Ruggedized connectors target industrial Ethernet designs

By Gina Roos, editor-in-chief

Amphenol ICC, in partnership with Hirose Electric Co. and Harting Technology Group, has released the ix Industrial  series of connectors, designed for high-speed, ruggedized industrial Ethernet requirements. These connectors are intermatable with Hirose and Harting ix Industrial  to meeting growing demand in Industry 4.0 and cloud-to-factory-floor Ethernet connectivity.

The IEC 61076-3-124–compliant connectors can be used in a variety of industrial applications including factory and process automation, machine-to-machine communication, robotics, sensors, human interface devices, and any other device that requires Ethernet industrial internet of things (IIoT) connectivity.

The 10-position connector can meet Cat6A performance and comes in a package that is 70% smaller than the size of a typical RJ45 connector. Other features include a 10-mm connector pitch, two-point metal latching, and 360° shielding for EMI immunity.

Configurations available include right-angle and vertical PCB-mount receptacles with multiple keying options, as well as field-terminable plugs for easy on-site installation. Available versions will include IP20 products for MICE1 environments and IP67 versions for MICE2 and MICE3 harsh environments.