Connectors - Reliability Beyond Specifications
ept aligns its production and delivery processes beyond industry standards
Industrially manufactured goods are increasingly coming under scrutiny. In addition to high quality standards and compliance with technical specifications, the environmental sustainability of all elements of the supply chain is becoming increasingly important. The market for connectors is no exception. ept GmbH has traditionally coordinated all production and delivery processes in such a way that, in addition to the highest level of quality, all conceivable criteria of sustainable corporate management are also met.
To even be considered as a supplier of components for the manufacture of branded products, a supplier must meet strict requirements. On the one hand, companies are facing increasingly diverse documentation requirements imposed by legislators, particularly at the international level. Furthermore, globally active corporations are safeguarding themselves against risks related to the reliability of contractors by making the possession of certain certifications increasingly mandatory as a prerequisite for supply agreements. Finally, geopolitical tensions—particularly in recent times—are contributing to efforts to strengthen the industrial base at the European level, following the example of U.S. initiatives, and thereby reduce dependence on imports of key components from China wherever possible.
These challenges are further compounded by the imperative to reduce global CO₂ emissions. Despite the impression in public discourse that companies in the EU economic area are only now addressing this issue, sustainable business practices have always been a core element of corporate management at ept GmbH. Using available resources sparingly and prudently means protecting the environment while continuously improving the cost efficiency of all production and supply processes.
These challenges are further compounded by the imperative to reduce global CO₂ emissions. Despite the impression in public discourse that companies in the EU economic area are only now addressing this issue, sustainable business practices have always been a core element of corporate management at ept GmbH. Using available resources sparingly and prudently means protecting the environment while continuously improving the cost efficiency of all production and supply processes.
Punctuality vs. Environmental Protection in Connectors
The immediate effects of a sustainability-oriented production base are clearly illustrated by the example of transportation routes. Connectors intended for use in automotive manufacturing must, like all other supplied components, be available on a just-in-time basis and cannot be stockpiled by automakers for extended periods due to a lack of storage capacity. When components are imported from East Asia to Europe, transportation is typically carried out by air freight rather than by sea to avoid unforeseeable delays. The associated higher transportation costs are justified by the potential losses an automaker would incur if a delivery were not to arrive on time.
However, aside from freight costs, the environmental impact of air transport for connectors is severely negative, as illustrated by the results of a calculation based on ept’s One27® series of PCB connectors. These connectors are used, for example, in inverters for e-mobility and control systems for mechanical and plant engineering, and are manufactured by ept at its Harbatov site in the Czech Republic. Delivery to automotive manufacturers throughout Europe is typically carried out by truck and on a just-in-time basis in accordance with customer requirements.
However, aside from freight costs, the environmental impact of air transport for connectors is severely negative, as illustrated by the results of a calculation based on ept’s One27® series of PCB connectors. These connectors are used, for example, in inverters for e-mobility and control systems for mechanical and plant engineering, and are manufactured by ept at its Harbatov site in the Czech Republic. Delivery to automotive manufacturers throughout Europe is typically carried out by truck and on a just-in-time basis in accordance with customer requirements.
Low CO2 emissions from the truck transport of connectors
When calculating the CO2 emissions associated with transporting 1 kg of One27® series connectors to the destination of Hamburg, the result depends on variables that can vary significantly from case to case. For truck transport, these include, for example, the vehicle type and current fuel consumption, the specific route, and traffic conditions. Similarly, for air freight, factors such as the aircraft type or the currently selected flight route must be taken into account. The calculation performed by ept concludes that transporting 1 kg of connectors comparable to the One27® series by air freight from Shanghai to Hamburg results in an average CO2 emission of 2,446 kg. In contrast, the comparable figure for transport by 40-ton truck from the Harbatov plant to northern Germany is just 12 kg—approximately 200 times lower.
Recycling in the manufacture of connectors with high potential
In the manufacturing and delivery process for connectors, transportation routes play a major role in terms of CO2 emissions, but they are not the only factor. With regard to the product itself, the analysis focuses primarily on the metals used in the contacts and contact surfaces, as well as the plastic materials used for the housing.
In the overall balance for a single connector, the copper alloy contained in the product accounts for the largest share of CO2 emissions—around 80%, according to ept’s calculations. However, these emissions do not arise during processing at ept’s facilities, but rather beforehand, during the energy-intensive extraction and processing of raw materials. At the end of their service life, however, the metals contained in the connectors can be recycled and reused, which continuously reduces the carbon footprint. According to the national industry organization Kupferverband e.V., half of the copper used in Europe is already recovered in this way. The share of recycled copper globally currently stands at around 17%. In Germany, this share is significantly higher at around 41%. ept, however
, has a greater influence on the handling of stamping waste, which is used in the production of connector contacts. All stamping waste is sorted by type, recycled, and reused.
