Electromechanical Component Manufacturers

Electromechanical component manufacturers assemble electrical components and electronic hardware into finished products for various industries. They may also resell these parts to end users.

EMS companies are categorized according to their revenue. Some rank high while others have low revenues. The latter are referred to as Micro Tier and cater to consumer electronics, prototypes and machinery while the former specialize in High Mix Low Volume (HMLV). They use advanced technologies like automation and robotics to boost accuracy, productivity and consistency.

Switches and Connectors

Switches are electrical components that complete a circuit by allowing an electric current to flow through them. They consist of conducting materials, wires and terminals housed in a protective casing. Complex switches can have multiple components and actuators. They are designed for various functions including on/off and on/auto or manual control.

Connectors are electrical devices that join two parts of a device. They come in a wide range of sizes, types, and shapes. Some examples include cable connectors, wire connectors, and fiber optic connectors. Connectors are used in many different applications, including electronics, computers, and telecommunications. They are typically composed of two pieces, each with a male or female component. The male component is called a plug, while the female component is referred to as a jack.

The female component has recessed holes (socket holes) that are used to receive the plug of the male component. The contact pins in the recessed holes are connected to the conductors in the plug. The female component provides a secure connection between the plug and socket. It also helps to protect the contacts by preventing high precision voltage reference them from being damaged. Connectors are commonly made from electrically conductive materials such as brass, phosphor bronze, beryllium copper or high copper alloy. They are also molded or stamped from plastic. Some have a coating to provide insulation and protection.

Solenoid and Valve Actuators

Valves and actuators are a common element found in many different industries. They can range from something as simple as a one-quarter turn ball valve used on an air line to complex control valves connected to software monitoring a chemical reaction.

These electromechanical devices actuate with electric current that creates a magnetic field around an electromagnet surrounding the control arm. When the coil is energized it moves the metal armature against a spring to open or close the valve. Most electrically activated valves are designed for gang mounting into various positions to meet specific processing needs.

There are a few types of solenoid valves that can be classified and the type you choose depends on many factors including actuation arrangement, power supply, size, pressure and speed. The circuit function also plays an important role in the type of valve you select for a particular application.

For instance, pneumatic solenoid valves are based on the operation of compressed air pressure to move the armature, rather than through electromagnetic force. They are available with a variety of port configurations that can include single-acting and double-acting, as well as a range of exhaust speeds. A fail-safe version is available with springs inside the actuator that return the armature to its normal position when power is cut off, such as on a pneumatic two-way valve or three-way valve.

Enclosures and Boxes

Electromechanical components like switches and sensors need to be protected from heat, water, physical damage or electromagnetic interference. They can be shielded in enclosures made of plastic, metal or heavy-duty plastic that can withstand a demanding physical environment.

Look for an EMS provider with experience assembling products similar to yours in complexity and volume, as well as the necessary production techniques. Ask about their quality systems and tour their facility to see their assembly lines, test equipment and supply chain processes firsthand. Make sure they have the ISO certifications and FDA registrations required to follow strict production standards for safety and quality.

Box-build assembly takes printed circuit boards loaded with components (known as PCB assemblies) and interconnecting them with wiring harnesses, plus mechanical parts like switches and connectors, into esc controller enclosures. This helps to reduce time to market, improve overall product reliability and help protect the electronics inside from environmental threats.

Pneumatic systems can also be included in a box-build assembly, including actuators that convert air pressure to linear or rotational movement. These systems are used in applications from life-saving machines in hospitals to necessary communication infrastructure towers that deliver 5G services. An EMS provider can design and fabricate the pneumatic components you need as part of a box-build assembly. They can even assist with manual assembly and installation.

Wire Management

A wire management product can encompass a number of things from cable ties to heat shrink and expandable sleeving. Wire management is a process of managing and organizing the direction or location of wires within an electrical system for various reasons including; protecting them from environmental hazards, simplifying the process of navigation and segregating the functionality of each wire using a cable organizer.

An electromechanical component manufacturer can provide many of the components a company needs to create a final product. They also can offer contract manufacturing services that utilize modern fast and flexible production lines. This way a manufacturer can save on the fixed costs and headaches of having an in-house factory.

During technology’s late 1990s heyday, contract electronic manufacturing service (EMS) players largely focused on printed circuit board fabrication and left system assembly to the original equipment manufacturers. In recent years, however, EMSs have shifted their production to low-cost geographies; embraced industries that were once considered outside the realm of information processing (computers and communications); and added substantial vertical capabilities, such as design and engineering support, procurement services, third-party logistics and warranty and repair.

The coronavirus outbreak in 2018 hampered the EMS industry because it caused many of the world’s mechanical and electrical component producers to close factories and temporarily stop production. Revenue for this industry remained relatively steady throughout the year and is expected to increase in 2022.