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

High-Speed Connectivity Accelerates the Development of Intelligent Transportation Systems

As 5G networks are activated, connected and automated vehicle systems will evolve from emerging technologies into widespread intelligent transportation systems (ITS) that guide the multimodal transport of goods, people, and transportation-related information. The transportation sector is poised to see profound changes as 5G continues its rollout. The fifth generation of wireless networks will provide theRead More

The COM-HPC Embedded Standard Will Facilitate High-Performance Computing

To handle compute-intensive applications and edge-computing systems, a revised Computer on Module (COM) standard is required. At electronica 2018, Samtec and congatec introduced the concept of a new Computer on Module (COM) standard. Initially called COM-HD, it has been developed by PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG) and re-named COM-HPC to reflect the high-computing performanceRead More

Preparing for Photonic Integrated Circuit

A gap between the current electronic integration industry and photonic integrated circuit (PIC) technology is present under the subtle tension between “introductory delay” and “collapsing to zero.” Recent standards movement reveals the evidence of this trend through extra-short reach (XSR) definition and points to printed optical board (POB) as the most probable next enabling technologyRead More

The 5G Revolution is Coming…Slowly

Years of hype have brought us to the year 5G was supposed to go big. But we’ll have to be patient to see it make an impact. The hype about the 5G revolution has been intense as every market awaits its arrival and impact. When the fifth-generation wireless network is fully installed and operational, itsRead More

Electronics are Helping to Solve the Pilot Shortage

Advanced aviation-specific components for commercial and military aircraft are producing increasingly powerful and connected hardware that can help keep aviation technology accessible to pilots. Today, there is a critical problem in military and civil aviation: a distinct shortage of pilots. In June 2019, Boeing’s then-CEO Dennis Muilenburg called this shortage “one of the biggest challengesRead More

Formula E Racing Takes Another Spin

The world’s premier electric car racing series has become an important R&D experience for electronics companies. The 2019–20 ABB FIA Formula E Championship racing season is underway. The globe-spanning electric car racing series kicked off its sixth season with a double header in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, in November. The new Gen2 race car unveiled inRead More

Getting Connected with Stretchable Circuitry

The next frontier for medical device design is stretchable, wearable products that can adhere to patients or equipment and endure movement and manipulation. Dr. John Rogers, a professor of engineering at the University of Illinois, is one of many researchers advancing the charge to develop stretchable electronics. Rogers says soft materials for flexible macroelectronic circuitsRead More

Global Harmonization of the Appliance Coupler Standard

As the electronics industry continues to take steps towards global harmonization, the US and Canada will adopt the IEC 60320 standard for device plugs with minor deviations. This has significant implications for home healthcare products, portable medical technologies, household appliances, and consumer electronics. By SCHURTER Inc. Global standards make it easy for both component andRead More

Connector Manufacturers Expand Their Scope Through Diversification

As the Internet of Things continues to expand, connector companies are embracing diversification and establishing new areas of expertise, including antennas, active optical devices, electronic sensors, and packaging services. Financial advisors like to tell their clients that the path to success is through diversification. The logic being that by spreading their investments over a wideRead More

Creating Ideal Connectors for Rugged Conditions

As the Internet of Things extends into rugged territories, the connector that fulfills every requirement for some applications in development may not yet exist. That’s where customization comes in. Rugged connectors — power, signal, fiber optic, and hybrid — are designed to withstand extreme environments. No one-size-fits-all solution is available in this diverse market. MostRead More

A Buyers Guide for the New Decade

The 2020s will bring greater connectivity across all applications and industries. Connector Supplier’s newly expanded and redesigned 2020 Buyers Guide gives design professionals a comprehensive, easy-to-use database of the components they need to bring these systems together. The new decade is upon us. The next 10 years will deliver untold advancements in technology and innovation,Read More

SC19: Supercomputers Continue to Evolve

The premier exhibition and conference for supercomputers demonstrated technologies including artificial intelligence, big data analytics, machine learning, and a rapidly expanding array of applications that require high performance computing services and high-performance connectivity products. The market for supercomputers and extreme computing services has evolved from a few highly specialized machines to a huge industry thatRead More

2026 World Connector Market Handbook 2025-2031F
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