December 2013 – The server market has become a $50 billion segment of the computer industry, about the same size as the world connector market. With the advent of cloud storage and “Big Data,” many expect the server market to continue to grow, and to grow substantially. That could be a false assumption.
2013 Product/Technology Trends The trends that have driven the electronics industry for the past five years continued to evolve in 2013. Many of the new connectors introduced during the year reflect the density and performance demands of applications that consume less space, operate at higher speeds, weigh less in mobile products, and may contribute toRead More
December 2013 – 2013 is almost in the books. Did it meet, exceed, or fall short of expectations? Ron Bishop takes a look at the numbers to see how we’ll be ringing out this year.
November 2013 – A decrease in desktop sales and the quickly evolving world of mobile devices are changing the definition of “computer peripherals.” Is it a watch or is it a computer? John MacWilliams takes a closer look at the current catalog of peripheral equipment to determine what’s in, what’s out, what’s new, and what’s over.
Big Data Survey Reveals More Tricks Than Treats Companies investing in Big Data initiatives are waiting 18 to 24 months to see return on their investments (ROI) and only 3% give their enterprise information “Superman” status, according to a recent Halloween-themed survey. The alarming gap in anticipated ROI versus reality is just one horror revealedRead More
Chip-Level Optical Interconnect Market Could Generate $520 Million by 2019 Research and Markets has released “Revenue Opportunities for Optical Interconnects: Market and Technology Forecast – 2013 to 2020 Vol II: On-Chip and Chip-to-Chip.” According to the report, the addressable market for chip-level optical interconnects could eventually run into billions of units and revenues in thisRead More
October 2013 – Year 2009 was a perfect storm of profit killers, but in 2010, the industry experienced a complete reversal of misfortune. If history is a guide, what does that mean for 2013? Profitability is excellent!
September 2013 – In the automotive connector market, the Top 10 manufacturers of connectors used in automotive applications account for 94% of sales. This is primarily because the large tier one and tier two OEMs purchase from connector companies that offer broad product offerings, leading-edge technology, and significant value-added programs.
The connector industry has been in a soft-demand environment since October 2011. We now have recorded 22 consecutive months in which orders and sales have achieved small, single-digit year-over-year gains or losses. However, July YOY sales growth of +4.8% is encouraging and may signal a better second half of 2013.
September 2013 – In 2013, governments and defense agencies — from the US to China to the euro zone — are being asked to justify defense spending against a broad range of domestic priorities. Domestic demands for austerity and social investment are eroding previous commitment to high levels of defense spending by many nations. Defense is still the first priority of many governments; however, it is becoming more difficult for the armed services and industry to plan in this budgetary environment.
September 2013 – Industrial robots are a common sight on the factory floor, particularly in automotive markets. They offer high-precision handling and speed, and reduce operator risk, such as worker exposure to hazardous materials, and to production dangers in general. In the near future, industrial robots will include those that cooperate with humans, instead of replacing them. This will open up new potential for utilizing robots in factories and in the agricultural market, as well as for domestic purposes.
September 2013 – Year-over-year heavy duty transportation market sales growth slowed substantially starting in 4Q11 and has been negative in 1Q13 and 2Q13, while sequentially, 2Q13 sales increased 3.8% vs 1Q13.
