With industrial market sector sales flat in 2014, it’s not surprising that sales across the sector tumbled in the first quarter of 2015.   Bishop tracks 12 companies in the industrial market sector. These companies’ combined sales contracted year over year in the last three quarters ending with 1Q15. In 2013, these companies grew 0.1%Read More

Poor crimps can slow down a production line. Schleuniger explains how to improve crimp quality to increase productivity.   A high quality crimp termination will usually exceed the service life of the product in which it is installed. On the other hand, a marginal quality crimp termination can cause electrical failures early in a product’sRead More

The material used in a connector design significantly impacts its overall performance. Bob Stanton of Omnetics takes a look at how insulator materials affect connectors at work.   The choice of the material of which a connector is made can greatly affect reliability and performance, and often depends on the environment and application in which the connector isRead More

According to Bishop & Associates’ research, the fourth largest connector market will exhibit strong growth over the next five years.   The industrial market is the fourth largest connector market by share of the total worldwide connector market following automotive, computer/peripheral, and telecom/datacom. This share has been relatively stable over the last five years at approximatelyRead More

The intelligent networking of industrial devices promises to deliver productivity gains, but not all manufacturers are ready to make the leap to the smart factory. Connecting efficiency and productivity is key for the future of the industrial sector.   As the buzz about “Industry 4.0” grows louder, many people believe it may be just around the corner, butRead More

Technological developments in today’s industrial environments require modular systems. HARTING’s Jakob Dück examines suitable interfaces for modular machine design.   After cloud computing comes cloud production. This development has significantly impacted machine construction; there is a need for highly flexible, quickly implementable production machines and lines that are fail-safe and can be cost-effectively mass-produced. The goal is to manufacture theRead More

There are simple ways to customize a connector’s performance to better withstand harsh environments. Remke examines the five connector specs that combat environmental issues.   When establishing electrical connections in harsh environments, standard cable connectors and assemblies often don’t cut it. There are simple ways, however, to customize any connector’s performance. Common environmental issues for connectorsRead More

PROVERTHA 90-degree M12 connectors are fully shielded with eight cable outlet options.   PROVERTHA complements its comprehensive range of M12 connection solutions with fully shielded 90-degree M12 cable connectors that offer eight cable outlet options. With the new connectors, the company addresses applications in automation, control, and process technology as well as in mechanical engineering. The compactRead More

We’re introducing a new feature in this issue. “Connectors at Work” highlights a specific application and explains which connectors are most beneficial for system performance. First up, Bob Stanton of Omnetics looks at industrial robots.   Industrial robotics are helping to revive automated manufacturing significantly. The development of new end-of-arm (EOA) instruments enables systems that can handleRead More

Ensure optimal performance in demanding environments with these tips on how to specify industrial fiber optic cable from Kyle Mrkva of Belden.   Fiber optic cabling is applicable in any industrial environment where high-speed, high-bandwidth data solutions are needed. It can be used for campus and in-building data backbones to anchor an operation’s Ethernet, andRead More

There’s lots of talk about the benefits of the Internet of Things, particularly in the industrial arena, but is there a down side? Arthur Visser asks the question: Are AI and IoT a threat to mankind?   If you have been following the news recently, you probably heard that Professor Stephen Hawking, one of theRead More

The Weidmuller dual-level power terminal blocks provide a 50% reduction in cabinet space. Weidmuller expands its line of space-saving, dual-level power terminal blocks designed for use in machinery, process, and power generation applications. The new WDK 10 dual-level power terminal series offers a 50% reduction in cabinet space when compared to single-level terminals. Featuring a slimRead More