New member of electronics trade body.

Pickering Electronics, designer and manufacturer of Reed Relays, has announced they are now a member of the Electronics Representatives Association (ERA), the international trade organization for professional field sales companies in the global electronics industries, manufacturers who go to market through representative firms and global distributors.

Since 1968, the company has been manufacturing high quality Reed Relays for Instrumentation and Automatic Test Equipment (ATE), High voltage switching, Low thermal EMF, Direct drive from CMOS, RF switching and other specialist applications.

Pickering Electronics has developed a solid customer base in a wide range of industries/applications, including their sister company; Pickering Interfaces; designers and manufacturers of modular PCI/PCI/LXI Switching Systems. Pickering Interfaces are a large Reed Relay customer who work very closely with Pickering Electronics on leading edge Reed Relay designs, reliability testing, life testing, production engineering, amongst other things. This close relationship greatly benefits both companies and gives Pickering Electronics a strong insight into demanding functional test Reed Relay applications.

Consecutive years of double-digital growth in sales, and recent investments to expand the capacity of the organisation, have led Pickering Electronics to update their strategy in the USA, to begin establishing strategic partnerships with representatives and distributors that are focused on the electronic components/test and measurement market.

#electronics @PickeringRelay #PAuto @era_org

Happy 50th birthday.

Founded in 1968, by the late John Moore, the future of the business Mr Moore built, Pickering, is bright, with sales in 2017 up by 30% on the previous year.

“Fifty years of designing, manufacturing and distributing Reed Relays means that we have a very good understanding of the product we are selling and consider ourselves to be the leaders in Reed Relay technology” said Graham Dale, Technical Director at Pickering Electronics. “Since 1968, we have gradually evolved our Reed Relays from very large, relatively crude parts to the small, ultra-reliable parts we have today. Production methods and quality systems have improved a great deal over that time, and costs have been radically reduced.”

“When I started designing Reed Relays in the late 1970 some were saying that these electromechanical devices would have a limited lifetime. Instead, the market for high-quality reed relays has increased into areas that were inconceivable in those days.”, he added.

In 1983, Pickering established SoftCenter® technology, as well as the former-less coil construction which really set them apart from other reed relay manufacturers. Softcenter® protects the sensitive glass/metal seal of the reed switch capsule, thereby increasing contact resistance stability and improves the life expectation of the relay. Former-less coil construction maximizes magnetic drive and increases packing density.

Pickering has now become renowned for designing Reed Relays for high density applications. Just last year at Semicon West they released the World’s smallest footprint Reed Relay – the Series 120 4mm²™, switching up to 1 Amp, whilst stacking on a 4mm x 4mm pitch.

The Pickering Group is now comprised of two privately owned companies, who are leading suppliers of high reliability switching solutions; Pickering Electronics, the leaders in Reed Relay design and manufacture, and its sister company; Pickering Interfaces, who since 1988, have been designing and manufacturing modular signal switching and simulation for Switching Systems. The Pickering Group now employ over 380 people worldwide, with manufacturing facilities in the Czech Republic, along with additional representation in countries throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australasia.

The company’s success is due to its unique ability to design high quality products, a strong vision from their founder, the speed in which they get innovative designs to market, a good relationship with their suppliers and commitment from their much-valued staff.

To celebrate 50 years in business Pickering Electronics have various celebrations planned, including a party for all their staff, as well as publishing a book about the company’s first 50 years. The book features various milestones in Pickering Electronics’ history, along with stories, quotes and personal photographs from their founder, directors and employees. The book will be available to download from the Pickering Electronics’ website from the beginning of February.

@PickeringRelay #PAuto 

2-Slot USB/LXI Modular Chassis.

Pickering Interfaces are launching their new 2-Slot Modular Chassis (model 60-104) which offers a small, lightweight form/factor ideal for portable, benchtop and space restrictive applications. The chassis is designed for desk or rack mounting and features remote control via USB or LXI Ethernet. Remote control over a network enables the switching function of a test system to be located as close as possible to the target equipment.

The chassis supports one or two Pickering 3U PXI modules. Possible systems include switching matrices up to 1104 crosspoints, 396 channel multiplexer or up to 36 channels of programmable resistor/sensor emulation.

“For quite some time, we have had requests from our customer base for small form/factor switching system to address portable applications as well as the need for switching to be as close to the UUT as possible. We now address those needs with the addition of the 60-104 2-slot USB/LXI chassis to our catalog. We feel that there will be a lot of demand by the test community for this product.” commented Keith Moore, CEO at Pickering Interfaces.

The 2-slot chassis is USB 3 compatible and has a fully compliant LXI interface. These communications standards enable the chassis to be controlled directly through standard interfaces found on most personal computers and tablets that support HTML5; allowing for a very practical route into a variety of applications in the modular test and measurement market.

@Pickeringtest  #PAuto #TandM

T/c simulator.

Pickering Interfaces has introduced their first Millivolt Thermocouple Simulator Module.

PXI Thermocouple Simulator Modules (series 41-760) are ideal for simulating the operation of a thermocouple. They are available in a choice of 8, 16, 24 or 32 channels—each channel providing a low-voltage output across two connector pins capable of providing ±20mV with 0.7µV resolution, ±50mV with 1.7µV resolution and ±100mV with 3.3µV resolution, covering most thermocouple types.

These new thermocouple simulators use two wire outputs with a remote output reference sense to ensure the modules deliver accurate low-level voltages, even if the system has common mode voltages present. In addition, each simulation channel is also able to provide an open circuit setting to simulate faulty wiring connections to a sensor. For improved accuracy, each channel of the Low Voltage Source carries accurate calibration data stored on the module. The module also includes a calibration multiplexer for module test and verification purposes.

