Featured Articles
  • Three Companies, One Mission: Reduce Plastics in Electronic Connectors

    The search for a regenerative bioplastic is on! Connector companies partner with a biomaterial specialist to find a viable alternative to petroleum-based plastics for the electronics industry and beyond. Connector manufacturers Harwin and Nicomatic have teamed up with biomaterial innovation specialist The New Materialist to develop bio-based alternatives to petrochemical plastics. Their mission, the NivoraRead More

  • XPO, Addressing the I/O Panel Bottleneck

    Introduced at OFC 2026, the new XPO pluggable modules provide a solution to the challenges of signal density, thermal management, field serviceability, and power efficiency. Continuing advances in artificial intelligence face multiple constraints including power consumption, access to memory, thermal management, and limitations of copper connectivity. Solving these challenges could still result in hobbled systemsRead More

Technology

As Demand for Cable Grows, Cable Management Solutions are Expanding

Growing volumes of cable and wire in electronic systems have created a need to create order through cable management accessories such as clips, clamps, tubing, braiding, trays, or more complex integrated connectivity solutions. Demand for cable is growing exponentially as electronic systems and devices expand across every market. As automotive systems add electric and autonomousRead More

5G and 6G Come into Focus at IMS Microwave Week

IMS2020, the virtual iteration of the world’s most important annual RF and microwave event, presented state-of-the-art products needed to advance 5G, 6G, and other high-speed technologies. With a 10% increase in first-time attendees, 8,000 virtual participants attended IMS2020, the annual IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium (IMS). IMS is the world’s largest event for RF andRead More

Single-Pair Ethernet Helps Industrial Designers Update and Build Systems for Industry 4.0

These simplified, yet powerful SPE connectors will help integrate equipment and buildings into a powerful, data-rich Industrial Internet of Things. The standardization of single-pair Ethernet (SPE) in 2019 enabled designers of industrial architectures to envision new levels of power, data speeds, and reliability for manufacturing facilities, building automation systems, and transportation networks. The IEEE 802.3cg-2019Read More

Five Things to Consider When Specifying RF Connectors for Harsh Industrial Environments

RF connectors that operate in industrial environments must maintain a clean signal under harsh conditions. To specify the right connector, you need to evaluate the particular challenges the application will endure and select a connector that is up to the job.  Understanding the characteristics of the environments in which connectors are to be stored andRead More

Military Programs Use Multi-Port and Cluster Connectors for State-of-the-Art RF Performance

Multi-port connectors reduce system cost, speed installation time, and improve reliability. As 5G technologies continue to develop for commercial and military use, these important connectivity solutions will have greatly increased utilization. The concept of multi-port connectors has evolved from arrays of discrete coaxes to complex assemblies with multiple coaxial contacts, integrated into a single connectorRead More

Choosing the Right PCB Mounting Method for High Shock and Vibration

Electronics that are subject to harsh military and aerospace operating environments require secure mounting. Several popular specifications give designers options. A few weeks ago, I was discussing work with an engineer friend, and we got onto the subject of connectors that are subjected to high shock and vibration loads. Exciting, I know. It all stemmedRead More

Irregular PCB Configurations Require Small Connectors and Creative Solutions

When a traditional rectangular connector isn’t the right fit for a unique PCB shape, engineers must look for a creative solution. Sometimes that solution is a custom connector that can deliver the needed space savings and the reliability required for mission-critical military applications.  By Jim Murphy, International Sales Manager, Advanced Interconnections Corp. The demand for smaller, slimmer,Read More

The Automotive Industry is on the Brink of Total Transformation

In 10 years, the automotive experience will be vastly different than it is today. Automotive capabilities, fueling strategies, usage and ownership patterns, and the overall driving experience are rapidly changing, in large part to innovations that begin at the connector level. The automotive industry is undergoing an incredibly dynamic period of innovation that will resultRead More

Automotive Connectors Meet New Challenges as Vehicle Technologies Improve

Connectors used in automotive applications enable everything from stereo systems to drivetrains. As these systems become more connected, more automated, and more energy-efficient, they require connectors that can deliver high-speed connectivity in rugged, lightweight, and easy-to-install designs. Harsh-environment connectivity has extended to various mobility applications including passenger and racing vehicles. This brings a host ofRead More

Top 12 Technology Trends: Copper to Optical Connectivity

This is the fifth installment in a series of articles that address leading technology trends that have had a significant impact on the electronic connector industry over the past 20 years. This latest installment in the Technology Trends series by Bob Hult examines the trends and technologies that have pushed copper to the limits and ushered inRead More

Autonomous Tractors Take the Farmer Out of the Fields

New partially and fully autonomous tractors and agricultural equipment leverage the evolution of connected automotive technologies to bring e-mobility to the farm. As engineers race to fulfill OEMs’ desire to be amongst the first to have driverless cars hit the highway, the advanced electronics contributing to these innovations are making their way into other modesRead More

M12 and M8 Connectors: The Perfect Choice for Harsh Environments

Water, dust, and mud present challenging conditions for vehicle and equipment electronics in transportation, agriculture, and other off-road and outdoor operating environments.  Modern industrial operations that feature outdoor installations and equipment depend on resilient and reliable electronic connections to facilitate communications between equipment and operators in harsh environments. Industries such as agriculture, food and beverageRead More

2026 World Connector Market Handbook 2025-2031F
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