December 2025 Connector Industry News

Upcoming industry events, as well as recent award, partnership, promotion, personnel, facility, distribution, standards, association, and certification news from across the connector industry.

December 2025 Connector Industry News

December 2025 Connector Industry News > Award News

Weidmuller USA announced that the global Weidmüller Group has earned the prestigious EcoVadis Gold Medal for outstanding commitment to sustainability for the third consecutive year. The achievement places Weidmüller among the top five percent of all companies assessed by EcoVadis worldwide and secures a position within the top 2%in the electronics, connectivity, and automation industry for outstanding sustainability practices and initiatives. EcoVadis is an internationally recognized platform for sustainability ratings, evaluating companies in the areas of environment, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. This renowned recognition highlights Weidmüller’s continuous achievements in corporate social responsibility.

ECIA President and CEO David Loftus named three recipients of the 2025 Distinguished Service Awards: Anthony Alberga from Future Electronics contributed the maximum six years of service (three two-year terms on the EDS Board), which included some difficult challenges and decisions during Covid; Tobi Cornell of Kruvand & Associates is a past chair and multi-year member of the Executive Conference Core Committee and served as master of ceremonies in 2023; and Pam Berigan from Sager Electronics is a long-time member of the Executive Conference Committee and responsible for the outstanding speaker lineup as co-chair of the Speaker Vetting Committee for three years. These individuals were acknowledged for their significant contributions to ECIA and our industry at the Executive Conference held in Rosemont, Illinois, in October.

December 2025 Connector Industry News > Event News

DigiKey kicked off its 17th annual DigiWish Giveaway, which runs through Dec. 24, 2025. The popular holiday giveaway offers entrants a chance to win DigiKey product prizes throughout the holiday season. To enter, participants must fill out the form on DigiKey’s website, selecting their “wish” for one in-stock DigiKey product valued up to $100 USD. One lucky name will be drawn from the list of eligible candidates each day of the contest, with 24 winners in total. All participants will also be entered in a grand prize drawing for a $500 DigiKey shopping spree. Visit the DigiWish website for the complete rules and terms and conditions of the 2025 DigiWish Giveaway.

The 74^th Annual IWCS Cable & Connectivity Industry Forum held this year at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh wrapped up with several notable highlights. Attendees appreciated the new location and enjoyed event features such as the Cable Manufacturer Spotlight presentations and trend sessions that focused on the highly relevant themes of sustainability, smart grid connectivity, and AI. The “Innovation Hub” that was centrally located within the Supplier Exhibition featured product presentations from 12 unique suppliers on materials for cables in data centers, sustainable cable packaging, optical fiber coatings, and other topics. As part of the Cable Manufacturer Spotlights, Corning, YOFC, and HFCL updated attendees on new challenges and opportunities affecting the cable industry and how their products can support growing needs. The next IWCS Forum will take place Nov. 1–4, 2026, at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, USA. To celebrate 75 years of IWCS, the event will commemorate the decades of innovation and networking that IWCS has facilitated thanks to critical support from individuals and industry partners. Visit iwcs.org for more information.

December 2025 Connector Industry News > Personnel & Acquisitions News

Harwin has appointed Peter Ingram as the company’s new chief financial officer (CFO). Ingram has a track record of enabling growth for technology companies and is set to play a key role in supporting the connector specialist’s strategy for ongoing expansion. With experience that spans both financial management and marketing, Ingram brings a unique set of specialist skills to his position on the Harwin board. As CFO, he will be involved in plans that range from a new £30 million manufacturing facility to supporting investment in technology innovation and new jobs. Ingram is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and has held senior positions at several technology companies including Qinetiq, Raymarine, and FLIR Systems.

December 2025 Connector Industry News > Facility News

Schaltbau and its NExT Factory, the world’s first fully electrified direct current (DC) production facility, have been recognized in this year’s German Energy Efficiency TOP TENs list, an activity of the International Energy Efficiency Hub (IEA) that identifies and promotes the world’s best energy-efficient technologies and practices across key energy-consuming sectors. Schaltbau opened its NExT Factory flagship site for sustainable and intelligent manufacturing in Velden, Germany. The factory has been in full operation since September 2023, serving as a production site for the company’s advanced electromechanical components and systems for DC power applications, which are distributed to e-mobility and energy customers worldwide.

December 2025 Connector Industry News > Partnership and Distribution News

Waldom Electronics has added AirBorn, a Molex company, to its manufacturer portfolio. This expansion marks a significant milestone in the long-standing collaboration between Waldom and Molex, further strengthening their shared mission to enhance global supply chain efficiency and distributor access to high-quality interconnect solutions. Waldom’s first AirBorn inventory includes over 150 SKUs, now available immediately from stock. The range features Micro-D, Nano-D, RC Series, RM Series, VerSI, W Series, and R&W accessories.

Global Unichip Corp. (GUC) and Ayar Labs announced a strategic partnership to integrate CPO into GUC’s advanced ASIC design services. This collaboration paves the way for high-bandwidth, low-latency, power-efficient optical interconnects in next-generation AI, HPC, and networking applications where electrical signaling is reaching its limits. By integrating Ayar Labs’ TeraPHY optical engines into GUC’s advanced packaging and ASIC workflow, the companies are exploring critical areas to enable future CPO deployment. The new XPU multi-chip package (MCP) design replaces traditional electrical interconnects with Ayar Labs’ optical engines attached directly to the MCP organic substrate. This architecture enables more than 100 Tb/s full-duplex optical interface from the XPU package, more than an order of magnitude improvement over current XPUs.

L-com, an Infinite Electronics brand, expanded its strategic cooperation agreement with RS Group to distribute L-com products across European and APAC markets via the RS Group website. This partnership significantly broadens L-com’s geographic reach beyond the United States and supports Infinite Electronics’ growth as a worldwide connectivity solutions provider. Antennas, RF and data connectors, and cable assemblies from L-com’s portfolio are available now, with plans to expand the assortment in 2026. For European customers, this partnership means easier access to the products they need with the reliable delivery and technical expertise of L-com and RS Group. In 2023,Infinite Electronics acquired Cable Connectivity Group, which operates critical facilities and brands in seven European countries, as well as Bulgin, a U.K.-based leader in connectivity solutions.

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