B2B Portal Electronics

A cable is an electrical component in which one or more wires or also optical fibers are bound together. A protective jacket typically surrounds this component. So called combination cables can contain electrical wires and optical fibers. Typically, electrical wire is made of copper as copper is an excellent conductor. Cables manufacturers also produce cables with aluminium as this is less cost-intensive. About 150 to 100 years ago, cloth, rubber or even paper was used for a cable’s insulation. Today, plastics are commonly used to insulate cables.

 

Cables belong to the category of electrical components. Electronic components are devices which support the generation, transmission, distribution, and consumption of electric power. Usually, electronic parts are invisible for the end consumer or workers in industrial plant. Electronic components, such as cable components, relays, timers, batteries and wiring components, fulfil the task of connecting each other, for example in video recorders, dvd players or industry robots.

 

Today electronic parts suppliers, for example cable producers, switches suppliers or semiconductor manufacturers, are located all around the world. As the industrial as well as the electronics consumer markets have become internationally important, institutions and associations, which have strong market insight and knowledge, have introduced and amended international standards in which companies can participate. These standards define certain rules, uniform measures and quality criteria – and the manufacturer abides by this standard in the production processes. Electronic or digital standards make electronics components and consumer electronics compatible and comparable. Manufacturers of audio cables or high voltage cables for example have the same technological know-how and resources. A subcontractor in Taiwan or Germany might manufacture a component which a British factory implements in its end consumer product. Standardising processes and components also provide manufacturers and electronic parts suppliers with the market entry in new regions and business growth. Especially trade barriers, which might occur in the international electronics market, can be avoided when participating in standards. 

 

Cables are found in all electrical applications today, for example a computer cable. Communications cables are electrical cables, so called coaxial cables, which are commonly used for television and other signals. Some decades ago, these coaxial cables were also used as telephone cables for long distance telephone connections. Optical fiber cables are made of glass or plastic and are designed to guide light. With the fiber optics technology digital data transmission can be realised over longer distances. Even higher data rates than in electronic communication are possible.