August 2021 Connector Industry News
Upcoming industry events, recent awards, partnerships, promotions, personnel, facility, distribution, standards, association, and certification news from across the connector industry.
August 2021 Connector Industry News
August 2021 Connector Industry News > Event News
Informa Markets Engineering West, which brings together Automation Technology Expo (ATX) West, Design & Manufacturing (D&M) West, Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) West, Plastec West, and WestPack, announced The Design. Engineer. Build. Conference will run alongside the expo August 10-12 at the Anaheim Convention Center. Formerly known as the MD&M West Conference, attendees will have exclusive access to eight tracks dedicated to the latest tech and trends in manufacturing. The event serves as an incubator for companies and decision makers in automation, design manufacturing, packaging and plastics, medical device manufacturing, and processing. New this year is a one-day track focused on product design and development for diagnostic products.
TTI Inc. is sponsoring a live webinar, “Maximizing Power in High-Reliability Applications – Applying SWaP to Connectivity” on Tuesday, August 3, 2021, at 10 a.m. EDT. Maximizing the size, weight, and power (SWaP) options in connector selection for high-reliability applications is an ongoing challenge for system designers. Harwin’s Sam Bennett, product design & new product development manager, and Ryan Smart, NPI product manager, outline the key aspects involved in this critical decision, like current de-rating and implications for designers, evaluating power density in amps per inch, working voltage, impact of temperature rise and connector material selection, and choosing the correct connector from down-hole to new space. Learn how to optimize SWaP in connector selection. Register here.
IWCS developed a new brand image for its annual Cable & Connectivity Industry Forum, a technology event for the exchange of information and development of industry professionals and scholars. This year marks the 70th annual IWCS event. The Forum’s Technical Symposium features peer-reviewed papers and presentations highlighting technologies and trends in cable and connectivity. Additional components of the Forum are professional development courses, executive sessions, new product presentations, a supplier exhibition, and a plenary session. IWCS’s enhanced website features information regarding the 2021 Virtual Cable & Connectivity Industry Forum.
August 2021 Connector Industry News > Award News
As HARTING marks 10 years as a member of the nationwide pioneering initiative of Climate Protection Companies, the technology group has been honored for its commitment by the Federal Environment Ministry (BMU), the Federal Ministry of Economics (BMWi), and the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK). The technology group sources 100% renewable energy at all its locations in Germany and operates four combined heat and power plants harnessing biomethane. Three of those have been upgraded to combined heat, power, and cooling (CHCP) plants. The worldwide photovoltaic capacity stands at around 1.89 MWpeak. Overall, HARTING has saved an average of 18,500 tons of CO2eq annually since the 2011/12 financial year. For the HARTING Technology Group, environmental and climate protection has been an integral part of its business since 1996. The business received the official certification as a climate protection company in July 2011 and was thereby honored for its exceptional achievements in climate protection and energy efficiency.
Stephan Middelkamp, general manager quality and technologies at the HARTING Technology Group, with the Innovation Award award.
In July, HARTING Technology Group also became the recipient of DEUTSCHLAND TEST and FOCUS-MONEY magazine’s 2021 Innovation Award, taking first place in the electronic components category.
The SCHURTER series 4783 was recognized as runner-up in the interconnect category of the Product of the Year 2020 competition, announced by Electronic Products Magazine in January 2021. The 4783 series is the first rewireable cord connector to combine a detachable IEC C13 connector with the V-Lock cord retaining system. The latching mechanism is designed to prevent the power cord from being unintentionally disconnected from the equipment. The EP awarded products are recognized for a significant advancement in a technology or its application, an exceptionally innovative design, a substantial achievement in price/performance, improvements in design performance, and the potential for new product designs or opportunities. EP editors evaluated over 100 products across 10 electronic component categories. These are outstanding products that should be evaluated by designers for their technology advances and innovations. Rewireable cord connectors provide cost savings to customers in instances where small builds or varying cable lengths and country-specific plugs are needed. Approved for the European, Chinese, and North American markets, the 4783 is certified according to the new UL 60320 standard. No halogens are used in the cable guard or any other plastic components. Applications include medical equipment, data centers, telecommunications equipment, pro-audio, and food processing equipment.
