Front End I News
binder celebrates 50 years in circular connectors
T
his month sees the 50th anniversary of founder Franz Binder’s decision to begin designing and making circular connectors just eight years after he established the company. Today, binder is a successful, independent, family-run business with a truly international reach and an industry leading industrial connector offering.
Volex Group acquires GTK V
olex, the global provider of cable assemblies have announced the acquisition GTK (Holdco) Ltd
“GTK”. Volex is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of power products and interconnect solutions boasting 10 factories around the globe, producing products including leading edge high speed copper cables, Electric Vehicle cables, custom harnesses, as well as the traditional power cord. John Morath, managing director of GTK, stated: “We believe that Volex shares GTK’s values and strategic vision for its
Nat Rothschild, executive chairman of
Volex, noted that GTK brings new customers and a highly skilled European based sales and engineering teams, and innovative new products to the group. In addition, he is very pleased that the group is now back manufacturing in the UK.
www.gtk.co.uk
customers and markets, with robust commitment to quality and service. While GTK will continue to operate as a stand- alone business, we are excited about the new opportunities this acquisition brings to our customers.”
Franz Binder was a qualified machine operator and toolmaker when he established the company and, like many start-ups, he depended on one very large customer to provide the work. To add both turnover and financial security, Franz Binder looked to diversify and a chance meeting with Tuchel (later Amphenol Tuchel) gave him the opportunity to manufacture connector piece parts for some of their products. From the production of parts for Tuchel to the design and manufacture of its own connectors took just a few years and, in 1968, binder launched Series 681 (for 1968 – 1) and the rest as they say is history. Today, the binder product range includes around 10,000 different items and its circular connectors can now be found in applications across many industrial sectors although automation is the company’s biggest market. The increasing use of electronics technology throughout the factory floor is proof that Franz Binder made the right decision to concentrate on the professional end of the connector spectrum. The company has never operated in the consumer space and, after a brief spell in the automotive sector, binder decided that the price and delivery demands of the car manufacturers were not worth the return on a considerable investment. Now retired, Franz Binder handed
control of the company to his son back in 2014, although Markus Binder had been active in the company for more than 20 years. It has been Markus Binder who has worked to expand the company’s horizon
Markus Binder, the son of the founder, is now in charge of the company. He says: “In a family run business it is essential to maintain traditional values while ensuring continuous development and product innovation
beyond the home market which was supported by a modest distribution network in key countries.
binder now has subsidiary companies in the United States, China, The United Kingdom, France, Sweden, Holland, South East Asia and Austria. binder also partners with 45 distributors across five continents. In addition to automation, binder is focused on markets which require high performance, high quality interconnection solutions. These include include food and beverage, medical electronics, agricultural and construction machinery as well as transportation including railways. Practically all binder products are made in Germany. One exception is cable assemblies where some 30 per cent are made in Hungary. binder also manufactures some products in the USA specifically for the American market and in China for the Asian market.
www.binder-connector.de
Ultrahaptics raises £35 million in oversubscribed Series C fundraising U
ltrahaptics, a world leader in mid-air touch technology, has announced it has completed a £35 million ($45 million) Series C round of investment. The raise, which was oversubscribed, will enable Ultrahaptics to further develop and commercialise its revolutionary haptic technology in next generation user interfaces and experiences.
The new funding is led by Mayfair Equity Partners, the buyout and growth investor providing capital to dynamic businesses in the TMT and Consumer sectors, with further new investors including Hostplus, the major Australian superannuation fund. Existing shareholders IP Group plc, Woodford Investment, Cornes and Dolby Family Ventures have again participated.
Founded in 2013 and based on technology developed at the University of Bristol, UK, Ultrahaptics’ core technology uses proprietary algorithms and supporting hardware to project ultrasound-driven tactile sensations in mid-air. Users can ‘feel’ and interact with virtual objects and controls, using freehand gestures to interface with technology and content. Ultrahaptics is currently engaged with blue-chip customers across key verticals such as automotive, where the company has developed concept vehicles
6 December 2018/January 2019
with Bosch and Harman; digital signage; location-based entertainment; industrial controls; medical interfaces; VR games; and augmented reality / virtual reality (AR / VR) enterprise applications. The company also supports the international academic community through a programme designed to enable additional haptics research and development. Commenting on the round, Ultrahaptics CEO, Steve
Cliffe, said: “We’re delighted to welcome major new investor Mayfair, while receiving further endorsement and support from our existing shareholders for the company’s exciting next phase of development. Our funding has become ever more global, reflecting the potential of our technology in industry sectors and markets all over the world.” Daniel Sasaki, managing partner of Mayfair Equity Partners, said: “The potential for mid-air haptics systems within immersive infotainment systems and human- machine interfaces is very compelling and exciting. We look forward to supporting the Ultrahaptics team in their journey to become the global platform enabling mid-air haptics.” Dr Mark Reilly, managing partner of Technology at IP Group plc, said: “We are delighted to welcome such high-
Components in Electronics
Left to right: Steve Cliffe, CEO and president; Dr Tom Carter, CTO and founder; Christopher Olds, CFO
quality new investors to join us in supporting the next stage of growth at Ultrahaptics. The company is yet another example of a top UK ‘deep tech’ start-up nurtured from day one by IP Group.”
www.ultrahaptics.com
www.cieonline.co.uk
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