In 2025, the global connector industry experienced the strongest year-over-year growth since the industry made its strong comeback the year following the COVID shutdown. Bishop & Associates shares insights on the year that was and the year ahead. Bishop & Associates has just released the updated version of their Connector Industry Forecast. This eight-chapter reportRead More

Meet the Connector: MT Ferrules  MT ferrules are key fiber optic components in the system architecture required for today’s higher data rate, high-density, high-precision applications. An MT (mechanical transfer) ferrule is a high-precision, rectangular, ferrule designed to align multiple optical fibers simultaneously. It typically accommodates 12, 24, or more fibers within a single compact interface. The critical elements forRead More

The future of the electronics industry depends on quality STEM education. Connector suppliers experience this firsthand. Learn how components companies support schools and programs in their communities. Engaging kids and college students in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) is important for ensuring a qualified and motivated workforce in the future. Programs that show studentsRead More

The aerospace and defense industry is being reshaped by the rapid adoption of AI and the industry-wide shift to open standards. With its 2024 acquisition of AirBorn underway, and 2025 acquisition incoming, Molex has been launched into these critical markets and their cutting-edge engineering breakthroughs. Molex has seized new opportunities in the aerospace and defense technologyRead More

Smart textiles facilitate data transmission, conductivity, and sensing while preserving mechanical strength, flexibility, and performance. By infusing conductive fibers and integrated electronic components, new wire sleeve strategies that sense and react to external stimuli enable the development of novel technologies. Thanks to advances in miniaturization, nanotechnology, and sensing arrays, conventional wire protection is evolving. InsteadRead More

Meet the Connector: IPC-620-Space Addendum IPC/WHMA-A-620 is the global industry-consensus standard for cable and wire harness assemblies; the space addendum pertains to technologies used in space and other extreme harsh environments.  It defines workmanship, materials, process, inspection, and acceptability criteria. The IPC-620 Space Addendum is a specialized supplement to IPC/WHMA-A-620, the industry’s primary standard for the acceptability of cableRead More

Advanced signal conditioning and error correction have contributed to achieving channel bandwidth far beyond what was expected just a few years ago. Moving to a higher order modulation provides a pathway to achieving next generation speeds. Constantly increasing data transmission speed over a communication link has been a key enabler of achieving higher computing performanceRead More

Data centers use many methods to keep their information and communication technology equipment cool, including traditional air-cooling and newer immersion cooling methods. Article Contributed By David Beach, Market Segment Manager, Anderson Power Air-based cooling systems have been the go-to method for keeping information and communication technology (ICT) equipment cool. Often configured with hot/cold aisles forRead More

Meet the Connector: Hard Metric Connectors Hard metric connectors are a highly standardized, high-density solution for high-speed data and power transmission. The term “hard metric” refers to the exclusive use of standard metric measurements, as opposed to “soft metric” components that use metric dimensions converted from inch measurements. The highly standardized hard metric connectors areRead More

See Bishop & Associates 2024 ranking of connector suppliers for more recent data on Top 10 companies. Top 10 by Product Type for 2023 Design engineers and purchasing personnel strive to identify the best connector companies for their design and purchasing requirements. However, identifying the best companies is not an easy task.  Answers to theRead More

The versatile new small form factor mezzanine standard greatly expands performance and innovation in next generation carriers. ANSI and VITA ratified the ANSI/VITA 93.0-2025 QMC standard defining a small form factor mezzanine offering increased density compared to existing XMC and FMC form factors. This has opened the door to some exciting developments in the worldRead More

Capable of transmitting RF signals from DC to 40 GHz from antenna to receiver, semi-rigid coaxial cables and assemblies ensure optimal performance, reliability, and durability in a broad range of mission-critical military and aeronautical systems. Article Contributed by CDM Inc. Semi-rigid coaxial cables and assemblies ensure optimal performance, reliability, and durability in a broad rangeRead More