A good connector design requires attention to the separable interface front end, the permanent interface back end, and the contact retention area. Bill Garver of APEX Electrical Interconnection Consultants provides a checklist of these design considerations.     There are fundamentally three specific elements of an electrical contact that are used within a multiple-position connector.Read More

Research shows exceptional growth for the automotive connector market, both in the past and future.   The market for automotive connectors has been outstanding in recent years. Pent-up demand for new cars, which resulted from the Great Recession, initially drove the market in the early years of this decade. This was coupled with the growing useRead More

Information networks drive new opportunities for commercial vehicles—both conventional and electric.     Connectors used in commercial vehicles have always needed to provide higher performance under more rugged conditions than those used in passenger cars and trucks. Now they must also facilitate advanced networking under harsh conditions, providing all the benefits of high-speed networks found inRead More

Press-fit connector technology provides highly reliable, cost-effective connections for harsh automotive applications, according to AVX’s Tom Anderson.     As the electronic content in today’s automobiles continues to increase in complexity, spurred by the frenetic pace of technological advancements, so does the need for innovative interconnect solutions for printed circuit boards (PCBs) and electronic module assemblyRead More

Transportation market sector sales for cable assemblies in commercial aviation continue to ascend, as sales growth is driven by regional air travel.   Bishop tracks 13 companies in the transportation market sector. These companies’ combined sales have grown year over year until the first two quarters of 2015. In 2013, these companies grew 2.6% year over yearRead More

Learn more about the latest lightweight COTS options for mixed-layout connectors from Erich Reichenbach of Reichenbach International.     Connectors for the military should be small, lightweight, rugged, reliable, and versatile as they are exposed to various demanding applications and environments. Here are some suggestions for specifying military COTS connectors. Size, Weight, and Shape By conserving fuel, aRead More

Read up on the industry’s latest achievements with the news briefs for October 6, 2015. TTI Inc. received LED manufacturer Kingbright Europe’s Golden Award, which recognizes growth and product sales. The two companies only began working together three years ago. Kingbright offers a broad solution of colored LEDs in various SMD packages from 0201 up toRead More

The main markets for subsea and high-pressure connectors require unique designs that mate when submerged, plus fiber optics and hermetic assemblies. When designers think about exotic applications, they might think about deep space. However, these are gentle applications compared to the severe environmental requirements for connectors used in downhole and subsea projects, where temperatures can exceed +250°CRead More

Connectors in the oil and gas industry must withstand high pressure, high temperature, and corrosive environments subject to heavy vibration and occasional shock loading. Materials are the key to ensure connector reliability in harsh environments.   The oil and gas industry demands high reliability in drilling and completion equipment, including electrical connectors used downhole. ConnectorsRead More

Demanding requirements for downhole applications start with high pressure and high temperature and go on to encompass many other factors. Here, AMETEK reviews the main considerations for choosing a connector for these harsh applications.   There are few environments that test the extreme functionality of a harsh environment connector more than those found deep down in anRead More

To learn more about the latest appointments, agreements, product achievements, and more, check out the interconnect news for September 15, 2015. Neoconix announced that Samtec has renewed its Neoconix PCBeam technology license agreement to continue their dual-source arrangement on the Samtec Z-Ray product line. This dual source arrangement allows Samtec to support new customers with anRead More

Bishop & Associates recently completed its annual survey of the connector industry’s European customers; in the first of two articles, we announce the top companies overall as well as those who scored high for product quality.   Bishop & Associates just completed an annual survey of the European connector industry, in which it asked customers aboutRead More