As wireless connectivity continues to expand across business, home, industrial, and municipal environments, the demand for RF connectors is growing exponentially. A new market report details the history and forecasts a bright future for this vast product category. By Dave Shaff, Bishop & Associates, Inc. As long as there are wireless systems, there will beRead More

Embraced by consumers, businesses, and governments, LED lighting is the clear winner in the battle of the bulbs and is now being integrated into an array of IoT technologies. This opens opportunities for the interconnects they rely on. It’s safe to say that LEDs have won the battle of the bulbs. In the last threeRead More

2017 ended on a high note for the electronics industry, and connector manufacturers are optimistic about 2018. The connector industry’s strong performance in 2017 has created an environment of optimism as we settle into the new year. In our recent surveys of the industry, we’ve found high expectations for continued growth in the months ahead.Read More

Battery Technology is Prominent Among Emerging Technologies for Energy Storage on the Smart Grid   During the twentieth century, the establishment of electrical networks enabled dramatic improvements for the well-being of society and extensive progress for industry, but decades of advances have caused an explosion of electronic and digital technologies. Our power delivery system isRead More

Currently, there are more than 1.6 million industrial robots in service worldwide; will that number grow significantly in the next five years?   According to the IFR (International Federation of Robotics), there have been approximately 2.7 million industrial robots shipped worldwide since the 1960s. With a potential service life of 15 years, that means thereRead More

Traditionally employed in heavy industrial applications, robots are moving into other industries. In the medical field, they are used for surgery, therapy, diagnostics, and much more.   Robots for specialized medical applications such as surgery bring together robotics and biology, and we’re seeing an increase in the number of robots specifically designed and developed for thisRead More

For the new electric and hybrid vehicles, powertrain controls and connectors require the complete functionality of a conventional vehicle, plus the components required to drive the electric motor and charge the Lithium-ion battery pack.  Worldwide production of electric vehicles (EV) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) reached two million units in 2014, nearly doubling since 2011 andRead More

Wireless demand impacts I/O connector demand in ways that are hard to count.   Wireless connectivity continues to grow rapidly. From a connector usage standpoint, wireless is a displacement technology; that is, devices that use wireless connection technologies do not necessarily also include a physical connector to perform the same function redundantly. So, if theRead More

The electronic content in light vehicles is increasing, just one reason why the automotive market maintains a steady pace. Bishop tracks 12 companies in the automotive market sector. This market has had slow, steady growth over the last four quarters, as measured by these 12 companies’ revenues. In 2013, these companies grew 0.3% year overRead More

We’ve reported often about robotics in the industrial arena over the last few years; now Bishop & Associates’s Arthur Visser looks at developments in industrial automation and robotics moving to the next level – service robots at home. “Where do I get the best robot deals?” In the not-so-distant future, you may ask yourself this question. SinceRead More

Economic growth is slowing down in Germany and the economy in France is contracting, highlighting the euro area’s struggle to sustain its recovery. Still, should manufacturers be optimistic about Europe? With the “political earthquake” caused by the European elections in May and the difficult task of choosing the new leader of the European Commission in mind, it is easyRead More

The semiconductor market maintains its momentum so far in 2014, which is good news given how closely trends in the connector market follow trends in the semiconductor market. Global semiconductor market performance in early 2014 has continued where 2013 left off  – with positive sales growth. As the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) reported at the beginning ofRead More