Critical infrastructure and factory automation are among the most common targets of cyberattacks. Building cybersecurity into these systems is as necessary as any performance or safety measures. Cyber-attacks have become an increasingly complex, sophisticated, and high stakes threat. Industrial cybersecurity is evolving to meet the challenges of protecting systems and assets, ensuring safety, and preventingRead More

New EN 18031-1 update impacts all wireless devices, ranging from smartphones to connected industrial equipment. Beginning August 1, 2025, manufacturers of all devices containing radio technologies must comply with new cybersecurity requirements under the EU’s Radio Equipment Directive (RED) 2014/53/EU. This Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/30 update mandates compliance with EN 18031-1, a harmonized standard that addressesRead More

One distributor looks back at the challenges the electronics industry weathered during the pandemic and finds solutions that apply to today’s tariff situation. The electronics industry faced considerable supply chain challenges during the pandemic. The lessons learned during that period of supply chain chaos taught components suppliers and distributors valuable lessons that are now becomingRead More

Meet the Sensor: Motion Sensors Motion sensors are integrated into electronic devices to detect movement within a specified area. Within a connected system, these sensors can activate an alert or initiate a task sequence in response to that motion. They are widely used in industrial equipment, smart lighting equipment, home or building controls, videogame equipment,Read More

Humanoid robots are a subset of general-purpose robots that include large and small robotic arms that have become an essential enabler of factory automation. The development of humanoids that utilize artificial intelligence is now in the process of blurring the line between man and machine. People have been fascinated for hundreds of years with theRead More

From autonomous robots tasked with moving products throughout warehouses to automated transportation systems that handle last-mile delivery, robots are on the move in logistics systems. By Heilind Electronics The world of warehouse transportation is rapidly changing with the introduction of robotic transportation technologies. From autonomous robots tasked with moving products throughout warehouses to automated transportationRead More

Robots can go where humans can’t, either for safety or practical reasons. They can achieve levels of precision or repeatability to augment or simplify the work that people do. The right connectors make them efficient, durable, and reliable. Complex robots are deployed in a wide variety of applications — in industrial and manufacturing facilities, hospitalRead More

Meet the Connector: Proximity and Position Sensors Robotics and control systems depend on proximity and position sensors employing methods such as infrared, ultrasonic, or capacitive sensing to correctly park, position, and orient their motion in relation to the environment around them. Proximity sensors Proximity sensors detect the presence of nearby objects, often called targets, withoutRead More

Seven Considerations for Connector Selection for Industrial and Embedded Systems The nature of industrial and embedded systems has changed significantly in recent years as equipment is afforded less space and operates with tighter tolerances under harsher conditions. These factors, coupled with the increased data volumes from the rise of IoT, mean the integrity and durabilityRead More

Gold plating offers unparalleled durability and corrosion resistance to interconnects. Learn how gold — or a cost-effective alternative — can impact connector selection. Gold plating has a long history of utility in the connector industry due to its highly effective combination of durability, corrosion resistance, ductility, and electrical conductivity. The material offers stability under aRead More

Meet the Connector: 7/16 DIN Connectors The 7/16 interface was originally developed in Europe in the 1960s for the military. Also referred to simply as 7/16, this interface is a 50 Ω threaded RF connector used to join cables and equipment. The name is derived from the contact measurements: 7 mm outer diameter of theRead More

At this year’s electronica trade show in Munich, connector companies from around the planet gathered to showcase new products, share ideas and expertise, and try to get a read on a future that is filled with wild cards. Almost every two years for the last 60 years, the electronic components industry has gathered in MunichRead More