The 41-760 simulator modules can be connected straight into the thermocouple measurement system. To aid in this, Pickering offers a connector solution that has 8, 16, 24 or 32 copper twisted pairs terminated with mini copper thermocouple plugs. Pickering can also supply connector blocks that convert the module’s 78-pin connector to terminal blocks to ease user wiring, or design alternative customized interconnections solutions.

The introduction of the PXI thermocouple simulator modules builds on Pickering Interfaces growing PXI simulation product line that includes standard and precision programmable resistors, including RTD and strain gauge simulation.

@Pickeringtest  #PAuto #TandM 

Switching Modules at AMPER 2015!

Pickering Interfaces are to showcasing their broad catalog of PXI and Ethernet LXI switching solutions at Amper (Brno, CZ  March 24-27). These products include Pickering’s LXI, PXI, Programmable Resistors, Microwave Multiplexer and PCI Ranges.

PXI Microwave Multiplexer (40-784A) – these support single, dual, or triple SP4T or SP6T relays and are available in a variety of different frequency options for 50 Ω, from 6GHz to 40GHz. All models occupy just two 3U PXI slots and feature LED’s that indicate which path of the multiplexer is closed.

PXI and PCI Programmable Resistor Solutions - Pickering Interfaces offers the widest range of programmable resistor modules in PXI and PCI format. Many of these models cover applications that require low cost solutions through to those that require high precision and the best stability achievable.

PXI High-speed USB Switching Systems – including a USB Hub that can be used to connect USB devices under test or USB test equipment directly into PXI systems.
BRIC™ PXI Large Matrix Modules, the use of high-density packaging and integrated backplanes enables a large matrix to be implemented with no user configuration or special matrix expansion kits. These matrices use thru-hole mechanical relays (not surface mount) and can be serviced using standard de-soldering tools simplifying repair and reducing down time. The BRIC's integrated design ensures high matrix performance with high signal bandwidth and fewer system implementation errors.

LXI Switching (Ethernet controlled) Systems – LXI systems support large switching systems with simplified control through an Ethernet connection. LXI is the power of Ethernet and the Web applied to Test & Measurement (T&M) instruments, offering you new possibilities in test systems – local, remote, distributed and time-aware.

Switching System Management Tools – these tools reduce the cost of ownership of switching systems in all commonly used platforms.

All the PXI modules can be used in any PXI chassis, can be fitted to PXI hybrid slots in a PXIe chassis and can also be used in Pickering’s LXI Modular chassis for users preferring control via an Ethernet port.

• Pickering Interfaces also has a Czech-based manufacturing facility that produces their cables and connectors designed to work with their switching systems. Pickering will be previewing their new Cable Configurator Tool in the booth, this tool aids users in the specifying of custom cables.

Switching & instrumentation highlight new website design.

Pickering Interfaces has launched their newly redesigned company website. The new website is equipped with a streamlined navigation to allow for easy-to-use functionality, allowing users to quickly reference desired information pertaining to the company’s PXI, LXI, PCI and GPIB switching and instrumentation offerings as well as their full range of supporting cables and connectors.

For current and prospective customers looking for greater detail regarding the vast array of switching products offered by Pickering Interfaces for use in electronic test and simulation, the site will provide detailed information as well as informative articles and a link to the company’s support knowledgebase. Users can register to receive quotes and updates on products and solutions – including technical support, sales and repair.

The company constructed the new website to better relate to and meet users’ needs.
"We are aware that people are constantly searching the web for more in-depth knowledge and better detailed information to meet their specified testing requirements. Given the rapidly expanding range of our switching products, we needed a way for users to find the solution they need quickly and simply. With the launch, we strived to provide a website that is rich in technical and visual content, while providing an easy-to-navigate interface. Our goal is to allow the user to feel confident in their selections, and to continually use our site as a point-of-reference for their switching needs,” said Keith Moore, Pickering’s Managing Director.


The new site will archive informative newsletters, articles and press coverage, as well as any upcoming events directed to the electronic test and simulation industry. Visitors will be able to access basic information on Pickering Interfaces’ large range of switching products and solutions, with the ability to easily request additional information via a web form, email or by telephone.

Highest density PXI matrix solutions

Pickering Interfaces is expanding its range of 2A matrices with the highest density solutions available in PXI. The new solutions increase the density of electro-mechanical relay matrices by up to 75% compared to their previous products and more than twice the density of competitor’s products.

The 40-575, 40-576, 40-577, 40-578 and 40-579 are all single slot 1 pole matrices with 2A current rating, up to 60W hot switch power and 150VDC/100VAC voltage rating. Each model sets new standards in the achievable density of PXI matrices with matrix sizes of 84x4, 64x6, 50x8, 36x12 and 28x16 (448 matrix crosspoints). For the first time matrix sizes have been introduced at Y sizes of 6 and 12 to compliment the usual 4, 8 and 16 sizes, giving users further choice of Y axis size and maximising the X axis size for each configuration.

The switching matrices can be easily expanded by linking the Y axis connections together to create matrices with a larger configuration across more than one PXI slot. User connections are provided by industry standard 160pin DIN41612 (40-575), 78 way D (40-576 and 40-577) and 50 way D type connectors (40-578 and 40-579) and are supported by the comprehensive range of connection solutions available from Pickering Interfaces.

A range of half density solutions is also being introduced to suit cost sensitive applications that require matrices of smaller size. The 40-505, 40-506, 40-507, 40-508 and 40-509 have the same Y axis size as 40-575 series but with half the X axis size.

The product range uses high quality electro-mechanical relays to achieve their 2A switch rating.