Featured Articles
  • What is a Ballast Connector?

    A ballast connector is used to link a fluorescent or igh-intensity discharge (HID) lamp to its ballast — the device that regulates current and voltage to the bulb. In carrying the controlled electrical current from the ballast to the lamp, the ballast connector ensures stable power delivery. The increase in LED use is driving downRead More

  • What is an Adhesive Mount Antenna?

    An adhesive mount antenna is a low-profile external antenna that is attached to a surface using a pressure-sensitive adhesive backing, typically a foam tape. Available in single-band and multiband configurations covering cellular (2G through 5G), GNSS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and combinations, adhesive mount antennas are commonly used for vehicle telematics, fleet tracking, IoT gateways, and assetRead More

Learning Tools

How to Specify Heavy-Duty Connectors and Cable Assemblies for Harsh Industrial Applications

Designing and specifying cable assemblies for use in harsh environments presents a number of challenges. Industrial equipment can be subjected to harsh conditions, such as high temperatures, water, high humidity, particulate ingress, electromagnetic interference (EMI), vibration, and impact from close proximity to moving factory components. Over time, exposure to these conditions begins to impede assemblyRead More

Too Hot to Handle: Protecting Wire and Cables from Fire

Fire poses real risks to sensitive electronics in data centers, building structures, vehicles, and other high-density electronics applications, especially as our reliance on connectivity continues to grow. New materials designed to protect wire and cables from fire improve overall system safety and safeguard critical connectivity functions. Heat presents challenges for electronics. Components and assembled electronicRead More

Six Specification Considerations for Medical Connectivity Components

As medical equipment continues to scale down in size and up in connectivity and capabilities, new materials, device designs, and industry standards combine to create innovative medical connectivity components that satisfy rigorous form, fit, safety, and performance requirements. By John Koon and Connector Supplier medical connectivity components As medical equipment continues to scale down inRead More

Chip-on-Tip Technology Enables Minimally Invasive Medical Devices

Chip-on-tip endoscopy technology relies on microminiature sensors, illumination, and lenses. Market pressures are driving these critical medical devices to shrink in diameter and cost while maintaining, if not adding, functionality. Meeting these demands requires ingenuitive engineering and manufacturing techniques. Chip-on-tip technology is dramatically improving medical care by enabling minimally invasive imaging. The term chip-on-tip typicallyRead More

Common Misperceptions of Custom Connectors

There are many misperceptions regarding custom connectors: They are too risky, too expensive, and take too long to develop. But new processes are addressing these concerns. Device development is undergoing a transformation. Pressure to reduce costs, reduce size, and make devices that can leverage the Internet of Things (IoT) and 5G is driving a lotRead More

The Differences Between MIL-DTL-38999 Series I, II, and III Connectors

These circular connectors were originally designed to meet requirements for cable-to-panel applications in the military and aerospace market. Now they are used across a wide range of industries that benefit from their high-performance qualities. By Air Electro, Inc. The engineers and procurement professionals in both the civil and military aerospace industries work with QPL-approved (QualifiedRead More

Rugged Mil-Spec Connectors Strengthen Military System Deployment

A tour of the West 2019 conference turns up new mil-spec connectivity products that meet size, weight, and power goals, and deliver peak performance under pressure. For military and aerospace applications, the consequences of system failures are unthinkable. To accomplish mission-critical tasks, these systems depend on the high-reliability performance of rugged mil-spec connectors and cables.Read More

Rugged Connectors Expand into New Applications

5G and the Industrial Internet of Things are pushing advanced electronics into rough new territory. Rugged connectors can provide the robust connectivity needed, although sometimes a custom connector is required. Rugged connectors come into play when electronic equipment is designed for use in an extreme environment. This can be broadly defined: Extreme conditions may beRead More

Danger Zone: Contamination-Resistant Connectors for Hazardous Environments

Electronic equipment and devices employed in extremely harsh environments require rugged, contamination-resistant connectors that can stand up to radiation, sterilization, and the toughest conditions on Earth. Equipment destined for use in environments with a high risk of exposure to radiation and biological hazards requires contamination-resistant connectors and other electronic components, which can be a challengeRead More

New 2019 Industrial and IIoT eBook

Connector Supplier’s new 2019 Industrial and IIoT eBook collects expert insights and advice from leading connectivity companies in the industrial market sector to help readers leverage the latest technologies and capitalize on the many benefits they offer. Change is coming to the factory floor via a slew of new, networked technologies that will enable manufacturingRead More

Building a Better Device Connector Using Custom Pogo Pin Design

Industry-standard connectors don’t always get the job done. A very public failure of a proven connector spurred a team of designers to engineer a flexible and dependable new solution using pogo pins. Here’s how they did it. By Nobukazu Kato, ACES Electronics, and Sam Martin, ACES North America When a major OEM brand of mobileRead More

How to Select a Contract Manufacturer

Contract manufacturers’ quotes and quality audit results don’t tell the whole story. Here’s what you need to evaluate to make a good decision. Hiring a contract manufacturer is similar to hiring a new employee: In both instances, candidates are evaluated based on skills and experience. However, evaluating a contract manufacturer made up of hundreds ofRead More

2026 World Connector Market Handbook 2025-2031F
x