Harting
Push Pull on the rise
Manufacturers of industrial connection technology are increasingly focusing on easy-to-use push-pull concepts for their connectors. Harting is now presenting an M12 push-pull solution for upright and recessed device sockets. Matthias Domberg, Global Product Manager, answers the question.
Push-pull is a big topic at Harting at the moment. Is the new M12 version for automation a modification of the familiar M12 Push-Pull or are we talking about something completely new?
Matthias Domberg: The 'M12 Push-Pull Slim Design', as we call it, was primarily intended for railroad applications. The well-known M12 PP was developed and established in the railroad market based on the requirements of this market, such as robustness and vibration resistance. The short installation times and ease of use in confined spaces also ensure a large number of users and broad acceptance in the transportation sector. However, the automation sector has different requirements. Here, device manufacturers often rely on recessed sockets that do not protrude from the housing. This solution saves space, but presents connector manufacturers with completely new design challenges.
The previous push-pull for transportation is known to be downwards compatible, meaning that it also allows the connection of M12 with screw locking to push-pull sockets. Is this also possible with the new M12 PP for recessed sockets?
Matthias Domberg: Yes, the new variant is not intended to be a proprietary system, but to allow users to gradually convert to push-pull interfaces. This means that they will be able to use connectors with screw locking in future devices with recessed M12 PP sockets as usual.
Apart from Harting, are there any market competitors with M12 push-pull solutions in the automation sector?
Matthias Domberg: Of course, but they usually have either an externally locking variant on a standing socket or an internally locking variant in a recessed socket in their range. All of these are certainly good solutions on their own, but they are not an overall compatible and holistic system. This is exactly what we want to solve with the M12 push-pull for factory and automation in external and internal locking versions. A holistic system for all requirements, which can only define a comprehensive standard together with market companions and accompanying standardization.










