Dan’s Biz Bookshelf: ‘The Soul of a New Machine’
The Chemical Connection: Back to Basic Cupric Chloride Etching
The Marketing Minute: The Tyranny of the Dashboard
From 29 June to 1 July 2026, the 20th anniversary edition of the Connector User Congress took place at the Vogel Convention Center (VCC) in Würzburg, Germany. The established industry event brought together the connector community for three days of in-depth discussion on current developments, technical challenges and practical solutions in modern interconnect technology.
Key topics included design, materials, simulation and robust interconnect solutions. Across technical presentations, foundation seminars and workshops, experts explored subjects including surface coatings, measurement methods, qualification processes and the reliable use of modern connectors in demanding applications. The congress provided a focused environment for knowledge exchange, technical discussion and direct dialogue between specialists from development, manufacturing, component suppliers and end-user industries.
Incap Germany participated through its Connectivity Solutions division, with a dedicated stand providing a central point for discussions throughout the event. Conversations with visitors highlighted strong interest in robust cable and connector solutions, particularly for defence and other demanding industrial applications.
Strong interest in robust cable and connector solutions
A key highlight of Incap Germany’s participation was the workshop “Cable Assemblies for Industrial and Defense Applications”, presented by Joachim de Buhr (Connectivity Solutions at Incap Electronics Germany GmbH) and Werner Häring (Industrial Engineering at Incap Electronics Germany GmbH). The session explored how connectors and cables can be systematically matched to balance technical requirements, quality, cost efficiency and long-term reliability.
The well-attended workshop generated strong interest among participants. Questions and follow-up discussions focused particularly on defence applications and the specific demands they place on robust interconnect solutions. The response demonstrated the growing relevance of this topic for companies developing and manufacturing electronic systems intended for demanding operating environments.
In such applications, individual components cannot be considered in isolation. Connectors, cables, processing methods, environmental conditions, testing concepts and documentation need to be treated as part of an integrated system and aligned from the early stages of a project.
From individual components to a reliable overall system
During the workshop, Incap Germany’s experts demonstrated how connectors and cables can be systematically coordinated to support reliable performance. Topics ranged from electrical and mechanical requirements to sealing, shielding and strain relief, as well as qualification, testing and traceability.
Another key focus was on common pitfalls in the selection, processing and documentation of cable assemblies. Particularly at the interfaces between development, procurement and manufacturing, unsuitable component combinations, insufficiently defined processes or incomplete documentation can lead to long-term quality issues, additional testing requirements and avoidable costs.
The discussions reinforced that reliable interconnect technology extends far beyond selecting the right individual components. What matters is the interaction between technical specifications, appropriate material selection, qualified manufacturing processes, reproducible testing and consistent traceability.
Specific requirements in defence applications
Drawing on practical examples from current defence projects, Joachim de Buhr and Werner Häring examined the additional requirements placed on connectors and cable systems operating under harsh conditions.
Increased vibration and shock loads, challenging environmental conditions and extensive qualification, testing and documentation requirements create significant demands for modern interconnect solutions. At the same time, expectations regarding long-term reliability, consistent quality and full traceability continue to rise.
The strong interest in these topics was reflected both during the workshop and in discussions at the Incap Connectivity Solutions stand. Many visitors used the opportunity to discuss specific technical challenges and exchange views on solutions for robust cable and connector systems.
The workshop also demonstrated how demanding technical requirements can be addressed efficiently and systematically using proven industrial methods. For Incap, this is a fundamental aspect of modern electronics manufacturing: complex specifications must not only work from a technical perspective, but also be translated into robust, documented and reproducible manufacturing processes.
In-depth exchange across the connector community
Beyond the workshop, numerous face-to-face conversations shaped Incap Germany’s participation in the congress. Over the three days, the team engaged extensively with industry peers, technical experts and professional visitors.
These discussions provided valuable insights into current challenges and developments in interconnect technology. Key topics included robust system design, quality assurance, qualification, documentation and the reliable implementation of demanding technical requirements in industrial applications.
The direct exchange between different technical disciplines proved particularly valuable. Bringing together development perspectives, component expertise, manufacturing experience and real-world application requirements enabled in-depth discussions and generated new ideas. For the Incap team, the congress was therefore not only an opportunity to share its own expertise, but also to gain a deeper understanding of current industry priorities and explore different technical perspectives.
A positive outcome for Incap Germany
Incap Germany reflects very positively on its participation in the 20th Connector User Congress. The well-attended workshop, strong interest in robust cable and connector solutions, and the high quality of discussions at the stand all confirmed the relevance of the topics addressed throughout the event.
In particular, the many questions surrounding defence applications demonstrated the growing importance of reliable interconnect technology for demanding operating environments. At the same time, the event highlighted the value of direct dialogue within the connector community and the importance of close collaboration between development, procurement, manufacturing and application specialists.
The Incap team returned from Würzburg with valuable technical insights and a highly positive impression of the event. Beyond the congress, Incap Connectivity Solutions remains available to support companies and project partners with questions and projects involving robust cable assemblies, connector solutions and reliable interconnect technology for defence and demanding industrial applications.
