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Table of Contents Departments News Shielded cable and connectors are breathing new life into mission-critical data centers For decades, the use of shielded cabling systems in local area networks (LANs) within North America has been an oddity, reserved either for applications that never upgraded from the old IBM Type 1 system installed in the 1980s or for those facing extreme external noise sources that adversely affected signal transmission. IPC study: Market for medical connectors looking healthy “Medical electronics will maintain steady growth throughout the remainder of this decade and most likely beyond,” says Phil Plonski, managing partner with Prismark Partners (www.prismark.com), which recently conducted a new study commissioned by the Association Connecting Electronics Industries’ (IPC; www.ipc.org) Executive Market & Technology Forum. Computer, electronic products grow it alone The most recent report from the Institute for Supply Management (www.ism.org) lists computer and electronics products as one of eight manufacturing sectors that grew in November. Military eyes connector’s expanded beam technology for battlefield readiness Stratos Optical Technologies’ (www.stratosoptical.com) says that segments of the U.S. Military plan to purchase the company’s HMA Series fiberoptic expanded beam (EB) connectors to link tactical optical communications cables in the battlefield. Newsmakers News briefs Editor's View The experts agree…sort of Depending on when you read this issue of Connector Specifier, it’s either the last one of 2006 or the first one of 2007 for you. Products New Products WHAT’S NEW CONNECTORS FIBEROPTIC CONNECTORS CABLING & CONNECTOR SUPPORT MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT & TOOLS FOCUS ON: COAXIAL/RF CONNECTORS Special Report World Connector Market New electronics, new opportunities A constant stream of new applications requires more technically sophisticated connectors with more engineering content-and that means continued good profit margins. Good vibrations Along the California seashore, the annual Fleck Connection Congress declared the health of the industry to be “extremely good,” with 2006 being a record-setter. Features Spring contacts hold up during shock and vibration Test results show these versatile components are durable and stable for such harsh environments as medical and military technology.

This Issue Volume 22 Issue 8 December 2006 Subscribe View Past Issues

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