Dr. Felix Zandman launched Vishay Intertechnology in Pennsylvania, U.S.A. in 1962. At first, the company traded in foil resistors and strain gauges but by 1985 had become a market leader. Vishay then diversified into a broader range of electronic components, acquiring smaller companies as part of this process. Over five decades have elapsed since the company was founded and Vishay is now a global brand employing around 21,000 people, with an international network and a product line that includes rectifiers, diodes, MOSFETs, optoelectronics, selected integrated circuits, resistors, capacitors and inductors. These products support applications across many industries, including automotive, avionics, computers, consumer goods, industrial, medical and telecommunications. Vishay products held in stock include capacitors, discrete semiconductors and tubes, and optoelectronic components, plus potentiometers and trimmers. In addition, there is an extensive selection of resistors that covers wire-wound and precision resistors, NTC (high temperature) and PTC (low temperature), and also SMD resistors for PCB applications, and various types of film resistor. Resistance values range from 0 ohm up to a maximum of 10 Mohm, with rated outputs between 0.03W and 800W, and a dielectric strength of between 30V and 750V. Typically, these components can operate in temperatures as low as -55 degrees C up to a maximum of 175 degrees C.