Providing design engineers at major network and telecommunications OEMs/CEMs with a guaranteed worldwide dual source for high speed, high density mezzanine connector systems, Hirose Electric Co. Ltd. and Tyco Electronics announced a second-source agreement under which Tyco Electronics will have the right to manufacture, market and sell worldwide the Hirose IT3™ Mezzanine Connector system under the Tyco brand name of STRADA MZConn3 Series.

According to Tats Arai, Senior VP at Hirose Electric (USA) Inc., the two companies will work jointly to deliver intermateable, electrically and mechanically interchangeable products to the market as quickly as possible by sharing design and manufacturing processes. "We are currently in volume production on the entire IT3 Series product range of 100-, 200- and 300-position modules, and having a second source now is more important than ever to customers. We anticipate tooled versions of dual sourced product will be available to customers from Tyco Electronics in mid 2009," he said.

Arai explained that the agreement brings together advanced connector technology and worldwide manufacturing capabilities from two of the connector industry's leading companies. "Our mutual customers, both OEMs and CEMs, will benefit from the expansion of the manufacturing base for this critical connector technology," he said. "Between Hirose and Tyco Electronics, we will be able to produce the IT3 Series connectors at multiple manufacturing facilities worldwide, which provides risk mitigation and the ability to easily expand capacity. Having the ability to dual source this product from either of two world-class connector companies is a definite advantage for customers. The level of commitment to supporting our customers is evidenced by our combined investment in the next generation of high speed interconnection technology."