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The connector definitive: Seventy years in the making
2016marks a significantmilestone for Swiiss-based connector specialist Lemo as the company
2016 m rks a significant m stone for Sw ss-based connector specialist Lemo as the company celebrates its seventieth anniversary in the industry. Here’s more on what has been the bedrock for enabling this company to hold seven decades in the making
communications and other equipment, where very small yet tough connectors are required for handling signals. Additionally, Lemo is now able to offer 12 contacts in its 0B series which is only 9.5mm diameter, also 1.5A continuous rated. The second new range from the
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witzerland with its mountainous Central European location is renowned
for its numerous lakes, villages and the high peaks of the Alps. It has also been home to Lemo for the past 70 years, a company specialising in the design and manufacture of precision custom connection solutions. The company’s high quality push-pull connectors are found in a variety of challenging applications including medical, industrial control, test and measurement, audio-video, motor sport, telecommunications, military, aerospace and defence, to name a few. Lemo has three manufacturing sites based across Switzerland creating a centre of excellence for developing the latest connectors for aerospace and defence applications. The company has a particular specialism for refining the development processes for creating components that are smaller, lighter and can handle the demands of harsh environments such as Mil/Aero. The capabilities of technologies developed for these markets also translate well into other high profile industries such as Formula 1 racing where the company has developed solutions that have played a significant part in the state-of-the-art racing car market. This has included aspects such as weight distribution offering drivers and their vehicles a competitive advantage. This year marks a very special milestone for the company as it is celebrating its
20 MAY 2016 | ELECTRONICS
70th anniversary. Seven decades of innovation have led Lemo to offer over 75,000 product combinations, a product range that continues to grow through custom specific designs. In 2014 the company acquired
Northwire. The Lemo Group now employs over 1500 people dedicated to making high-quality connectors, wire and cable solutions. Northwire offers special cables to customer requirements in small quantities and on a fast turn-round, thus complementing the range of connectors and enabling Lemo UK to offer customers complete solutions, including overmoulded assemblies. Northwire has many years experience of manufacturing cables for a wide range of industries, including Medical, Test & Measurement, Defence, Robotics and Automation. Quality approvals include ISO9001 and AS9100C. On the product front, the latest “Tiny
Trio” range of Lemo connector developments is based around smaller diameter contacts though still having high contact ratings due to the continued use of the company’s specialised contact design, with an in-built spring ensuring continuous contact even with high vibration applications. Consequently, Lemo has firstly been able to squeeze five contacts each rated to 1.5A into their tiny 00 series which is only 6mm diameter, making it ideal for
Figure 1:
M series from Lemo - Small diameter alternative to standard size MIL-38999 Connectors
company is its waterproof T Series, which is based upon its long and widely established B Series connectors, incorporating the original Lemo push- pull latching connection technology and including an inner sleeve and additional sealing to provide protection against water ingress to IP68 level when mated. The 0T Series was the first of the T Series to be made available, and other larger sizes will be available. The new T Series utilises the company’s
high performance contact system and configurations from its B Series range, providing a particularly wide selection of options, that can be made available quickly. It is backwardly compatible with its B Series, with the same socket panel hole diameter, which will be of considerable benefit to customers looking to upgrade existing designs as there is no need to change front panel dimensions, and upgraded cable plug assemblies will work with existing sockets. The third development, in the company’s
MM Series, is the smallest of the company’s M Series ratchet coupling connectors, a significantly smaller alternative to standard military connectors (e.g. MIL C38999) with up to four contacts in a ruggedised micro housing. Throughout its seven decades of business, Lemo has remained a Swiss family-owned business, with 95% of added value produced by the company and more than half of its staff based in Switzerland. The company advises it: “looks forward to continuing to supply innovative high-quality solutions to meet its users’ highest expectations for many years to come.”
Lemo
www.lemo.co.uk T: 01903 234543
/ ELECTRONICS
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