the issues at stake for the customer’s business. Before selecting or reassessing a contacts manufacturer, consider the basic criteria all suppliers must meet. All suppliers of standard or customized contacts should be able to deliver the following basic elements: • Technical expertise. Clear comprehension of electrical properties, plugging, and unplugging. • Deep understanding of the raw materials. Copper alloy and other alloys, aluminum, beryllium, brass, bronze, stainless steel, etc., as well as experience processing them and understanding their differences. The supplier should be able to guarantee the slots have adequate hardness and elasticity. Moreover, production must be resistant to any hazardous environmental condition considering that even small contacts play an essential role in the connectors’ functionality. • Plating. Understand the interactions of each coating (gold, silver, tin, etc.), as this element will play a crucial part in the contacts’ performance and connectivity transfer. • Performance. Be able to machine parts that comply precisely with market standards. Contacts must have tight tolerances under all circumstances, including in harsh environments. • Adaptability. The supplier should be able to handle different volumes, including prototyping. • Flexibility. Have the ability to customize production to the customer’s specifications. • Cutting-edge technology. Ensure high- precision with high-speed transfer machines, Swiss-screw high-speed machines, multi-
axis CNC machines, and others. High-tech machinery provides a balance between product flow and complex operations. • Ability to meet deadlines. The ability to consistently deliver on time is essential. To meet smart connectivity requirements, however, an electrical contact manufacturer should go beyond meeting the basic criteria and provide these additional elements.
The right engineering support guarantees outstanding contacts production.
1. Engineering support The right technical guidance makes all the difference. Having a contacts producer with a technical support team of engineers who can provide reengineering, design for manufacturing, and review and adapt technical drawings is essential. They should have the skills to work on a wide range of technical developments, help resolve technical issues, and turn your ideas into successful products and solutions 2. Co-design experience Customers tend to collaborate closely with precision contact suppliers, as the quality of the part greatly impacts the final connector product. The electrical contacts partner should participate in every aspect of the technical design process
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