Connectivity and autonomy in next-generation autos is creating lots of data that will be sent to data centers, fostering a new market for connector makers. The explosion of electronics in vehicles continues to drive solid growth in the market for connectors. Typically, we think of these as harsh-environment connectors that can meet the rigorous demandsRead More

The use of production breaks in aircraft minimizes weight, size, and power consumption. The primary purpose of production-break connectors is to facilitate the ease of installation for long, heavy, complex, multi-leg cable harness assemblies. Without the use of production breaks in the aircraft, it would be virtually impossible to build, repair, or upgrade today’s complexRead More

Trucking industry trends all point to a solid market for high-reliability connectors. Nearly every trend in commercial trucking is fueling increased demand for connectors. The move to hybrid and electric vehicles isn’t limited to automotive. Heavy, long-haul trucks are moving in this direction too, creating a need for high-power connectors. The expanding role of LEDsRead More

Falling prices on LEDs mean solid-state lighting is poised to displace bulbs, opening markets for connectors while altering wiring and electronic architectures. Automotive LEDs The automotive industry is ramping up its adoption of LED lighting. Falling prices, improving brightness, and integration with next-generation electric and safety systems are making this once-niche lighting option a mainstreamRead More

Solar pricing has dropped to levels that are sparking solid market growth and creating openings for a range of connectors. By Terry Costlow Growing interest in sustainable energy technologies, combined with declining prices for solar panels that are more powerful than ever, is sparking solid growth in photovoltaic systems. This growth carries a need forRead More

How did data centers do during the recent spate of disasters? Just fine, thanks to good planning. The cloud is a great repository for critical information, but in the event of a fire, hurricane, earthquake, or other disaster, that information is only as safe as the data center in which it’s stored. This summer, disastersRead More

Autonomous vehicles depend on this electronic sensing system. But has the connector industry been fully involved in its evolution? By Terry Costlow, Contributing Editor Cameras and radar have become commonplace on modern vehicles, and a surveying technology called LiDAR is getting a lot of attention. However, most product planners say that LiDAR will be onlyRead More

Design tool providers are working to make it simpler to see how design, manufacturing, and maintenance all impact designs. By Terry Costlow, Contributing Editor The US military has made digital technologies a mainstay of its efforts to address defense in the 21st century. As the role of electronics grows, many equipment suppliers and designers areRead More

The growing number of commercial drones creates demand for connectors that enable quick swapping of batteries and storage. By Terry Costlow, Contributing Editor The takeoff of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) market in areas beyond defense deployments is opening a solid growth market for connector suppliers that can provide compact, lightweight products to commercial andRead More