The goal of European REACH regulation is to improve health and environmental protection by banning the use of SVHC (Substance of Very High Concern) chemicals and at the same time promoting the competitiveness of the European Union's chemical industries. Souriau, like most manufacturers, uses hexavalent chromium, one of the substances listed as hazardous, in the surface treatment processes for many of its connectors. Although the European Chemicals Agency has granted derogations of up to 12 years depending on the application, Souriau wished to anticipate this deadline. Souriau's R&D has been working for several years on the implementation and validation of this change to its composite connectors, which affected both the products and the production lines. The first REACH connectors in the D38999 composite range were launched during 2019 and by next December, the entire range will be manufactured without the use of hexavalent chromium.
After being launched in the first quarter of 2017, JMX Plastic, SOURIAU's very first range of connectors for electronic medical equipment gained notice at the Compamed trade show in Düsseldorf that same year. SOURIAU used this year's edition of Compamed to announce that it has added larger sizes to its JMX Plastic range to meet an inrush of new electronic medical equipment that requires a higher contact density in order to be powered. In addition to offering advanced technical features and compliance with IEC 60601-1 and UL94 V-0, these JMX connectors have been carefully designed to meet the esthetic and functional requirements of medical device manufacturers.
The One Arm Composite Backshell developed by SUNBANK is specifically designed to offer a robust and unique performance in terms of reliability and functionality for defense, aerospace and other harsh environment applications. Our design team took into consideration different scenarios and needs for protecting cable connections from damage and providing better strain relief. The One Arm backshell family comes in 3 types of configurations, Straight, 45°, and 90°. It is designed to satisfy requirements for all sizes of MIL-DTL-38999 Series I, II, and III connectors.
Whether for satellites in orbit or along the ocean floor, the demand for connections to enable the transmission of data, signals or electrical power increases every year. In aeronautics, the on-board equipment and materials of an aircraft must be able to withstand extreme climatic and mechanical conditions, because at an altitude of 10,000 metres, a small failure can have critical consequences. In this kind of application, failure is not an option.
In the category of hermetic connectors destined for use in harsh environments and especially in civil and military aeronautics applications, SOURIAU offers a very wide range of products compliant with numerous standards such as EN3646, EN2997 and MIL-DTL-38999. The hermetic connectors benefit from the advantages of their specific technology, manufacturing process and quality control.
The European REACH regulation, which aims to ensure a high level of protection for human health and the environment, imposes strict rules on the use of chemical substances. Hexavalent chromium used in the surface treatment of numerous SOURIAU products is one of the prohibited substances. With the desire to keep its technical leadership in connectors for harsh environments and to continue to further innovate together with its customers, the research and development department of SOURIAU has invested for several years in research into new manufacturing processes. When completed, these should allow SOURIAU to comply with the regulations imposed by REACH, and at the same time safeguard the employment of its personnel in France for the future. Interview with THOMAS PICHOT, manager of the aeronautic R & D Unit
The European REACH regulation, which aims to ensure a high level of protection for human health and the environment, imposes strict rules on the use of chemical substances. In order to protect employees in its production sites in Champagné and Marolles en Brie, SOURIAU is adapting its electroplating processes in response to these new regulatory constraints and at the request of its customers. MARIE LE SCAON, Technical Manager of Surface Treatment at the Champagné, factory, provides an update on the solutions envisioned by the company as substitutes for hexavalent chromium.
As soon as rail transport systems began to be electrified, SOURIAU developed connectors which were specially adapted to the needs of the railway industry. SOURIAU will be exhibiting at InnoTrans, the international transport technologies fair, held from 18 to 26 September in Berlin.
SOURIAU has been developing fiber optic connectors for four decades. As soon as fiber optics began to be used in telecommunications and manufacturing, connector solutions adapted to this technology had to be invented which were radically different from those designed for electrical connections.