In the connector field, ITT Cannon (under ITT Interconnect Solutions) is a globally leading connector brand with a rich product line and technical accumulation. Founded in 1915, its earliest "M-1 Connector" helped to birth the first sound film, followed by the development of industry-standard connectors such as D-sub and XLR, and widespread service in aerospace, rail, automotive, medical, and other fields. The company also owns brands such as BIW (acquired in 2001) and VEAM (acquired in 2003), further enhancing its business depth in the rail, heavy equipment, and sensor system fields. To improve the domesticization rate of materials for domestic connectors, we can learn from ITT Cannon's experience in material selection and manufacturing to formulate a practical and feasible development path.
Learn about ITT Cannon's material selection and manufacturing strategies●Universal Contact series materials: ITT's Universal Contact series connectors use BeCu (beryllium copper) or TiCu (titanium copper) alloys as the base material, with selective gold plating, offering extremely low contact resistance (< 20 mΩ), high contact force (≥ 0.3 N), high durability, and vibration resistance. This is the key to their superior and reliable performance.
●Powerlock High Current Connector: The Powerlock unipolar connector, originally from the VEAM brand, supports high current applications of 400 A/660 A, suitable for temporary electrical connection scenarios such as railways, mines, airports, etc. It has anti-misinsertion design, color coding, and sequential insertion and removal functions to enhance operational safety.
Suggested Pathways for Enhancing the Domestic Materialization Rate of Domestic ProductsBased on the successful experience of ITT Cannon technology, domestic connector companies can enhance the localization rate of materials through the following paths:
1. Key Material Replacement Strategy
Prioritize the development of high-performance contact spring materials such as BeCu and TiCu, and cooperate with independent coating technology.
Ensure material stability and batch consistency while meeting electrical performance (low contact resistance, high reliability).
Modular and replaceable design philosophy
●Drawing on the modular design of Universal Contact, build reusable structural components to enhance production efficiency and customization flexibility.
● Introduce sequential plug-pull mechanism and mechanical anti-error plug structure to enhance the safety and reliability of Powerlock type connectors.
3. Local manufacturing and quality control system construction
Establish a comprehensive quality inspection system, promote Lean manufacturing methods such as Six Sigma, and ensure product reliability and lifespan, for example, achieving a target of ppm-level good product rate.
Collaborate with local material suppliers to achieve local procurement of raw materials, shorten the supply chain, reduce costs, and enhance supply resilience.
4. Joint R&D and ecological cooperation
Co-build experimental platforms with universities and research institutions and carry out cooperative research in areas such as projectile materials, coating technology, and protective materials.
● Collaborate with rail transit system integrators to complete standard benchmarking and function testing, accelerating product iteration and verification.
By systematically learning from ITT Cannon's experience in material selection, modular design, and high-reliability manufacturing, the domestic connector project can focus on the research and development of BeCu/TiCu materials, structural modularization, sequential insertion and removal design, and the construction of a local manufacturing system. This approach can systematically improve the localization rate of materials and product quality. Such a path can not only enhance supply chain resilience and cost advantages but also accelerate the application of domestic connectors in high-demand scenarios such as rail transit and power distribution.
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