Robotics, AI, automated production, and simulation technologies are transforming the automotive production line with new implications for connector selection, wire harness design, and vehicle architectures. Even engineers deeply embedded in vehicle manufacturing can’t believe how quickly artificial intelligence and automation are changing the assembly line. When Dr. Nick Liu, TE Connectivity’s senior director of systemsRead More

As connector form factors multiply and lead-free alloys become the norm, the mechanical transfer machine production is being pushed to its limits. CNC integration offers a solution for high-volume pin and socket production. Article contributed by MIKRON The rotary transfer machine is at the center of connector manufacturing. Capable of cycling through dozens of machiningRead More

Automotive composite wire (ACW) is a dual-wall, single-core wire used in vehicle wire harnesses for engine compartments and other high-temperature zones. Its insulation combines a radiation cross-linked polyolefin inner layer with a radiation cross-linked fluoropolymer outer layer. The two layers are chemically bonded rather than co-extruded in a thin-wall package. It is a cost-effective alternativeRead More

As the data humans create and consume reaches once unimaginable volumes, a new nomenclature has been created to describe it. Carl Sagan, the eminent American astronomer, planetary scientist, cosmologist, astrophysicist, science communicator, author, and professor, invited people to imagine the huge number of stars in our galaxy. His famous quote, “billions upon billions of stars,”Read More

This week’s product roundup highlights FFC and FPC connector solutions from top suppliers. I-PEX Connectors’ DW5 two-way FPC and discrete wire connectors can accommodate 0.2mm-thick (±0.3mm) FPC cables or 34AWG discrete wire using the same PCB and receptacle combination, making them ideal for use in a variety of space-constrained portable electronics, including laptop screens. TheseRead More

This week’s product roundup highlights some of the highest-performance compression connector products currently available on the market. Compression Connector Products AVX Interconnect’s 9155-400 Series two-piece battery connectors have a 4mm pitch and a unique angled contact lead-in on both sides, which, unlike most other connectors in this category, allows pluggable devices to engage from eitherRead More

Connector suppliers provide insight into this evolving connectivity market. As the smart home market evolves, devices are shifting from standalone operation to highly integrated system architectures and a wide range of connected appliances that incorporate smart energy systems and security monitoring. These applications rely on stable data transmission and long-term operational reliability. In this environment,Read More

The current carrying capacity of a connector is not a fixed absolute value; it is always the result of a thermal consideration. Since insulating materials, contact springs, and plating systems are specified only up to a certain temperature limit, the permissible current must be reduced as the ambient temperature increases. This relationship is exactly whatRead More

From live theater and recorded music to video wall backdrops, connectors and cables play an essential role in the entertainment industry. To make sure the show goes on, these components must be rugged as well as precise and evolve to meet the latest trends in media. Before Brant Mathiason worked in the connector industry, heRead More

As circuits run faster and hotter, keeping components cool becomes a more urgent challenge. Liquid cooling systems are an important strategy to help cool down data centers, industrial equipment, electric vehicles, and other high-speed, high-power applications. Thermal management is one of the most pressing challenges in today’s high-speed electronics systems. As transistors per chip continueRead More

As reliable interfaces between PCBs, board-to-board connectors increasingly perform in harsh environments, where they fulfill mechanical functions as well as transmit signal and power connectivity. That makes it crucial to specify the right component for the conditions. Article contributed by Detlef E. Preissler, Senior Specialist, Product Marketing Board-to-Board Connectors, Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG,Read More

A first mate-last break (FMLB) connector is an electrical connector engineered so the ground contact connects before any other pins when mating and disconnects after all other pins when unmating. According to Mill-Max, this ensures that the ground path is established before any other power or signal connections are made, eliminating stray currents that canRead More

In the EU, one regulation is making it simpler to remove, replace, and recycle batteries in everything from e-bikes and scooters to electric vehicles to walkie-talkies and insulin pumps. Amphenol Communications Solutions explains what that means for connectors. The EU’s comprehensive regulation on batteries, Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, is set to take full effect February 2027.Read More

