Roland Timsit
Roland Timsit was nominated by our readers as an Industry Insider because of his in-depth connector knowledge and desire to help others with their interconnect challenges.

Roland Timsit, president, Timron Scientific Consulting Inc.
Timron Scientific Consulting Inc. is the holding company. The subsidiary, Timron Advanced Connector Technologies, focuses specifically on connector issues, including connector design, connector failure analyses, and connector product development to connector marketing strategies.

Our activities cover all connector products, from small devices used in microchips and microelectronics to large aluminum connectors used in the transmission and distribution industry.
Previous industry positions: Chief Technologist, AMP Inc. (now Tyco Electronics); Director of Technology, AMP Inc. (now Tyco Electronics); Principal Scientist, Alcan International Ltd.
Industry affiliations or organizations: IEEE, APS, MRS, Professional Engineers of Ontario
Accomplishments you’re proud of:
1.  Jointly with my wife, raising terrific children
2. Establishing a highly successful consulting company focused on electronic/electrical connectors and surface modification technologies.
3. Five international awards related to electrical connectors and metal joining, including the IEEE Ragnar Holm Achievement Award in 1998
First job: Research scientist. Conducted R&D on the properties of aluminum and aluminum-based materials in electric connections, and designed aluminum-based electrical-conductor alloys at Alcan International Ltd.
Favorite websites: Engineering and science journals, including Scientific American, and business websites such as Bloomberg. Also, I can’t forget www.timron-inc.com.
The last book I read: American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer
Why did you choose this industry for your profession? The industry involves a unique array of engineering, scientific, and business disciplines that work together synergistically. The engineering and scientific areas cover surface engineering, surface physics, surface chemistry, tribology, selected aspects of mechanical and electrical engineering, materials science, coatings and plating technologies, metal joining, etc. The business aspects involve close working relationships with marketing/sales professionals to develop business strategies relating to selected connector products, identifying product development paths that are compatible with clients’ needs, etc. We have been in business for nearly 12 years and have been fortunate to have worked with clients who are highly educated and highly motivated.
If I knew then what I know now, I would have: …done exactly the same thing.
The best advice anyone ever gave me was: …in graduate school…don’t chase fame and fortune, let fame and fortune chase you!
What trend in the industry is affecting your job and what would you like to do about it? 1. Increased emphasis on smaller connectors and cost-effective electrical contact materials; cost control must not be achieved at the expense of connector reliability.
2. There is a widening gap in the approach to connector design between the electronics/microelectronics industry, where design engineering is sophisticated, and the transmission and distribution industry, where connector design is highly empirical.  This gap should be closed through appropriate engineering training.