high-power resistors, current sense resistors, braking resistors, load banks, and board-level thermal solutions.
The agreement reflects a strong alignment between the two companies’ technical strengths and market focus. By integrating Ohmite’s resistive and thermal technologies into its line card, RFMW enhances its ability to provide design engineers with complete, application-ready solutions that address both electrical performance and heat management challenges in high-power and RF systems.
Expanding a High-Performance Portfolio
RFMW has built its reputation on providing technically driven distribution services to customers operating in demanding RF and microwave environments. Its product offering spans semiconductors, connectors, filters, amplifiers, and power management components, serving markets that require precision, reliability, and performance under challenging conditions.
With the addition of Ohmite’s product portfolio, RFMW now offers customers a broader array of solutions that address one of the most critical aspects of electronic system design: power dissipation and thermal control. Ohmite’s catalog includes:
- Surface mount current sense resistors
- High-power resistors for industrial and energy systems
- High-current braking resistors
- Multi-kilowatt load banks
- Board-level heatsinks and thermal management hardware
These components are essential in applications where electrical loads are significant and excess heat must be safely and efficiently managed. By distributing Ohmite’s solutions, RFMW strengthens its position as a single-source partner for engineers designing complex RF, microwave, and high-power systems.
A Century of Engineering Excellence
Founded more than 100 years ago, Ohmite has earned a reputation for delivering highly reliable components engineered for demanding environments. The company’s expertise spans thick film, wirewound, and ceramic resistor technologies, allowing it to support applications that require durability, stability, and precision over long operational lifetimes.
Ohmite’s products are widely deployed across industrial automation, renewable energy systems, medical equipment, transportation infrastructure, and military and defense platforms. In these sectors, components must withstand extreme temperatures, mechanical stress, and continuous high-energy loads without performance degradation.
This long-standing track record of reliability complements RFMW’s focus on supporting customers who operate in similarly rigorous environments. Whether designing RF transmitters, radar systems, energy conversion platforms, or advanced industrial controls, engineers require components that meet strict electrical and thermal performance standards. The RFMW–Ohmite partnership ensures that such requirements can be addressed with confidence.
Delivering Comprehensive Solutions
One of the central benefits of this agreement is the ability to provide customers with comprehensive solutions that integrate resistive components and thermal management. In modern electronics, especially high-power RF systems, resistor selection cannot be separated from thermal considerations. Excessive heat can compromise performance, reduce component lifespan, and create system-level reliability risks.
Joel Levine, President of RFMW, emphasized the strategic importance of the collaboration:
“RFMW is excited to bring Ohmite’s trusted brand and deep technical capabilities into our supplier lineup. Their proven product reliability, market presence, and custom engineering capabilities are a natural fit for our customers across RF and power markets. This partnership allows us to better serve customers looking for comprehensive solutions that span resistive components and thermal management.”
By combining Ohmite’s resistive expertise with RFMW’s technically focused sales organization, customers gain access to consultative support throughout the design process. Engineers can work directly with RFMW’s application specialists to select the optimal resistor technologies and thermal solutions tailored to their specific system requirements.
Supporting High-Power and RF Applications
High-power electronic systems, particularly those operating in RF and microwave frequencies, often encounter unique challenges. Power amplifiers, transmitters, power supplies, and energy storage systems generate significant heat, and improper thermal management can lead to inefficiencies or system failures.
Ohmite’s high-power resistors and load banks are designed to handle substantial energy dissipation while maintaining electrical stability. High-current braking resistors, for example, play a critical role in motor drives and industrial automation systems, safely dissipating regenerative energy during braking cycles. Multi-kilowatt load banks enable testing and validation of power systems under controlled conditions.
In RF systems, precision current sense resistors and robust thermal solutions help ensure accurate monitoring and stable operation. By adding these components to its distribution offering, RFMW empowers engineers to address both electrical performance and thermal reliability from a unified source.
