Single-pair Ethernet technology has been integrated into recent models of automobiles, replacing controller area network (CAN) and other bus systems, with an eye towards a future in which controls, communication, and safety functions will run on Ethernet. Meanwhile, these advantages can also serve industrial automation and automotive manufacturing. Automotive manufacturers have long had access toRead More
Industry 4.0. Industrial Internet of Things, IIoT, Smart Factory. These aren’t just buzzwords; they are generation-defining trends that are changing manufacturing. Connectors play an important role in enabling the future of industrial automation. That raises the question: how can a single component play such a huge role in revolutionizing the entire manufacturing process? More thanRead More
Automation, robotics, and a mix of human and machine decision-making combine to create factory floors that are efficient and safe, while also addressing energy, materials, decarbonization, and environmental sustainability. This is the essence of smart manufacturing. In his article, “The 15th Anniversary of Smart Manufacturing – Grassroots Leadership, Greater Good, Timing, and Perseverance,” Jim Davis,Read More
Smart factories are optimizing production methods and output with the help of automation edge controllers and sensors that collect, network, and evaluate data. Networked, intelligent, self-controlling, self-optimizing, and resource-efficient production comprise the smart factory, the central scenario of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Industry 4.0. Manufacturers are facing increasing materials, labor, and energyRead More
Upcoming industry events, as well as recent partnership, promotion, personnel, facility, and distribution news from across the connector industry. November 2022 Connector Industry News I November 2022 Connector Industry News I > Partnership, Personnel, & Acquisitions News Trexon has acquired Intelliconnect, a supplier of RF connectors, adapters, and cable assemblies founded in 2003 and basedRead More
High-speed, compact, and powerful new connectivity solutions for Industrial Ethernet-based networks make it easy to upgrade existing cabling. The concept behind Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) touches all industries. From process control and automotive assembly to robotics and the food and beverage industry, data collection empowers smart factories, suppliers, and customersRead More
Industrial rectangular connectors have been a mainstay of heavy-duty and automation applications since the 1950s. Tomorrow’s rectangular automation connectors will look much the same as they do today — on the outside. But inside, these connectors are becoming more powerful, capable, and versatile. The foundational need for proven durability ensures that tomorrow’s industrial rectangularRead More
Vertical farming operations bring food crops indoors for protection from extreme weather, continuous growing seasons, and increased production. Guided by sensors and enabled by LEDs, these smart farming strategies offer a solution amid growing climate challenges. Indoor agriculture may be our last hope for a flavorful future. Severe drought plus pesticide-resistant insects have decimated theRead More
Upcoming industry events, as well as recent award, partnership, promotion, personnel, facility, distribution, standards, association, and certification news from across the connector industry. June 2022 Connector Industry News June 2022 Connector Industry News > Award News HARTING announced that Rainer Zietlow, after completing the longest journey by an electric vehicle in a single country (57,000Read More
Automated manufacturing processes are integrating industrial lasers for precision processing, inspecting, and testing of materials. Fiber optic connectors help make these systems possible. Fiber optic technology is enabling a new generation of high power, ultrafast industrial lasers. These precision beams of light are used in testing, inspection, and processing, making the production of components andRead More
Connected, smart robots are doing, learning, and even teaching more tasks and processes than ever, with less programming than ever, thanks to AI. At a time when one must lament the dearth of human intelligence being applied to some of the most existential challenges humans have ever faced, artificial intelligence is beginning to have anRead More
In high-use automation applications, repeated mating cycles can result in wear that compromises connectivity and reliability. Contactless connectors offer a new alternative. By Weidmueller Mechanical connections present challenges in industrial applications that endure repeated mating cycles. When two mating interfaces interact, inevitable wear and friction cause a range of contact-related failures and maintenance issues. AsRead More