August 2021 Connector Industry News > Partnership, Personnel, & Acquisitions News
Weidmüller announced a global partnership with Mouser Electronics, an authorized distributor of semiconductors and electronic components for over 1,100 manufacturer brands. Mouser prides itself on its global distribution center equipped with state-of-the-art wireless warehouse management systems that enable 24/7 order processing and delivers nearly perfect pick-and-ship operations that has earned the company a 5-Sigma confidence rating.
Weidmüller also announced its acquisition of Emphatec Inc. Emphatec and Weidmüller have had an extensive collaboration over decades. “It’s an ideal fit – Weidmüller’s global sales and marketing resources and extensive product offering alongside Emphatec’s innovative process automation focused products,” said Don Robinson, former owner of Emphatec Inc., now director of Klippon Engineering Canada.
Phoenix Contact is supporting the new Coalition for Open Process Automation (COPA) with hardware and engineering know-how for the COPA QuickStart. With the launch of COPA QuickStart, process control engineers can learn and experiment with an open process automation (OPA) control system. Designed for hands-on training, COPA QuickStart is the first commercially available industrial control system (ICS) aligned to the Open Process Automation Standards (O-PAS). It allows users to learn and experiment with O-PAS technologies, so they can accelerate their adoption of these technologies. Systems based on the O-PAS will help improve security, flexibility, and profitability of operations. COPA QuickStart incorporates components and technologies from multiple vendors into a single, advanced, and cohesive ICS. Phoenix Contact hardware, including PLCnext controllers, Axioline F, and Axioline P I/O, plays a key role in the system, functioning as hardened and open distributed control nodes (DCN). Learn more at www.copacontrol.org.
TE Connectivity has signed a definitive agreement to acquire ERNI. ERNI augments TE’s engineering and manufacturing footprint and capabilities in board connectivity and expands TE’s customer base and presence. “Combining TE’s industrial portfolio breadth, manufacturing scale and customer reach with ERNI’s market leading products, deep technical expertise and manufacturing capabilities in Europe and Southeast Asia, we can significantly enhance the value we bring to our customers. Together, we will drive innovation related to miniaturization, signal integrity, higher data speed and power requirements and product reliability that our customers expect as they design their applications,” said Vish Ananthan, senior vice president and general manager of TE’s industrial business. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the current quarter.
Kristijan Bauer has joined the management team of the Rosenberger Group as COO along with Eric Küppers, CEO. The pair bring entrepreneurial and international experience to the Rosenberger Group, seen as an asset for the expanding company. Küppers has held various positions in private as well as internationally operating companies, most recently with TE Connectivity as president of global automotive. Bauer held international management positions at Continental AG for more than 20 years and was most recently responsible for the worldwide production at Festo SE & Co. KG, an automation and control technology company. Rosenberger will continue to be family owned. The current managing directors, brothers Peter, Hans, and Bernhard Rosenberger, will withdraw from the daily operational business and participate in the newly created supervisory board, to which the new management will report.
Heilind Electronics has partnered with Trafag, a designer and manufacturer of harsh environment pressure sensors and transmitters, temperature sensors, and SF6 gas density sensors. A key component of the new offering is Trafag’s pressure transmitters. These solutions are available in many designs to suit unique pressure and electrical connection requirements, measuring procedures, electrical output signals and certifications (CE, EX, rail, and ship). The transmitters are precision-engineered to provide long-term stability, vibration resistance, electromagnetic compatibility, shock resistance, and temperature insensitivity. Also included in Heilind’s Trafag offering are pressure switches and pressostats, thermostats and temperature transmitters, and SF6 gas density monitors and sensors. These products are environmentally friendly and ideal for monitoring the pressure and temperature of fuel in large combustion engines. Trafag’s solutions span a variety of industries, including test benching, hydraulics, engine manufacturing, shipbuilding, railway, OEM machinery, water, gas, and oil. Visit Heilind’s website for more information about Trafag sensing solutions.
