Weald Electronics celebrates 50th Anniversary

Above: Weald Electronics’ first factory in 1976.
Courtesy Weald Electronics

Weald Electronics is part of the privately-owned Lodge Group which includes the connector distributor FC Lane Electronics Ltd and its Autosport Division, Lane Motorsport.

Following the acquisition of the tooling, stock and manufacturing rights of the MK.4 range from Plessey Connectors Ltd., Weald Electronics Ltd. was incorporated in 1976 as a family-related company to F.C. Lane Electronics. It was set up to operate as a production unit for the manufacture of connectors and provide a source for popular connectors facing obsolescence, such as the MK4, re-named the Weald LMF series.

In 1981 the product range was doubled with the addition of a second range purchased from Plessey Connectors Ltd. The MK7. As before, tooling and manufacturing rights became the property of Weald Electronics allowing production to be continued to support existing customers, and in this case the new Weald LMG series was launched.

Other acquisitions followed, this time from Pye Connectors Ltd., enabling Weald to further extend its range with other popular connector series, such as the D2, BA, SM, SMA and SMC connectors.

By then Weald were already an established and highly regarded name in the connector industry and in 1987 Weald Electronics set out to design and manufacture its own circular connector ranges, one completely new to the market, the LMV for mains voltage applications and the other, their version of an established market favourite, the popular Patt.105, MIL-C-26482 (now MIL-DTL-26482) series one connector, solder version. Like the LMF and LMG ranges beforehand, each connector series was supported by its own comprehensive range of connector accessories, including backshells and dust caps, all developed by Weald alongside the new connectors.

Weald further enhanced its connector capability by introducing high-performance rectangular connectors into its portfolio, again returning to their successful model of the acquisition of tooling and manufacturing rights of well-known ranges.  In 2020 this approach allowed Weald to introduce their two-part two-row 801/801CX connector series designed around the MIL-C-55302 (now MIL-DTL-55302) and BS9525 N0001 specifications and a high-density three-row 2mmm pitch two-part PCB connector and their M300 series later. In 2023, Weald added their versatile 2-row 2-part 2mm pitch LM200 connector series alongside their heavy-duty blind-mate rack and panel series, LMR. 

Again returning to their own in-house development approach, Weald Electronics have lately been significantly enhancing their connector accessory ranges with the introduction of high-quality EMC and strain relief backshells and protective covers to suit the most popular MIL-DTL-26482 series 1 and D38999 series III connector interfaces in a wide variety of material and plating finishes, as well as their uniquely light-weight yet robust protective covers, nut plates and gaskets which have been developed and manufactured to address the specific needs of the highest performance Autosport applications. 

With design, manufacturing and test facilities at its Slinfold Lodge HQ in Sussex, Weald Electronics can tailor a connector solution to exactly meet a customer’s specific requirement on surprisingly short lead times, as well as bespoke value-added electrical and optical connector termination of connector product distributed by sister company Lane Electronics. 

Simon Hammerton, Managing Director of Lane Electronics, said: “We are very pleased and proud to be celebrating 50 years of manufacturing in the UK. Weald Electronics not only offer a flexible UK source of high reliability connectors and accessories but can also assist customers with custom designs and to overcome the problems of obsolescence and short supply of components. Over the 50 years many aspects of our business have changed but we believe our evolving product ranges have all reliably stood the test of time because of their design integrity in every component part and the resultant dependable performance and reliability they offer, we look forward to another 50 years.”

Weald Electronics is known for its comprehensive selection of circular bayonet and screw coupling connectors such as the LMH, LMJ, LMV and LMG series, produced in a choice of materials and finishes and leads the way in high performance interconnection solutions based on popular industry standards including industry standard MIL-DTL-5015 and MIL-DTL-26482 specifications. The versatility of Weald’s circular connectors is facilitated by a wide choice of shell sizes, styles, plug and socket contact types and contact arrangements. As well as circular connectors, Weald Electronics manufactures two-part PCB connectors and subminiature plastic-bodied circular connectors and a comprehensive range of connectors accessories.