Q5D and KYOCERA AVX Develop Custom IDC Connectors for Automated Harness Assembly
Q5D Technologies and KYOCERA AVX announced the latest phase of their three-year collaboration in May 2026 to develop custom insulation displacement connector (IDC) designs optimized for termination by Q5D's robotic wiring platforms .
Technical Background:
Unlike conventional crimp contacts that typically require hand tools, IDC contacts can be fixed to a surface and terminated from one side. This makes them ideal for robotic processes that lay in the wire, hold it with simple traps, and press down to complete the connection .
Specifications Under Development:
Conductors ranging from approximately 12 to 32 AWG
Current levels from small-signal through to approximately 20A
Focus on reliable cold-weld terminations and robust performance under shock and vibration
Modular Design:
The custom IDC concepts are modular and can be arranged side-by-side, allowing designers to scale contact count and layout for each application while minimizing material use and overall system cost .
Chris Elsworthy, CTO at Q5D, stated: "Working closely with KYOCERA AVX has given us the confidence to move from standard parts toward custom IDC designs that make fully automated harness assembly even more attractive to our customers" .
