Tele/Datacom Articles

OSFP-XD Pluggable Connectors are Finding a Home

OSFP-XD pluggables are targeting AI applications in data centers, high-performance computing (HPC), and select telecom networks. Connectors designed to transfer information in and out of a server, switch, or router have long been recognized as a potential data bottleneck. Processing chips often spend half their time waiting to receive information necessary to function, resulting inRead More

Replacing Printed Wiring with Engineered Cable Solutions for High-Speed Applications

Getting faster transmission through interconnects is not as simple as just turning up the speed with a dial. It requires adjustments to signal modulation and SerDes technology, as well as advancements in interconnectivity and IC packaging. Since networking equipment operating at 100G, 200G, and 400G total data rate per port has become ubiquitous, network systemRead More

PCI Express 7.0 Specification Released

At twice the speed of PCIe 6.0, the new specification supports AI, machine learning, data centers, and high-speed and high-performance computing across numerous application areas. The PCI-SIG (Peripheral Component Interconnect Special Interest Group) has released the PCI Express 7.0 (PCIe 7.0) specification to members, marking a major advancement in high-speed interconnect performance. Designed to meetRead More

What are SAS Connectors?

Meet the Connector: SAS Connectors SAS connectors are used for high-speed, reliable data transfer in high-speed storage applications. SAS connectors are rectangular connectors used for high-speed, reliable data transfer in high-speed storage applications. SAS supports both serial and parallel communication and can be backward compatible with SAS 1.0 and 2.0 devices. SAS is a point-to-pointRead More

Meet the CEO: Weidmuller USA’s Randy Sadler

Weidmuller USA’s new CEO joined the company just in time to celebrate the company’s 50th year in North America. But Randy Sadler’s own history with the company goes back decades, too — he joined as a college student and moved all the way up through the ranks. From Richmond, Virginia, he brings German engineering toRead More

Open-Source Technologies Revolutionize the Factory Floor

Manufacturing and automation are undergoing a new industrial revolution. The growing demand for interoperability, interchangeability, and portability is driving this significant transformation led by open-source technologies. Open-source technologies, from Raspberry Pi-based industrial controllers to Linux edge devices, have enabled a shift in how industries approach automation. Open-source solutions in industrial environments offer adaptability and flexibilityRead More

What are DIN 41612 Connectors?

Meet the Connector: DIN 41612 Connectors DIN 41612, a standard for electrical connectors used in rack-based electrical systems, defines 13 different types of connectors. DIN 41612/IEC 60603-2 connectors are used to establish a connection between the plug-in card and backplane, mainly for 19-inch racks. The wide variety of connector types combined with the high levelRead More

The Expanding Influence of AI

Generative AI, with its massive training workloads, is having a huge impact on a broad range of technologies and related hardware supply chains. It is nearly impossible to avoid hearing about how artificial intelligence has begun impacting nearly every aspect of our lives. Already, AI is being applied to everything from medical diagnostics to judgingRead More

Edge AI Revolutionizes Real-Time Data Processing and Automation

Edge AI offers reduced latency, faster processing, a reduced need for constant internet connectivity, and fewer privacy concerns. As demand for real-time intelligence grows, this technology represents a significant shift in how data is processed. Edge AI uses artificial intelligence directly within a device, computing near the data source rather than in an off-site dataRead More

Technology Tackles Labor Shortages in Manufacturing

With unemployment rates low and the connector industry continuing to expand, attracting and retaining qualified workers has become difficult. How can new technologies help manufacturers solve this challenge? Unemployment rates remain steady and low in many regions. Meanwhile, the connector industry continues to expand, making it difficult for companies to attract and retain qualified workers.Read More

What are MTP/MPO Cables?

Meet the Cable: MTP/MPO Cables MTP and MPO cables are critical components in telecommunication networks and high-speed computing environments such as data centers. These optical cables deliver the higher transmission speeds and larger capacity requirements of cloud computing in the era of big data. MTP and MPO cables have similar appearances, but there are severalRead More

Heat in Data Centers: The Conundrum of Thermal Management 

Heat has a direct effect on device reliability. As the internal temperature of a chip exceeds its maximum rating, reliability begins to drop off. This results in a shortened life or complete chip failure. Advancing the limits of computing performance has been a constant defining objective of system designers since the first commercial computers wereRead More

World Connector Industry Forecast 2025-2030