At the beginning of October, Steve Miller (Head of Distribution Sales EMEA), Sascha Gres (Sales Manager and Engineer), and Kai Klein (Field Application Engineer EMEA), joined MSA Components GmbH at our new office in Attendorn for an extensive product training session. There, the Harwin team met with our MSA team, including Account Managers Christoph Middel and Jürgen Rust, Matthias Weber from the Back Office Team, and Business Development Manager Markus Schulte.
The session focused not only on presentations and technical data, but deliberately included a strong hands-on element. Our team handled various connectors and components directly, compared form factors and locking concepts, and discussed specific applications and project ideas. Particularly in connector technology, direct interaction with the product can provide insights that are difficult to gain from a purely virtual view, as size, handling, mechanics and usability can be assessed immediately. The main focus was Harwin’s High-Reliability portfolio (HRi), complemented by selected solutions from the Board-to-Board & Industrial and EZ-BoardWare ranges.
For design-in projects in particular, this direct comparison is valuable: Which product family fits the available space? What current-carrying capacity, temperature ranges, vibration and shock loads need to be considered? Which locking, mounting and cable concepts are suitable for the respective application? And which technical resources are available for samples, CAD data, cable assembly and further validation? These questions were central to the exchange between Harwin and our team.
Under its HRi (High-Reliability) range, Harwin groups rugged connectivity solutions for applications where reliability under vibration, shock, temperature exposure or limited space is critical. The Gecko, Datamate, M300 and Kona product families cover a graduated spectrum ranging from compact signal connections to high-power connectors rated at up to 60 A per contact.
The Gecko series uses a 1.25 mm pitch and is available for cable-to-board, cable-to-cable and board-to-board connections. At its core is Harwin’s four-finger beryllium-copper contact geometry, designed to provide stable electrical contact even under vibration and shock loads.
The advantages become particularly tangible when compared with conventional Micro-D solutions. Depending on the configuration, Gecko can save up to 45% of board space and up to 75% weight, according to Harwin. This makes the series particularly relevant for applications where every gram and millimetre counts, such as space, defence or UAV systems.
Gecko-SL extends the family with Screw-Lok retention as well as various PCB, cable and panel-mount configurations. Low-outgassing performance is also relevant for space applications. For corresponding Gecko versions, Harwin specifies TML values of 0.68% and CVCM values of 0.01%; the Gecko-SL series is likewise specified for corresponding space requirements.
Gecko-MT additionally combines signal and power on the same compact 1.25 mm pitch. The family combines 2 A signal contacts with power contacts rated at up to 10 A, making it suitable for compact designs where signal and power contacts need to be integrated within a single interface.
Datamate is one of Harwin’s established product families for rugged 2 mm connectivity. In addition to conventional signal contacts, various locking and contact options are available. With Datamate Mix-Tek, signal, power and coaxial contacts can be combined within a single connector housing.
Depending on the configuration, power contacts are available up to 40 A and coaxial contacts for frequencies up to 6 GHz. For complex assemblies, this can reduce the number of different connector systems required and simplify mechanical integration.
M300 is positioned between compact signal connectors and significantly larger high-power systems. The 3 mm system supports currents up to 10 A with suitable conductor sizing and is specified for a temperature range from -65 °C to +175 °C.
The series is particularly suitable for applications combining moderate currents, high operating temperatures and the need for a rugged mechanical connection. Harwin identifies aviation, UAV, robotics, field communications and oil & gas among the typical application areas.
Kona represents the upper end of the HRi performance range covered during the training. The series is rated at up to 60 A per contact and is available in two-, three- and four-contact configurations.
One detail from the training illustrates how compact the solution remains despite this level of performance: according to Harwin, a fully mated four-contact Kona pair weighs around 25 grams, approximately the weight of an AA battery. For power- and weight-critical systems, this combination of current-carrying capacity, size and weight can be an important selection criterion.
