Ethernet 75% faster on your device with time-saving PushPull technology – Click and go!

In industry and automation, we have innumerable types, shapes and sizes of plug connectors for data, signals and power on an electrical basis and in various optical designs. Many different concepts have established themselves here over decades of development. Square plug connectors as the variants 4 or 14, round plug connectors, waterproof designs, unprotected designs, screw connections, connections to plug in and many more. To plug in… For this reason, the plug connector is simply called a “plug” in colloquial terms. Everyone knows them – on everything, from vacuum-cleaners to smartphones or laptops. Plug in the plug, and the electrical connection is established. However, this is not the case in industry. Here, harsh conditions prevail.

Gases, liquids or vibrations are unfavourable influencing factors against which the connection must be protected. The seals in the housings used for this purpose must therefore provide a flush closure at a certain pressure to establish tightness.

If a plug connector in the currently most-frequently represented size M12 is to be connected, then a tool is required. Only with this tool can the plug be properly “gripped” and tightened to the appropriate torque in order to fulfil the specified tightness according to IP65/67. If only a few interfaces are to be connected, then the amount of effort required is manageable. However, the technician must not lose or forget the tool.

However, it is still the case that many connections have to be established in order to connect control cabinets or switches, and here much time is lost through the comparatively complex screwing of plug connectors. Furthermore, the tool also requires a certain amount of space during connection, and if the technician has forgotten the corresponding tool or an inadequately-trained assembly worker should execute the work, then problems may occur. Only the tool provides feedback as to the reliability of the process regarding the correctness of the connection.

The M12, originally a plug connector with a screw lock, has already been successfully used as a PushPull variant by HARTING for two years in the field of transportation. This success proves that we are justified in our claims, and therefore HARTING is now equipping the entire M12 round plug connector portfolio with PushPull compatibility. Plug connectors, female connectors, wall ducts, PCB connections and further M12 components are heading for the future with this development. As a result, technicians and maintenance personnel will soon be able to enjoy the benefits of PushPull plug connectors when handling round plug connectors. In this tool-free installation, an audible click signalises the correct connection, and packing density on switches, for example, can likewise be noticeably increased. In this way, HARTING is addressing the current I4.0 trend of miniaturisation and therefore complying with the requirements of the device manufacturers whose housings are shrinking in size.

In the HARTING Technology Group, as longstanding specialists in the field of plug connectors, we are reflecting on our original thoughts: Plug – from plugging. Does your machine or robot need retrofitting? No problem! Simply grasp and pull the plug connector, and the connection is already disconnected again.

Click and Ready!