Connection is especially important at the moment. Some people say that the core of "industry 4" lies in connection, and intelligent manufacturing is only a direction. Indeed, whether it is "Internet +" or "industrial 4" or what we often call intelligent manufacturing digital factory, the key is to make the control system related to manufacturing equipment through data signals, to realize the connection of equipment and equipment, the connection of equipment and people, and the connection of human and data. So, what makes the two connections all the time? The key behind this is the small, unobtrusive objects such as sensors, connectors, relays and CPUs, operating systems, networks, etc. 

Small "big" business

　　"Every connection is important." This is the view of TEConnectivity, a global leader in the field of links.

On November 6, 2015, with the opportunity of the Trade Fair, the reporter interviewed Song Xianghui, general manager of automation and control business of TE Industrial Department. He told reporters that as long as there is electricity, signals, data transmission, there are TE connections and sensor products: from small to 0.6 mm high wearable equipment in the terminal, miniature antenna, to cars or washing machines in a variety of sensors, to submarine optical cables, aircraft connectors. "In the field of intelligent manufacturing, data is the soul, integration is the focus, capability is the mainline, and the importance of moving objects is far more important than the importance of connecting between people."

　　TE Connection and Sensing Solutions are designed to provide customers with a very effective data connection, in the process of which it is not only the internal connection of traditional machinery, but also the communication between equipment and equipment, equipment and people. "With the development of intelligence, such technology is developing constantly. We also see in the product, although connectors and sensors are the body, but it includes a lot of sub-products, mainly connectors, optical fiber, circuit board components, antennas, as well as supporting cables, sensors and relays.”

　　Data from GartnerGroup show that there will be 25 billion IOT devices by 2020. In Song Xianghui's view, intelligent manufacturing has ushered in the golden age, simply connected to the market space, the valuation can reach 165 billion dollars. According to China Industry Daily, TE's fourth-quarter sales in fiscal year 2015 were $2.98 billion, net sales in fiscal year 2015 were $12.2 billion, and sales share of harsh environmental services accounted for 80% of the total.

Targeting the Chinese market

　　TE is committed to long-term development in China and has been investing in strategic investment for more than 20 years. The company currently has about 20 production bases in China, nearly 22,000 employees, more than 2,200 engineers, accounting for more than 30% of the world's engineers. In fiscal year 2014, sales in China amounted to US $2 billion 300 million, accounting for about 20% of global sales.

　　"TE has invested nearly 7,000 engineers worldwide, and nearly 5% of its annual sales is spent on new product development. In the past three financial years, sales of new products have accounted for more than 20% of its total sales, a relatively high proportion in the global market," said Song.

　　“China's importance to TE is not only the market, but also the development of engineering and innovation. In October 2015, TE hosted the annual TEch-Con in Shanghai, China, inviting technical experts from various departments and fields of TE to discuss technology in China, including robots, electric vehicles, and new technologies in various fields. Song Xianghui told China Industrial Daily that TE now has 14,500 patents and patent applications, and thousands of patents in China. With its strong R&D team, China has become TE's third largest patent application area after the United States and Europe.

　　In addition, TE has continued to expand its local production capacity through acquisitions. In 2014, the company announced the acquisition of Xiamen Delixing Electrical Equipment Co., Ltd. (Delixing) and Xiamen Xibashi Connector Co., Ltd. (Xibashi) business, and the integration of the two companies into the new Xiamen plant. Xiamen New Factory produces heavy-duty connectors for industrial use. Its connector products are widely used in mechanical equipment, factory automation, power distribution and railway and other fields. In April this year, the Ministry of industry of TE held the opening ceremony of the new factory in Xiamen. The factory scale after expansion is about 50% larger than that of the original Derry plant. The acquisition and plant upgrade will further accelerate TE's growth, not only consolidate its market position in China, but also enhance TE's ability to provide connectivity solutions in harsh environments. TE will provide customers with more localized product mix, technology and services in combination with Xiamen's new plant's business capabilities and regional penetration.

　　"We will maintain the development and continuous investment in the Chinese market. The new plant in Suzhou is scheduled to start production in 2016 to produce industrial connectivity products, which will be very helpful to improve the cost-effectiveness of TE products and localization services. He added.

Force emerging industries

　　In this exhibition, TE brought dozens of highlighted products and applications to the exhibition, and through the four modules to focus on the "industrial 4.0" and "intelligent production" solutions and technologies. The production process of connectors is shown to visitors in accordance with the four modules of stamping, injection molding, assembly and pressing. Each module area displays a 3D application environment and corresponding interconnection solutions, including upgraded overload connectors, ARISO contactless interconnection systems, new M8/M12 connector systems, industrial-grade micro I/O connectors, etc.

　　Bi Yong, TE China Industrial Marketing Manager, told reporters that the exhibits reflect the company's efficient connection solutions for different needs and environmental applications, highlighting the important role of connectors in building smart factories as hardware equipment, as well as TE's leading technology and outstanding product performance in the field of industrial connectivity.

　　In the dialogue, Bi Yong said, "TE does not produce robots, but provides solutions for robot internal connections and sensing." Nowadays, the development trend of robots is becoming smaller and smarter, the communication speed is faster and faster, the challenge is bigger and bigger, so the connection technology is also put forward higher requirements, TE can provide a variety of interfaces and connection parts in a harsh environment.

　　"The robot industry is booming in China, and this time we highlight connector solutions for robotic arms and robotic control systems. Although the connector is only a small part in the process of intelligent control, it is the basic part of guaranteeing the overall quality and realizing intelligence. For example, we now focus on the introduction of ARISO technology - contactless intelligent connection platform. Traditional connections are connected by contact, such as mobile phones must be inserted, and now mobile phones also have wireless charging. And so on, our technology is wireless charging that integrates signal transmission, seemingly like a sensor, which can transmit power and signals at the same time. The advantage is that in any environment, where it is not convenient to connect, the signal can be turned into wireless, so that the signal can be transmitted. According to introduction, ARISO contactless connection product integrates contactless power supply and high frequency technology, and can reliably transmit power supply, signal and data without actual contact in almost any environment. ARISO non-contact connection can help robot system to realize the application of harsh environment and adapt to complex and high-precision production process.

　　"Contactless connection is a revolutionary innovation, which breaks through the conventional way of connection in the past, not only makes the installation of equipment plant more convenient, but also can significantly reduce maintenance costs." Bi Yong added that according to the company's internal testing, the cost can be reduced by 30%. "The combination of the industry as a whole is TE's great advantage, it is based on the understanding of customers, to find a connection with the product, we launched the wireless connection of this product."

　　Especially in the field of robotics, the traditional cable connection can no longer meet this requirement because the arm joint must adapt to the increasing complexity and precision of production requirements. With innovative technology, rich experience, creativity and dynamic methods, TE can develop sophisticated products to meet the needs, improve reliability, precision and energy efficiency, and help realize the flexibility, high production capacity and efficiency of industrial robots.

　　"The ARISO contactless connection technology on display now belongs to the second generation, which allows 30 watts of current power to pass through, and the transmission distance is more than double that of the first generation." Bi Yong said that with the advent of more compact robots, connectors are also required to be miniaturized. To meet this trend, the company has optimized its products, some of which are only a quarter the size of the previous products.