Rail industry electronics must perform under extremely harsh conditions. A rigorous set of tests and standards helps protect connectors and cables and the power and data they deliver to modern rail transport applications ranging from engines and alternators to passenger Wi-Fi. In rail industry electronics, the loss of power or data can have serious safetyRead More

The growing demand for high-density electrical connectors in the medical market is being driven by an overwhelming trend towards smaller, lighter, and more ergonomically conscious medical devices. By John Holloway, Principal Engineer at ATL Technology high-density electrical connectors These demands can be met with an array of standard and custom solutions, but coming up with theRead More

Special mil-spec marking, DNA tagging, and other advanced authentication technologies are helping to root out counterfeit connectors and cable. Are 40% of mil-spec connectors counterfeit? We’ve heard the statistic and it’s alarming — but not necessarily true. “The 40% is an average and varies wildly — from 15% to 85%,” based upon survey and programRead More

Commonly used in military, defense, industrial, and other harsh-environment applications, M39029 contacts are available in a variety of options. As a result, not every M39029 contact is created equal. By Steve Smashey, President, and Mike Conte, General Manager, SOS Engineering, Inc. M39029 To manufacture a reliable, high-performance connector for harsh-environment applications, the design process shouldRead More

Home automation technology begins with the human voice and extends to the Internet of Things (IoT) thanks to smaller, faster, smarter connectivity products. In the past few years, certain slow-to-evolve consumer technologies have really started to work. One such technology is voice recognition. Although speech analysis, acoustic transcription, and voice recognition technologies have been aroundRead More

Mil/Aero specifications strictly govern the design and development of aeronautical and defense electronics down to component-level materials and processes. In many cases, military and aerospace standards are very similar. But connector requirements for military and space flight applications do have some notable differences. Picture yourself in the following situations: mil/aero specifications Your F-16 is loadedRead More

Check your connectors: A group of phthalates will be restricted by European Union nations starting in July. This directive will impact a variety of plastic electronic products. The environmental compliance directive known as the EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) is expanding. In 2019, four new substances are being added to the list of materialsRead More

A new generation of fiber optic cable and high-speed connectivity products is laying the groundwork required to make 5G networks possible. Providers of fiber optic cables, high-speed connectors, and cable management systems are all gearing up to meet the challenges of developing the infrastructure required for 5G network deployment. The impending arrival of 5G networksRead More

The worldwide market for cable assemblies continues to grow as new technologies proliferate and reach emerging markets around the world. An upcoming report by Bishop & Associates takes a closer look. The worldwide market for cable assemblies is growing, expanding by 10.8% to $172 billion in 2018. This double-digit growth marks the second-highest growth yearRead More

The newly announced USB4 will handle the high speeds and data operations required by connected and automated systems. But first, USB 3.2 is about to make its appearance in the marketplace. USB 3.2 connectors will begin to appear in a variety of devices over the next few months. Announced in late 2017, the latest USBRead More

A network of authorized secondary distributors stocks rare or discontinued connectors. Every year, thousands of new connector designs enter the market. Many of these products meet the needs of new applications, but others replace a previous generation of a similar product. Typically, component manufacturers anticipate these changes and reduce production towards the end of aRead More

e-waste, air pollution, and water contamination are toxic legacies of the electronics industry. But new products and projects are aiming to change that, along with five electronics industry sustainability initiatives that guide the next generation of global electronics development. There is no denying it: The electronics industry contributes heavily to pollution. According to the WorldRead More