Connector partnership aims to rewrite the rules

Louise Davis

Yamaichi Electronics is teaming up with TE Connectivity to produce a new design of push-pull M12 circular metric connector with an inner locking design for various industrial applications. The two companies are cooperating to campaign for the design to be included in a new IEC standard for M12 connectors with push-pull locking.

Technical cooperation between the two companies will lead to the introduction of different versions of the connectors in the coming months. Overmoulded connectors with A, B, D-coding are already available and the portfolio will be enlarged with field assembly types and further codings soon. This will quickly put Yamaichi and TE and in a position to support the market with a broad product portfolio that will enable customers to introduce the new technology into their devices.

The market for M12 connectors with a push-pull interface is currently fragmented, owing to suppliers offering mutually incompatible designs. Yamaichi and TE will work together to establish Yamaichi’s design with inner locking as the accepted standard as defined by the IEC. Yamaichi submitted its original proposal for the standard last year. An important advantage of the Yamaichi design is that it is compatible with standard M12 connectors. Additionally, its push-pull locking mechanism allows fast and secure locking and unlocking – by only requiring the same outer space compared to standard screw type versions. Another feature is the possibility to integrate the connector into the device or junction box.