In injection molding, the sprues are reprocessed into granulate and then returned to the process. However, there are limits to the use of recycled material at this stage, as the proportion of recycled granulate in the housing is capped at 25% for industrial customers. Users in the automotive sector currently do not permit any recycled materials at all.
In the overall balance for a single connector, the copper alloy contained in the product accounts for the largest share of CO2 emissions—around 80%, according to ept’s calculations. However, these emissions do not arise during processing at ept’s facilities, but rather beforehand, during the energy-intensive extraction and processing of raw materials. At the end of their service life, however, the metals contained in the connectors can be recycled and reused, which continuously reduces the carbon footprint. According to the national industry organization Kupferverband e.V., half of the copper used in Europe is already recovered in this way. The share of recycled copper globally currently stands at around 17%. In Germany, this share is significantly higher at around 41%. ept, however
, has a greater influence on the handling of stamping waste, which is used in the production of connector contacts. All stamping waste is sorted by type, recycled, and reused.
In injection molding, the sprues are reprocessed into granulate and then returned to the process. However, there are limits to the use of recycled material at this stage, as the proportion of recycled granulate in the housing is capped at 25% for industrial customers. Users in the automotive sector currently do not permit any recycled materials at all.
The Use of Renewable Energy in the Production of Connectors
With respect to the energy consumption associated with the manufacture of connectors, ept has been continuously reducing the resulting CO2 emissions from its plants for a long time through the targeted use of various technologies. Since 2013, ept has achieved a reduction of more than 60% at its German plants in this way.
Furthermore, the company is fully committed to the climate protection goals of the Paris Agreement COP2021 and the German Climate Protection Act and aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 at the latest. The climate protection goal requires global greenhouse gas neutrality, meaning that the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG emissions) that remain unavoidable must be at least offset by sequestering or removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. As part of the global community,
the European connector manufacturer ept bears responsibility for protecting the planet and actively participates in the fight against climate change.
For example, ept has been harvesting geothermal energy from deep boreholes for its Buching plant since 2013.
Thirty-six boreholes, drilled to a depth of 80 meters, generate an annual output of 297,000 kWh there. In Buching alone, this method of energy generation saves approximately 80,000 kg of CO2 per year.
At the same location, photovoltaic systems with an annual output of 55,000 kWh are also used to generate electricity. Across all locations, energy-intensive and, in some cases, environmentally harmful lighting sources such as fluorescent tubes have been gradually replaced by energy-efficient LED products, and in the electroplating facilities at the Augsburg site, the necessary process temperatures are generated via district heating. In addition, ept focuses on optimizing existing production equipment, for example by manufacturing energy-saving presses in-house or by reusing the waste heat from the ventilation systems at the Peiting site via heat exchangers. Currently, the company’s internal vehicle fleet is also being updated to the latest state of the art and converted to e-mobility.
Furthermore, the company is fully committed to the climate protection goals of the Paris Agreement COP2021 and the German Climate Protection Act and aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 at the latest. The climate protection goal requires global greenhouse gas neutrality, meaning that the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG emissions) that remain unavoidable must be at least offset by sequestering or removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. As part of the global community,
the European connector manufacturer ept bears responsibility for protecting the planet and actively participates in the fight against climate change.
For example, ept has been harvesting geothermal energy from deep boreholes for its Buching plant since 2013.
Thirty-six boreholes, drilled to a depth of 80 meters, generate an annual output of 297,000 kWh there. In Buching alone, this method of energy generation saves approximately 80,000 kg of CO2 per year.
At the same location, photovoltaic systems with an annual output of 55,000 kWh are also used to generate electricity. Across all locations, energy-intensive and, in some cases, environmentally harmful lighting sources such as fluorescent tubes have been gradually replaced by energy-efficient LED products, and in the electroplating facilities at the Augsburg site, the necessary process temperatures are generated via district heating. In addition, ept focuses on optimizing existing production equipment, for example by manufacturing energy-saving presses in-house or by reusing the waste heat from the ventilation systems at the Peiting site via heat exchangers. Currently, the company’s internal vehicle fleet is also being updated to the latest state of the art and converted to e-mobility.
Sustainability Beyond the Product
For ept, sustainable and environmentally friendly production processes are not merely a current necessity, but rather a fundamental part of the company’s management philosophy. As such, ept operates a certified environmental management system in accordance with ISO 14001:2015 and an energy management system in accordance with ISO 50001:2011. These two management systems are regularly audited and certified by an external certification body.
View the certificates »
By sourcing key components—such as connectors—for high-quality products from European manufacturers, customers based in Europe not only reduce their strategic dependence on East Asian suppliers but also actively contribute to improving the global environmental footprint.
View the certificates »
By sourcing key components—such as connectors—for high-quality products from European manufacturers, customers based in Europe not only reduce their strategic dependence on East Asian suppliers but also actively contribute to improving the global environmental footprint.
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