Custom Engineering Capabilities
Beyond standard catalog products, Ohmite offers custom resistive solutions tailored to specialized application needs. This capability is particularly valuable for defense, aerospace, and energy customers, where off-the-shelf components may not fully meet environmental or performance specifications.
Under the new distribution agreement, RFMW customers gain streamlined access to Ohmite’s custom engineering resources. This includes support for application-specific resistor designs, modified thermal solutions, and performance optimization for extreme operating environments.
RFMW’s sales and engineering teams will work closely with Ohmite to facilitate design consultations, ensuring that even highly specialized requirements can be met efficiently. This collaboration shortens development cycles and reduces the complexity of sourcing custom components.
Strengthening Industry Relationships
Greg Pace, President of Ohmite Manufacturing, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration and its strategic alignment within the broader distribution ecosystem:
“We are very excited to be working with the team at RFMW. Through our strong supplier partnership with TTI, Inc., and now with RFMW as part of the TTI Family, we are confident in our ability to further service customers and contribute to mutual success. Our broad range of high-power and high-energy resistive technologies is a perfect complement to RFMW’s focus on RF, microwave, and power applications. Together, we look forward to expanding our reach and delivering responsive, high-performance solutions to customers.”
This partnership strengthens both companies’ presence in the marketplace. RFMW gains access to Ohmite’s respected brand and century-long legacy of innovation, while Ohmite benefits from RFMW’s specialized technical sales model and established relationships within RF and microwave design communities.
Addressing Emerging Market Demands
The demand for high-performance resistive and thermal management solutions continues to grow as industries transition toward electrification, renewable energy adoption, and advanced communication systems. Electric vehicle charging infrastructure, renewable energy inverters, industrial automation equipment, and next-generation RF communications platforms all rely on components capable of managing high power densities.
Thermal performance is becoming increasingly critical as systems become more compact and power levels increase. Engineers must carefully balance size constraints with heat dissipation requirements to ensure safe and reliable operation. Ohmite’s board-level heatsinks and ceramic resistor technologies provide solutions for these challenges, and RFMW’s distribution expertise ensures that customers can quickly identify and deploy the right components.
By combining technical depth with supply chain efficiency, the RFMW–Ohmite agreement supports customers navigating these rapidly evolving design requirements.
Enhancing Customer Support and Responsiveness
A defining characteristic of RFMW’s business model is its technically driven sales approach. Rather than acting solely as a transactional distributor, RFMW provides application-level guidance and engineering support to its customers. This consultative model aligns well with Ohmite’s emphasis on performance and customization.
Customers will benefit from:
- Technical assistance in resistor and thermal solution selection
- Access to custom design services
- Streamlined procurement through RFMW’s distribution network
- Coordinated support between RFMW and Ohmite engineering teams
This integrated approach reduces complexity for engineers and procurement teams alike, ensuring that projects remain on schedule and performance expectations are met.
Building Long-Term Value
The new distribution agreement represents more than a product line expansion—it signals a shared commitment to long-term value creation. By aligning their capabilities, RFMW and Ohmite aim to provide scalable solutions that support evolving industry demands while maintaining the reliability standards that both companies are known for.
As electronic systems continue to increase in power density and operational complexity, the integration of resistive and thermal management solutions will remain essential. Through this partnership, customers across industrial, energy, medical, transportation, and defense markets gain access to trusted technologies supported by experienced engineering teams.
Conclusion
The distribution agreement between RFMW and Ohmite Manufacturing marks a significant enhancement to RFMW’s portfolio of RF, microwave, and power management solutions. By incorporating Ohmite’s high-power resistors, load banks, current sense resistors, and thermal management products, RFMW expands its ability to serve customers seeking integrated, high-performance solutions.
Together, the two companies are well-positioned to deliver reliable, technically advanced components that meet the rigorous demands of modern electronic systems. Through collaboration, engineering expertise, and a shared focus on customer success, RFMW and Ohmite aim to drive innovation and performance across high-power and RF applications for years to come.
