Global Citizenship: Redefining Connection and Responsibility in Digital Transformation
The Marketing Minute: Strategic Short-form Content Builds Brand Momentum
SMT Perspectives and Prospects: Artificial Intelligence, Part 5: Brain, Mind, Intelligence
An AI Revolution in Wire Harness Manufacturing
May 24, 2024 | Brittany Martin, IPC/WHMAEstimated reading time: 1 minute
In the wire harness industry, a narrative unfolds that is as intricate and interconnected as its products. Arik Vrobel’s journey from El-Com Systems to the founding of Cableteque is one of enduring innovation, strategic adaptation, and a deep understanding of the industry’s evolving needs. His development of an AI application for the wire harness industry may be a game-changer for manufacturers.
Since its inception in 1961, El-Com Systems has specialized in the design and manufacture of wire harnesses and cable assemblies. The Vrobel family acquired El-Com Systems (then known as El-Com/cabletek) in 1988, when Elie Vrobel (Arik’s father), an unemployed engineer, was seeking to fulfill his “American Dream” by becoming an entrepreneur. However, it was a difficult transition as Elie was unfamiliar with the business and El-Com was in a challenging industry. Arik worked alongside his father to understand the company and the industry. His involvement was characterized by a commitment to the values and vision established by his father.
When Arik took over the leadership of El-Com, he established a forward-thinking approach that significantly transformed the company. He says his vision for El-Com Systems “involved continuing its tradition of excellence and driving it toward new technological frontiers and market expansions.”
He assumed leadership of the company in the early 2000s, with strategic decisions that expanded El-Com's capabilities and market reach, particularly in sectors demanding high reliability, like aerospace, defense, and medical. “I was known for seeking simplified, yet effective solutions to technical challenges,” he says of that time, and his leadership was characterized by a drive to increase the company's capacity and scale.
To read the rest of this article in the Spring 2024 issue of IPC Community, click here.
Share on:
Suggested Items
New TSN-MACsec IP Core for Secure Data Transmission in 5G/6G Communication Networks
04/15/2025 | FraunhoferReliability and security in broadband communication networks (5G/6G) are crucial for meeting the challenges of the digital future. Together with aconnic AG, Fraunhofer IPMS has developed an innovative IP core as part of the “RealSec5G” project, which combines the advantages of a MACsec IP core with those of a Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) IP core.
Cicor Reports Double-Digit Growth Driven by Integration & M&A
04/15/2025 | CicorThe Cicor Group has made a successful start to the 2025 business year. In the first quarter, sales increased by 22.2 % to CHF 131.1 million (Q1/2024: CHF 107.3 million), while order intake increased by 29.1 % year-on-year to CHF 125.8 million.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
04/11/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007The word for this week (again) is tariffs. Another week has gone by, and the tariff mandates continue with neither the U.S. or China backing down on a course that could be disastrous for businesses and the economy in the short term. As we all wait and watch the geopolitical volley, our businesses forge ahead. As one industry leader recently said, “We’ve been through this before.” Well, maybe not exactly this, but the resilience of our industry and business leaders has been proven over and over, decade upon decade. Check out our coverage of the latest IPC tariff webinar, which includes a snapshot of the tariff situation as it stands now. But it's not over, not by a long shot.
IDTechEx Highlights Recyclable Materials for PCBs
04/10/2025 | IDTechExConventional printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing is wasteful, harmful to the environment and energy intensive. This can be mitigated by the implementation of new recyclable materials and technologies, which have the potential to revolutionize electronics manufacturing.
Electronics Industry Reimagines the Possibilities at IPC APEX EXPO 2025
04/07/2025 | IPCThe electronics industry is driven by innovators and problem-solvers, and IPC APEX EXPO 2025 provided endless opportunities to connect, collaborate, and shape the future.