HEICO Corporation announced that its Flight Support Group entered into a purchase agreement to acquire 89% of Ridge Engineering Inc. and The Bechdon Company Inc. (together, the “Companies”). HEICO expects the acquisitions to be accretive to its earnings within the first year following closing. Ridge is a leader in performing tight-tolerance machining and brazing of large-sized parts in mission-critical defense and aerospace applications. Bechdon provides machining, fabrication, and welding services for aerospace, defense, and other industrial applications. Bechdon is a key subcontractor to Ridge for subcomponents used in Ridge’s final assemblies. David Tracey, whose father, Robert, founded Ridge, will continue to lead the company in his existing role as president, along with Rick Troutman, Ridge’s CFO. Together, Mr. Tracey and Mr. Troutman will hold 11% ownership of the Companies. HEICO Corporation is engaged primarily in the design, production, servicing, and distribution of products and services to certain niche segments of the aviation, defense, space, medical, telecommunications, and electronics industries through its Flight Support Group and its Electronic Technologies Group.
August 2021 Connector Industry News > New Technical Resources
The ECIA Foundation is pleased to announce a new e-learning curriculum scheduled to launch with two modules in August, and a total of five ready for use by the end of 2021. The ECIA Foundation is focused on the establishment of basic training for new employees to the electronics industry, and earlier in the year a committee was formed to develop the courses. ECIA Service Partner Lectrix will develop the platform which will be hosted by ECIA and available free as a member benefit or for a fee to non-members. The initial five modules are Industry Overview, Terms & Definitions, Components, Taking a Product to Market, and The Industry Landscape.
August 2021 Connector Industry News > Distribution News
I-PEX USA announced its partnership with Future Electronics as its first regional distributor to enhance customer support in North, Central, and South America. Future Electronics was chosen for its strong presence in the U.S. and on a global scale, and for its world-class supply chain that offers engineering expertise. “As we experience growing demand in the 5G, automotive, enterprise VR/AR, and consumer electronics markets, as well as continued growth with our PC and tablet customers, I-PEX looks to Future Electronics to be our preferred distributor to our customers. Together we will bring leading edge interconnect solutions focused on high-frequency, high-speed signal transmission with excellent signal integrity to address our customers’ challenging designs,” said Russ Elder, national sales and distribution manager for I-PEX USA.
Sager Electronics has completed all necessary proceedings to secure Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) activation at its distribution and Power Solutions Center in Carrollton, Texas. This activation includes the entire warehouse and production areas of the building. As of June 14, 2021, all on-hand inventories in this facility will reside in a secure, access-restricted area under the supervision of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. John Favaloro, Sager Electronics’ director of quality and logistics, remarked, “The FTZ activation ensures the highest level of supply chain security and inventory control to Sager’s customers, as product cannot be moved from any point within the defined zone to an area outside the zone. FTZ status enhances supply chain efficiency and performance, further benefiting our customers.”
August 2021 Connector Industry News > Associations, Standards, & Certifications News
The Single Pair Ethernet System Alliance, with its current 32 members, is a registered association of leading technology companies pursuing the goal of establishing single-pair Ethernet (SPE) in numerous applications and markets. With the publication of the NWIP (New Work Item Proposals) of IEC 63171-7, TE Connectivity has for the first time presented a hybrid system for SPE data and simultaneous power supply. The Single Pair Ethernet System Alliance provides additional power for many applications where PoDL (Power over Data Line) technology reaches its limits. The four power contacts plus functional earth combined with the SPE data connection in the M12 connector offer an interesting connection technology, especially for many compact, decentralized field devices. The specification of a new two-wire data connector in this hybrid interface shows the application diversity in the market and illustrates that it is not the mating interface that shapes the market, but the application that defines the interface.
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