Recent months under the banner of ILME innovations

Since April, Italian company ILME has unveiled several innovative solutions and upgraded selected product lines that fall under the category of industrial connectors. The products presented have a great chance to break through to a wider audience as they meet the needs of specialised applications. Among the novelties, we will find enclosures, inserts and contacts, whose individual advantages have been appropriately improved upon, or which have received completely new features that measurably affect their performance.

ILME kicked off the launch show with the presentation of the CX 01 YAF/M inserts, extending its range of modular connectors from the MIXO series. The inserts were developed for the fast-growing power transformation market, which requires certain functions from the components, such as compact size, and performance similar to high-current connectors. ILME has therefore developed inserts that can successfully handle a 200 A current, 1000 V, yet are safe, easy to integrate into the power system, space-saving and can be categorised as cost-effective solutions.

A clever idea used in the CX 01 YAF/M inserts is the use of a special insulating cover plate. This makes it possible to connect pre-insulated cable lugs in compliance with DIN 46235, avoiding accidental contact with the lugs of neighbouring modules. Together with the cover plate, the insert forms a 90° connection, which effectively limits the risk of bending of large-diameter conductors. The insert allows the use of conductors with a cross-section of up to 70 mm2, which, due to their size, have a reduced bending radius and require adequate installation space (often more difficult to handle later).

The new module can be successfully used inside bulkhead housings as an extension for busbar connections or to supply power to control cabinets, HVAC systems and battery energy storage systems.

More technical information is available in the catalogue.

Industrial connectors, like other product categories, are succumbing to market trends. The latest of these is the miniaturisation of components. However, it requires the delivery of a product with similar or superior performance and must guarantee the same quality and reliability. The metal enclosures in size 32.13, introduced by ILME in May, are such a product.

The manufacturer's goal was to create a compact housing for automation (which is also used in other industries) that can withstand the harshness of the working environment. Vibration resistance and high level of ingress protection are characteristic features of the presented product. The enclosure is also easy to assemble and operate.

A die-cast zinc alloy has been used to create a product that can handle any wiring combination, is equipped with a robust stainless steel lever (CQA 08 I) bulkhead housing) and is corrosion-resistant thanks to a layer of galvanised zinc. What's more, it can easily be adapted for electromagnetic operation by adding a suitable cable gland with M25 thread and replacing the standard insert gasket with an EMC model.

Together with the housings, ILME has prepared specially matched CQF/M 08E eight-field inserts with integrated PE board. They can withstand up to 16 A and, thanks to a coding pin, , allow up to six different configurations to be created. A special embossing protects the housing from being connected to the wrong insert. The manufacturer has also announced that the range of inserts to fit the compact case will be expanded in the near future. We can therefore expect a dynamic development of the line soon.

More information on the CQA / MQA 08 enclosure and its compatible components can be found in the catalogue.

In June, products that extended the range of the HNM (High Number of Matings) group saw the light of day. These components are distinguished by the increased number of mating cycles achieved by providing additional protection for the components most susceptible to wear. This is particularly important for applications that, by virtue of their function, require frequent connecting and disconnecting, such as charging systems or test benches. In such cases, the standard service life may not be sufficient.

The new RKAX industrial connector metallic housings in size 21.21 have been added to the line-up, including both bulkhead and extension housings as well as hoods. The distinguishing attribute of all products is the single locking lever from stainless steel and the wide range of matching inserts, which can withstand varying currents: 5, 10, 16 or 40 A. The second group includes, among others, the redesigned RQF/M 05 inserts, equipped with an integrated PE plate.

Increasing the assembly cycles of the described housing was made possible by using a steel lever with sintered rollers previously subjected to a special anti-friction treatment. By lubricating the hinges, the service life of the housing was extended to a minimum of 5,000 cycles. At the same time, the HMI housings are effectively compatible with their classic metal counterparts that have a molded-in pegs.

Female and male inserts of RXC 4/2 and RXC 4/8 connectors have also been subjected to HNM treatment. Lubrication of the PE plates in combination with special gold plating of the contacts (dedicated for inserts, RX7...2D and RC...2D series) and HNM housing increases the mechanical durability. The service life of the inserts thus increases from 500 to even 10,000 switching cycles!

The inserts offer 4 main sockets for 80 A crimp contacts and 2 or 8 auxiliary sockets for 16 A contacts respectively. They allow the use of large cross-section cable, up to 25 mm² (10-4 AWG). The RXC 4/2 version comes in size 77.27, while the RXC 4/8 comes in size 104.27. The manufacturer has additionally laser-marked the inserts for easier identification.

The last novelty in the HNM group presented by ILME is the new variant of crimped male contacts RX7M2D...P. They feature a polycarbonate insulating cap on the contact tip, which protects the module (here, the CX 02 7Minsert from the MIXO series forms a pair with the contact) from fingerprints (IPXXB or IP20). Furthermore, the size of these 70 A contacts is within 10-3 AWG.

The solution presented here will prove particularly suitable for electric motors equipped with capacitors, which can be particularly sensitive to traces left on contacts that are frequently connected and disconnected. Another advantage of the contacts is that the standard tools used for the RX7 line can be used for assembly.

For more data on HNM releases and components compatible with the products described, please refer to the catalogue or contact our sales department.