Aerospace Defence Security Space

UK connector orders up 10% in Q1

Posted 2 May 2024

The Interconnect Technology Suppliers Association (ITSA) has released its first quarter report for 2024, which reveals ITSA members have seen overall growth of 10% in connector orders, with some segments outperforming expectations, such as military and commercial which are up by 30%.

Image courtesy ITSA

Although 2024 has seen a good start for ITSA members, ITSA estimates that the UK connector market will likely only see low single-figure growth over the full year.

Nevertheless, ITSA members remain incredibly positive about the longer-term future.

Key Stats:

Book-to-Bill is flat at 1:1
Distribution share was flat in Q1, but still strong year-on-year
Some key markets showing significant growth, with Broadcast +70%, Data Centre +31% and Mass Transport +11%
The UK connector market continues to perform well and this is supported by both the Manufacturing PMI and Make UK data

The Interconnect Technology Suppliers Association (ITSA) is the only dedicated trade-industry body for interconnect technology companies operating in the UK. It originated in the early 1980s, as a specific interest group within the Electronic Components Industry Federation (ECIF), becoming the Connector Manufacturers Association (CMA), which ultimately stopped functioning around 2005.

In 2008, it reformed as the British Connector Manufacturers Association (BCMA) and was relaunched in 2017 as the Interconnect Technology Suppliers Association (ITSA) to more accurately reflect the changing supply chain activities of its members. ITSA has a presence on several standards bodies, including BSI committees and RoHS compliance & exemption groups, like the Öko-Institut.

ITSA Membership
ITSA recently welcomed Rayfast to its ranks as its latest associate member. Swindon-based Rayfast is a distributor of harness components. Companies active in the UK interconnect supply-chain that are not as yet ITSA members, can find out more here: https://itsa.org.uk