Feature: Connectors


Harwin recently undertook two surveys of buyers and specifiers to determine the latest insights into connector specification, design and procurement choices in two geographical regions – Europe and North America; see Figure 1. Respondents worked in different industries, with industrial


Similarities and


differences in attitudes to connector design-in decisions By Peter Schneid, VP of Marketing, Harwin


I


nterconnection is vital to electronics, carrying power and signals to each part of the circuitry that needs them. Connectors must remain reliable in the presence of


electrical interference, alongside problems caused by vibration, humidity, dust and temperature swings. In addition, with each subsequent electronic system design,


signal bandwidth and density rise yet specifications call for lower costs – all to be created within a shrinking development window.


Growing complexity Connectors are oſten designed for specific mechanical, electrical and environmental needs, as well as serviceability, robustness and resilience. Many must carry power and high-speed data in the same shell. Applications may also require specific system topologies, backplane-based interconnects, board-to-board, cable- to-board or cable-to-cable connectors, and more. Tere are many common factors in how engineers and buyers approach the problem of connector design-in and selection.


40 November 2026 www.electronicsworld.co.uk


control and telecom and data networking among the most common, but also in the automotive, space and medical sectors, as well as in the development of drones. Respondents showed diverse needs for connectors depending


on the application. Tey mostly selected connectors for low levels of power delivery and signal rates of under 1Gbps, although a significant number were involved in designs that call for power- handling capabilities of over 1kW. In both Europe and North America, over a quarter of


respondents were looking for signal data rates above 1Gbps. However, one criterion remains at the top for both power and data interconnect selection – and even more than performance – and that’s reliability. Te high score for reliability was accompanied by a requirement for connectors being able to withstand high temperatures and harsh environments. In Europe, over 40% of the surveyed professionals expected an


operational lifetime longer than a decade. In North America such long lifetimes were deemed less critical, even though about 30% of respondents specified ten years. A further 40% required reliable operation between five and ten years.


Prototyping pressures Although long operational lifetimes are important, pressures on design cycles mean support for prototyping is vital. In both Europe and North America, when ranked in terms of importance on a scale from zero to five, rapid sampling scored 3.7 and above. In Europe, it was the most important supply-chain aspect, only narrowly behind the availability of complementary products and customisation services for North American professionals. For quick qualification and testing of components, all chose


catalogue distributors, with DigiKey, Farnell and Mouser Electronics among the top choices for European respondents, and Arrow in North America alongside DigiKey and Mouser. Technical competence from the distribution network was also important, with manufacturers and distributors seen as leading sources of information for specifying connectors. Most value the availability of authoritative information,


guidance and tools that can help identify suitable connectors and support comparisons between different options. However, they also expect supplier and distributor websites to move beyond just providing product data. Online design tools are proving to be important aids to design


engineers. Over a half of the North America survey respondents reported using them to make decisions, with 37% in Europe, chosen for product comparison and selection, but also for downloading design files and data, and customising and simulating configurations. Easy access to reliable and readily accessible information is expected to become even more important in the future. Although


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