Plug & socket connectors targeted at demanding applications.

Connector specialist group EDAC has extended its popular E-Seal range of ingress protected (IP) connectors with the introduction of new water, mist and dust-proof wire-to-board and in-line plug & socket connectors. The IP code is used to define the level of environmental protection provided by electrical equipment enclosures. The new E-Seal connectors carry the IP67 designation indicating absolute protection against dust and mistand total protection from the effect of immersion in liquids between 15cm and 1m deep. Currently comprising four device families, EDAC's E-Seal IP67 rated wire-to-board and in-line (wire-to-wire) plug & socket connectors support low-level signal and power requirements up to 300 volts (V) at 12 amps (A) and temperatures between -40º and 105ºC. A wide range of high-performance silicone seals are available to accommodate wire of between 14 and 28 AWG with either thin or standard insulation thickness. E-Seal 565 and 566 Series The E-Seal 565 Series offers 2, 3 and 5 connections in wire-to-board and in-line variants. 565 Series devices feature EDAC’s proprietary ‘Fast Integral Seal' technology, enabling rapid assembly of the connector whilst maintaining absolute seal reliability. The E-Seal 566 Series also features ‘Fast Integral Seal' technology and is available in 2, 3, 4 and 6 connections in-line (wire-to-wire) and 2 and 3 connections wire-to-board.  A 2-connection, 3-way branch version is also available. E-Seal 570 and 568 Series The crimp assembly E-Seal 570 Series offers 1, 2, and 3 connections with 5.08mm pin pitch and is supplied in wire-to-board and in-line options, all rated for 10A/300V operation. Targeting single connection in-line applications the E-Seal 568 Series is also a crimp-to-seal assembly device rated for 12A/300V operation. According to Damien Croft, Head of Sales - EDAC Europe, features unique toE-Seal wire-to-board and in-line plug & socket connectors include integral locking tabs to prevent accidental disengagement, a keying system to prevent miss-mating, and visual confirmation of seal: "We support our E-Seal connector customers with the provision  of hand tools for prototyping and small build production runs. Applications for our connectorsare many and varied, including, lighting, access control, external signage and refrigerated displays." In addition to the new wire-to-board and in-line plug & socket devices EDAC's E-Seal connector portfolio includes a full range of D-Sub, USB and HDMI connector products.All the devices in the E-Seal range are offered in a wide range of mounting styles including single-screw assembly, and for suitable volumes are available with fully assembled custom terminated cables.

Industry's broadest range of card edge connectors.

EDAC has enhanced its already extensive range of card edge connectors to include 8,000 standard styles and 435,000 customised variations in what is today the broadest range of card edge connectors available in the industry. EDAC cardEDGE+ connectors offer a choice of 2 to 188 contacts in single and dual rows, with contact spacing spanning 1.27mm through to 5.08mm. Version are available with or without card guides. These connectors tolerate operating temperatures from -65oC to 105 oC and require an insertion force of only16oz (4.45N), which ensures high contact reliability and connection retention. Contact resistance is as low as 10mΩ. The cardEDGE+ connector range also offers specialised contact options, including PCB through-hole, wirewrap, solder eyelet and extender board tail - and to meet customer-specific interconnect design requirements - and includes devices with extra row spacing, multiple PCB footprints, polarising options, extra mountings, additional high temperature insulators, multiple insulator colour& dimension options and extra contact plating. According to Alex Grout - who took over as EDAC's European Managing Director last April - the cardEDGE+ and cardEDGE+ Press Fit products enable electronics designersto include more options in an interconnect model tailored for specific interconnect requirements: "cardEDGE+ products are priced to enable designers to affordably include the differentiating features they need in space constrained power supplies, storage devices, navigational equipment, industrial controls and medical equipment."

Appointments at connector specialist group!

Nathan Ashford (European Distribution Manager), Damien Croft (European Marketing Manager), Debbie Pendergrast (Sales Manger Southern Europe), Alex Grout (European Managing Director)

EDAC has restructured its European sales and customer-service operations with one notable promotion and the addition of two key team members. According to Alex Grout - who took over the role of European Managing Director last April - the new appointments have been necessitated by the business upswing that has resulted from an significantly enhanced product portfolio and the company's acquisition of British company MH Connectors.

Grout has promoted Damien Croft, previously Senior Manager with MH Connectors, to lead the sales organisation for all EDAC brands within Europe, and has also enhanced his European customer-facing teams with the addition of two new heads.

Debbie Pendergrast will be responsible for developing EDAC and MH business within Southern Europe. Fluent in French and Spanish, Pendergrast will spearhead EDAC's sales effort within Italy and Spain and will take control of the strong MH Connectors operation in France, including the existing sales operations based in Mantes La Jolie.

Prior to joining EDAC Pendergrast ran her own business in Spain where she enjoyed considerable success working with Spanish and French business partners and customers: "Together EDAC and MH have an unbeatable portfolio of connector solutions,” she said. "2015 is set to be a key year in the company's evolution and I'm looking forward to meeting the challenges ahead."

Grout puts great store in EDAC's relationship with the European and global distributors who promote the EDAC and MH Connectors brands within Europe. Nathan Ashford joins the EDAC Group as European Distribution Manager with responsibility for managing the relationships with European distributors and defining future strategy. Ashford was previously with Omron Electronic Components where he was responsible for the company's European high service channel. He benefits from a great understanding of how high service distribution works and the value it delivers to design engineers and is already applying his experience to promote the benefits of EDAC and MH interconnect solutions to distributors and their customers in the European market space.