As outdoor agriculture becomes less predictable, vertical farms are bringing the farm inside, where sealed interconnects, sensor systems, smart LEDs, and connected technologies optimize every aspect of the growing cycle. The summer of 2023 brought extreme challenges to farmers around the world. Storms, droughts, wildfires, and record-breaking temperatures wiped out many crop yields. Up toRead More

As growing conditions become less stable and predictable, Agriculture 4.0 is coming indoors and boosting agricultural productivity through connected technologies. Vertical farming, also known as smart agriculture and Agriculture 4.0, uses technology to enhance crop production by automatically tracking critical parameters such as soil nutrition, temperature, and moisture levels for planting, fertilization, irrigation, and harvesting.Read More

The agriculture industry is looking to connected technologies to improve outcomes and ease the amount of effort required to produce food for a growing planet. The future of the agriculture industry is on the horizon — one where technology will be leveraged to provide greater control over nearly every aspect of the growing process andRead More

Meet the Connector: Fieldbus Connectors Fieldbus is an industrial network used to connect instruments in manufacturing environments. Multiple types of fieldbus networks exist to serve a variety of applications, including EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, PROFIBUS, and DeviceNet. Fieldbus connectors simplify the process of linking fieldbus equipment to network segments. They eliminate the need for junction boxes usingRead More

This week’s Product Roundup highlights barrier blocks from leading suppliers. Barrier blocks Avnet supplies barrier terminal blocks from TE Connectivity. Barrier blocks are interconnect devices which consist of short metal strips separated by a raised insulated “barrier” and connectors or screws which allow for termination and wire connection. Barrier terminal blocks are available in panelRead More

Upcoming industry events, as well as recent award, partnership, promotion, personnel, facility, distribution, standards, association, and certification news from across the connector industry.  August 2023 Connector Industry News   August 2023 Connector Industry News > Award News  TE Connectivity has earned a top 10 ranking among the 2023 Fast Company Best Workplaces for Innovators. Developed in collaborationRead More

The cables and connectors used in medical devices are based on common design rules and similar products are used in other markets. However, they are tailored to the unique demands of medical applications and are heavily scrutinized throughout production. Understandably, safety and reliability are at the forefront of considerations for implantable medical devices. The cablesRead More

Developing new wireless medical technologies involves more than great design. Learn about the Qi standard, charging strategies, and other steps in the process between concept and completed product. Advanced wireless charging technologies are transforming the market for portable medical devices, with new equipment for health monitoring, therapeutics, diagnostics, fitness, and wellness changing the healthcare landscape.Read 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

Meet the Connector: Single-Pin DC Connectors This common barrel-type plug is widely used in portable devices ranging from consumer radios to basic medical devices. But it’s not as simple as it looks. The term single-pin DC connector (also called single-pole connector) typically refers to a circular or barrel-shaped plastic connector with one electrical terminal orRead More

This week’s Product Roundup highlights push-pull connectors from leading suppliers. Push-pull connectors Avnet supplies the ix Industrial IP6X Rectangular Push-Pull connector and cable from Amphenol Communications Solutions. The ix provides Cat6A Ethernet connectivity using the IEC 61076-3-124 mating interface and full sealing to IP65, IP66, and IP67 specifications. While intended for use in industrial ethernetRead More

New-to-market connectivity products, including interconnects, wire, cable, and cable assemblies, sensors, antennas, materials, accessories, tools, and development kits. August 2023 New Connectivity Products August 2023 New Connectivity Products > Interconnects, etc. Smiths Interconnect launched Kepler contact technology for IC testing. Whether for testing high performance computing, wearables, or other automotive chips, Kepler is the only solution that provides two-axis of motion during a single actuation of the socket,Read More