An insider should know what a wire-to-board connector is; it actually refers to the connector between wires and circuit boards. The main function of the connector is to transmit power and signals, so the wire-to-board connector is considered the ancestor of all connectors. Depending on the different uses and requirements, this small connector has great significance because it serves as a bridge, representing the technological path to achieving global connectivity. However, connector companies that are upstream in the supply chain have always been the unsung heroes, rarely exposed, and thus not familiar to end consumers. As the world's largest connector manufacturer, TE is known as the "invisible giant," with its presence felt wherever electricity, signals, and data flow. Based on its entire business department, new products are launched daily, ranging from sensor technology in the automotive industry to contactless applications in industrial fields, or terminals and ultra-small antennas in mobile devices. Its business scope almost covers all countries and all fields, including consumption, transportation, energy, and industry. The types can be said to be countless, and we mostly distinguish them by pin spacing and the current and voltage transmitted.

As the Internet of Things and Industry 4.0 become new market engines, component manufacturers like TE face increasingly heavy responsibilities. In James's view, the core of these market hotspots can be summed up in the word "connection": the connection between cars, the connection between household appliances, and the connection between security facilities, including connections between devices in industrial applications. However, the requirements for connectors are becoming increasingly high.

The future requirements for connectors are simply faster, smaller, smarter, and more environmentally friendly. However, each sub-industry has different focuses. James gives an example: the automotive industry needs to ensure the reliability and high quality of connectors in harsh environments, while for the consumer electronics industry, being lightweight and compact is the most important, followed by reliability, but the reliability of these two is not on the same level. The rapid iteration of consumer electronic products also determines two other special requirements to some extent: controlling costs and shortening the R&D cycle.

In addition to technological iteration, the regional distribution of connectors has also shifted to varying degrees with changes in market share. Over the years, global connector production capacity has been continuously shifting towards Asia, especially China. Some analyses suggest that Asia has become the most promising place for connector market development, with China expected to become the fastest-growing and largest market for connectors globally.

In the past, most connector suppliers relied more on China's low production costs; nowadays, they are more focused on how to serve this emerging market. TE's answer is to transform the original "reliance on Chinese manufacturing" model into "intelligent manufacturing in China."