Alongside HRi, Harwin’s BBi (Board-to-Board & Industrial) portfolio was also part of the training. It includes standard, fine-pitch and mezzanine systems such as M20/M22, M30/M40, Archer, Kontrol and Flecto. The range extends from conventional 2.54 mm connections to compact 0.5 mm systems.
Flecto is one example with a direct design benefit. When several board-to-board connectors are used between two PCBs, manufacturing and assembly tolerances can create mechanical stress. Flecto can accommodate movement within its housing and compensate for lateral misalignment of typically ±0.5 mm, and depending on the version, even beyond that. This helps reduce tolerance-induced lateral forces and mechanical stress between the connected PCBs, particularly when several board-to-board connections are used in parallel.
With EZi (EZ-BoardWare), Harwin addresses a further aspect of PCB design. The portfolio includes Shield Clips & Cans, Spring Contacts, Pogo Pins, SMT Contact Pads and Test Probes. In addition to electrical functionality, EZi places particular emphasis on integration into automated PCB manufacturing and assembly processes.
Shield Clips & Cans are a good example. The clips are soldered to the PCB during the standard SMT process, while the shielding can is then pushed into place and can be removed again when required. This reduces manual soldering effort while also simplifying inspection or rework. During the training, our team was also able to examine these smaller components directly and assess their role within the overall design.
The exchange with Harwin once again showed that selecting the right connector does not end with pitch, contact count or current rating. Available space, locking mechanisms, cable assembly, environmental conditions, mechanical integration and access to reliable technical data are equally important parts of the design-in process.
Harwin offers several routes to a finished cable connection: from individual connectors and the appropriate tooling through pre-crimped contacts and standard cables to the Cable Generator and customised cable assemblies. This is complemented by samples, 3D CAD data, component specifications, test reports and direct support from experienced Field Application Engineers.
Our team at MSA Components GmbH supports customers not only in selecting individual components, but throughout the entire design-in process. Through the combination of Business Development, Account Management and Harwin’s technical expertise, we bring together detailed product knowledge with experience from different applications, markets and project phases.
Our Business Development Manager and the responsible Account Managers support customers from an early project stage in structuring requirements, narrowing down suitable product families and configurations, and evaluating technical as well as commercial framework conditions. These include available space, current-carrying capacity, locking, cabling, environmental conditions, availability and the long-term technical and commercial suitability of the respective solution for the overall system.
MSA acts as a central interface between engineering, procurement and the manufacturer. We combine product and application expertise, commercial coordination and direct access to Harwin’s technical expertise. Many requirements can be assessed at an early stage based on our project, application and market experience. Where further product validation or application-specific technical analysis is required, we bring in Harwin’s Field Application Engineers where needed. This gives our customers not only access to the Harwin portfolio, but continuous technical and commercial support from the initial selection process through to the actual design-in.
This is precisely why continuous product training and direct technical exchange with Harwin are so valuable for our team: they keep our product and application knowledge up to date and provide a stronger basis for reliable support in both new and existing design-in projects.
Some of Harwin’s latest developments were also part of the training. Our team was able to get an early look at them. We cannot share details at this stage, but further information on products and application opportunities will follow in due course.
Anyone wishing to discuss current high-reliability applications, Harwin products or specific design-in questions in person can meet our team at Space Tech Expo Europe 2026 in Bremen this November. There, we will be available to discuss specific applications, support the technical pre-selection of suitable Harwin solutions and coordinate existing or new design-in projects.
For specific project enquiries or early technical alignment, our team is also available in advance for a one-to-one consultation, by phone, video conference or an on-site meeting at MSA or at your location.
PERSONAL CONSULTATION
From component selection to design-in: our sales team advises you in person, by phone, video call or on site. We will set aside 30 minutes for you.
PERSÖNLICHE BERATUNG
Von der Bauteilauswahl bis zum Design-in: Unser Vertriebsteam berät Sie persönlich, telefonisch, per Videokonferenz oder vor Ort. Wir nehmen uns 30 Minuten Zeit.
SPACE TECH EXPO EUROPE 2026
Discuss your project in person with our sales team, from component selection to design-in. We will set aside 30 minutes for you.