OPTIFUSE

Foundation & initial situation (until approx. 2000)
OptiFuse was founded in 2000 in El Cajon, California (USA). 
The founder was Jim Kalb, together with other investors. 
Background: Prior to its founding, the predecessor company, under the name Basic Power Engineering and Manufacturing, had developed/manufactured approximately 150 products on behalf of companies such as Bussmann, Littelfuse and Ferraz-Shawmut. nbsp;
OptiFuse cites as the reason for this that Bussmann and Littelfuse announced in 2000 that they would be changing their distribution strategy ("limited distribution") and would no longer be serving many traditional electronics and automotive distributors. OptiFuse saw this as a gap in the market for supplying these distributors.& nbsp;
Structure & business model (2000s)
OptiFuse positioned itself as a manufacturer and marketer of overcurrent and overvoltage protection components (e.g. fuses, fuse holders, thermal circuit breakers) for applications in electronics, automotive and industry.& nbsp;
Sales are conducted exclusively through authorised distributors, not directly to end customers. 
One distinguishing feature was the offer of customer-friendly terms for distributors – e.g. no minimum order quantity, no minimum stockholding, no POS reporting. This helped to build a loyal distribution network with hundreds of locations. 
The company is headquartered at 1675 Pioneer Way Suite C, El Cajon, CA. 
Growth & recognition (2010s)
Since at least 2014, OptiFuse has been included in Inc. Magazine's "Inc. 5000 – Fastest-Growing Privately Held Companies in America" ranking (for several years in a row).& nbsp;
In 2017, the company was recognised by Forbes as one of the "25 Best Small Companies in America". 
At the same time, the product portfolio was expanded – e.g. introduction of retail-packaged product lines for the aftermarket, expansion of international markets and e-commerce partnerships.& nbsp;
Products & Markets
Product portfolio: automotive and electronic fuses, resettable PTC fuses, industrial fuses, fuse holders (panel, inline, PCB mounting), fuse clips and blocks, thermal circuit breakers.& nbsp;
globalspec.com
SKU number: According to information provided, over 7,000 stock keeping units (SKUs). 
Markets: Applications in automotive, electronics, industry; also aftermarket. Sales via a large network of authorised distributors. Certification/compliance: RoHS, REACH, lead-free, etc. Current status & special features OptiFuse is still active and privately owned. nbsp;
In recent years, new distribution agreements have been concluded – e.g. with Waytek, Inc. in June 2022 for the North American market. 
The business approach remains "distributor-focused" and "growth-oriented".& nbsp;
Internationalisation: In addition to its headquarters in the USA, OptiFuse also operates branches and satellite offices in Taipei (Taiwan) and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), among other locations.