The use of cameras in automobiles is booming. To enable these systems, vehicle manufacturers and suppliers need optics with reliable and fast data connectivity, while keeping costs low and quality high. Modular solutions are the answer. Article Contributed by Harry Jacob, IT journalist, for Rosenberger Camera connectivity is an increasingly essential part of automotive andRead More

A manual service disconnect (MSD) connector is a removable, touch-safe high-voltage connector used to manually break the electrical circuit of an electric or hybrid vehicle’s battery pack. It meets the performance requirements of SAE/USCAR-2 and its high-voltage supplement, USCAR-37. Technicians, first responders, and tow operators pull the MSD before servicing a 60–800V system so thatRead More

It’s one thing to put a product through the rigors of lab testing. It’s another matter entirely to see how it performs in the real world. Connector companies work with nurses and other end users to develop products that support healthcare providers in challenging medical environments. It’s always important to consider user input and experience in interconnect design, butRead More

Medical fiber and hybrid connectors are often chosen for bandwidth and EMI immunity, but real service life is shaped just as much by cleaning, handling, strain, and repeated mating cycles. Strategic connector design features help ensure their reliability in real clinical environments. Article contributed by David Kuklinkski,Fiber Optics Solutions Engineer, and Jessica Tropea, Customer SolutionsRead More

A power orthotics startup worked with Würth Elektronik to develop a powerful new solution for the 100 million people living with limited hand mobility. Article Contributed by: Würth Elektronik Würth Elektronik partnered with Mannheim startup Powered Orthotics to engineer a medical-grade wearable solution for the 100 million people worldwide living with limited hand function. Stroke,Read More

Police and security patrol vehicles are adopting new and emerging technologies from both the military and automotive worlds. This unique market combines defense-grade signal integrity demands with automotive-grade ruggedization requirements, often in the same harness. Police and security patrol cars have become mobile electronics platforms, with huge investments in recent years outfitting these fleet vehiclesRead More

Harsh environments leave no margin for error. Whether deployed deep underwater, high in the sky, inside surgical equipment, or on the battlefield, connectivity must perform flawlessly under extreme conditions. Exposure to vibration, shock, temperature extremes, moisture, chemicals, and electromagnetic interference turns a simple interconnect into a mission-critical component. Article contributed by Casey Cavender, CFO, KensingtonRead More

Power cables are used in the transmission of electrical energy to, for example, run a motor, light a bulb, or charge a battery. In the power industry, power cables are categorized as high-tension (designed for higher voltages to carry bulk electrical power to substations), or low-tension cables (low voltage for final local distribution of electricityRead More

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

Characterization and modeling of connector losses in internal connector interfaces. Article Contributed By Baptiste Bouix, Product Manager, Würth Elektronik When two or more PCBs need to be interconnected, designers must select the appropriate connectors for their application. However, choosing the wrong connector can compromise the entire design. Larger pitches like 0.8 mm and 1.0 mmRead More

Whitworth Scholarships support the engineering careers of apprentices by helping to fund their education. In 1841, Sir Joseph Whitworth, an English engineer, entrepreneur, inventor, and philanthropist, devised the British Standard Whitworth (BSW), the world’s first screw thread standard. The BSW was widely accepted throughout the United Kingdom and internationally, influencing engineering practices globally, and formingRead More

This week’s product roundup highlights RF connector solutions from top suppliers. I-PEX Connectors’ MHF® I LK Connector System delivers simple, secure connections in applications exposed to high shock and vibration, including: automobiles, aircraft, and drones, and is the only RF connector/harness system with a built-in locking feature that doesn’t require epoxy or tape to keepRead More

This week’s product roundup highlights push-pull connectors from leading suppliers. Heilind Electronics offers the MediSpec™ Medical Plastic Circular (MPC) Interconnect System from Molex, which delivers high-reliability electrical performance especially designed to meet stringent medical standards at a fraction of the cost of competing machined-contact systems. This system features lightweight, medical-grade plastic housings compatible with autoclave,Read More

This week’s product roundup highlights some of the most robust, reliable, and highest-performance wire and cable products available on today’s market. Stewart Connector’s SealJack™ Cable Applied Series preassembled cable assemblies provide high-reliability connectivity in harsh-environment Ethernet applications, including those within the IoT umbrella. They can be customized with IP67 and RJ45 ends using CAT 5eRead More