Industrial communications strategies are shifting in favor of real-time communications at the field device level, with automation engineers and installers preferring single-pair Ethernet-enabled devices to collect field data. Industrial field device infrastructure trends Industrial communications strategies are shifting in favor of real-time communications at the field device level, with automation engineers and installers preferring Ethernet-enabledRead More

Meet the Connector: Single-Pair Ethernet Single-pair Ethernet (SPE) is a single, twisted pair of copper wires that replaces the traditional 2- or 4-pair Ethernet configurations. SPE technology has been developed to bring Ethernet the “last mile” to the factory floor — the sensor/actuator level, specifically monitoring devices at the edge of industrial networks such asRead More

Upcoming industry events, as well as recent award, partnership, promotion, personnel, facility, distribution, standards, association, and certification news from across the connector industry. April 2023 Connector Industry News April 2023 Connector Industry News > Award News Carlisle Interconnect Technologies (CarlisleIT) received the Supplier of the Year award at the 2023 Airbus electrical standard parts annualRead More

Mitigating the impact of electromagnetic interference begins at the board level when designing electronic systems for use in complex medical, aerospace, and other environments where multiple technologies operate. Managing electromagnetic interference (EMI) is critical in busy settings where multiple and diverse types of electronic equipment are operating in tandem, such as medical, aerospace, military, andRead More

Connector Supplier marks the passing of one of the electronics industry’s great innovators. Gordon Moore’s foundational theory drove exponential advancements in semiconductor and circuit design, and charted the course for the miniaturization of connectors and other electronic components. Three years before Gordon Moore co-founded Intel Corporation in 1968, he plotted out a prediction for theRead More

Meet the Connector: FFC (Flat Flexible Cables) FFC (flat flexible cable) is a ribbon-type cable used to connect PCBs. It is typically used in laptops, cellphones, and other high-density electronic applications. FPC (flexible printed circuit) is sometimes used to refer to FFCs, but one important difference is that FPCs incorporate components, while FFCs are typicallyRead More

This week’s Product Roundup highlights sterilizable interconnects from leading suppliers. Sterilizable interconnects   Sterile or aseptic connectors must be sealed to allow devices undergoing sterilization processes to protect their electrical functions from pressurized steam, radiation, and chemicals. The highly pressurized steam of autoclaves delivers the heat – 250 °F (121 °C) – to kill microorganismsRead More

New-to-market connectivity products, including interconnects, wire, cable and cable assemblies, sensors, antennas, materials, accessories, tools, and development kits. April 2023 New Connectivity Products binder USA offers M12 connectors with all external parts – threaded locking ring, housing, and pressing screw – constructed of stainless steel. The cable clamp is constructed of PTFE, the seal is madeRead More

The quest for greater performance and functionality in smaller and lighter connectors has sparked some creative customization solutions. Custom connector solutions are usually a last resort, but with the pace of change in the world of technology, off-the-shelf options can’t always keep up. Customization fills a need when the right solution doesn’t exist yet. “ThereRead More

The size, weight, and power (SWaP) initiative has helped connector manufacturers focus on improving smaller and lighter connectors. Custom designs help make these goals achievable. Modern electronic design dictates that our circuits do more in smaller packages but we still need reliable power and signal transfer. The military and aerospace sector has been particularly influential;Read More

Six years after the historic Brexit referendum, trade ties have finally been severed between the United Kingdom and the EU. How is the U.K. connector industry handling the breakup? When the U.K. Parliament passed the Withdrawal Agreement Act in January 2020, 53% of businesses cited Brexit as the top source of uncertainty. Six years passedRead More

Data breaches are a billion-dollar problem, wreaking havoc with financial systems, medical records, businesses, and individuals. As supply chains and infrastructure also become increasingly connected, protecting cybersecurity is critical. Strategic hardware selection can help protect networks. Cybersecurity is often portrayed as a white hat hacker at a monitor, scanning code in search of vulnerabilities inRead More