Tyco Electronics will call its connector the Z-PACKä HM-Zd and ERNI will call its connector the ERmet ZD®. The product is intended to extend the performance range of the already established IEC 61076-4-101 Hard Metric connector family, and complement their respective 2mm hard metric product lines.
"Differences in manufacturing methods and design practices put an additional strain on what was already a challenging design task," commented Bob Hnatuck, project leader for the Tyco Electronics project team. "It was our absolute belief that the market opportunities for a jointly offered product would be tenfold that of a sole sourced solution," stated Michael Munroe, director, business development for ERNI Components, Inc.
"There are many instances in the past where two companies have tooled the same design," observed Michael Savage, senior vice president, marketing and sales at ERNI Components. "However, the design is usually complete prior to the alliance and is controlled by the first company. What we have done is much more ambitious," he explained. "From the very beginning, both companies recognized that customers were looking for a high speed differential connector. We designed this to give customers a migration path for our Z-PACK HM product line," observed Rob Rix, director, Enterprise Segment, Communications Business Unit, of Tyco Electronics.
The twelve-month effort overcame the challenges of concurrent engineering, language barriers, and different analytical tools. One obvious difference is the respective size of the two organizations, ERNI, with revenue of $200 million and Tyco Electronics at $10 billion. "We were remarkably similar in our analysis of what the market needed, and both teams were focused on the same market segment," explained Andreas Scheck, director of marketing, ERNI Elektroapparate, Adelberg, Germany.
ABOUT TYCO ELECTRONICS
Tyco Electronics is one of the major business units of Tyco International. Headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA, Tyco Electronics is the world's largest passive electronic components manufacturer, and a world leader in cutting-edge wireless technologies, fiber optic active components, and complete power systems. The company has facilities located in 56 countries serving customers in the aerospace, automotive, computer, communications, consumer electronics, industrial and power industries. Tyco Electronics provides advanced technology products from over thirty well-known and respected product brands, including Agastat, Alcoswitch, AMP, AMP Netconnect, Buchanan, CoEv, Critchley, Elcon, Elo TouchSystems, HTS, M/A-COM, Madison Cable, OEG, Potter & Brumfield, Raychem, Schrack, Simel and TDI Batteries.
ABOUT TYCO INTERNATIONAL LTD.
Tyco International Ltd. (NYSE: TYC; LSE: TYI; BSX: TYC) is a diversified manufacturing and service company. Tyco is the world's largest manufacturer and servicer of electrical and electronic components; the world's largest designer, manufacturer, installer and servicer of undersea telecommunications systems; the world's largest manufacturer, installer and provider of fire protection systems and electronic security services, and the world's largest manufacturer of flow control valves. Tyco also holds strong leadership positions in disposable medical products, diagnostic imaging, bulk pharmaceuticals, wound closure, plastics and adhesives. Tyco operates in more than 100 countries and had fiscal 2000 sales of $28.9 billion.
For additional product information on Tyco Electronics interconnection products, visit www.amp.com/communications or call 800-522-6752.
ABOUT ERNI COMPONETS
ERNI is a leading global manufacturer and worldwide supplier of a broad line of interconnect products for the telecommunications, data communications, computer, industrial and medical markets. ERNI has manufacturing and sales operations in both Europe and North America as well as sales offices in over 40 countries.