Bishop & Associates’ 2014 Connector Industry Forecast shows major changes in the marketplace, including stronger performance in the industrial, automotive, and telecom/datacom equipment sectors. The connector industry’s performance for the first five months of the year has been very strong. Year-to-date May, the industry has grown revenues by +9.5% over the same period in 2013.Read More

John MacWilliams wonders if, with the evolutions and revolutions we’ve seen over the last few years in consumer electronics, has innovation peaked? The consumer electronics industry (CE) has gone from also-ran to shining star – and back to a more subdued posture unless some exciting things happen by this fall. The transition goes like this:Read More

People with imagination and the will to manifest it are behind every development from fire-starting to cell phones. That’s why we offer an ode to engineers who think BIG. Engineering is how people turn technology into solutions, and, like any other tool, is only as good as those who wield it and their imaginations. WithoutRead More

Don’t blush! It’s time to get down and dirty as AVX shares five things to know about “naked” connectors. If you’re not sure your design could benefit from a connector solution that has shed its plastic insulator, here are some considerations for utilizing “naked” connectors, according to AVX‘s Tom Anderson. Naked connectors are single contactsRead More

To ensure a successful product launch, manufacturers need to optimize the talents of their employees to be sure critical needs are addressed. We continue the “Connector Basics” series with a look at the necessary skills for successful new connector development. This article was contributed by APEX Electrical Interconnection Consultants. Successful new product development and releases toRead More

Bishop & Associates’ Bob Hult offers a plea to engineers, praising all they’ve achieved but requesting a bit of restraint. I recently attended the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, where some of the most sophisticated high-tech equipment and manufacturing processes were on display. I am in awe at our ability to track swarms of space debris asRead More

The RF connector market benefits from growth in the telecom equipment market. In 2013, the worldwide market for RF connectors exceeded $2.2 billion. RF connectors are electrical connectors designed to operate at radio frequencies in the multi-megahertz and gigahertz range. The connectors vary in size from the very small ultra-microminiature (smaller than a pencil eraser)Read More

The acquisition expands LEMO’s product offering, providing a complete cable-connector solution to its customers. LEMO acquired Northwire Inc. (NWI), a US specialty cable manufacturer of wire and multi-conductor cable and retractiles for the medical, aerospace and defense, energy, and industrial markets. “The acquisition of Northwire will enlarge the LEMO offering, providing a complete cable-connector solutionRead More

Astrex Electronics, a connector distribution specialist, joins the TTI family. TTI Inc. announced the acquisition of Astrex Electronics, a privately held connector distribution specialist headquartered in Plainview, N.Y. “I’m very pleased to be bringing Astrex Electronics into the fold of the TTI family of companies,” said Mike Morton, president, TTI Americas. “I am confident thatRead More

The transaction establishes TE as a leader in the high-growth sensor market and further expands its position as a provider of solutions for harsh environment applications. TE Connectivity Ltd. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Measurement Specialties Inc. for $86 cash per share or a total transaction value of approximately $1.7 billion (includingRead More

Connector designers understand that many variables impact contact area and how adequately the contacts do their job. This next article in the “Connector Basics” series explains why even minor increases in contact resistance matter. When a contact is mated, only a relatively small area is actually touching. All of the current must flow through this smallRead More

As fiber optic technology continues to expand and evolve at an increasingly rapid rate, we asked the Fiber Optic Association to provide our readers with a simple guide on how to specify single-mode and multimode FO connectors. Visit the Fiber Optic Association online for more valuable information about specifying these connectors, as well as forRead More