The company is known for its extensive portfolio of high-quality contacts and connectors, which are usually not usable for customers without subsequent processing. "A plug itself can only meet one part of the customer’s requirement. The connection system desired by the customer is always an interplay of ODU connector, connection technology and suitable cable," says Rudolf Weidenspointner – Head of Product Management Cable Assembly & Technologies. In applications where, for example, high currents or temperatures act, high data rates are transmitted via copper or fiber optic cables and tightness is important, it is not enough to simply offer a high-quality connector and ignore the connection technology or cable assembly. Only in conjunction with the appropriate cable and a process-reliable connection can a connector meet the requirements of the respective customer application. If the complete solution comes from a single source, ODU can also guarantee the reliability of the cable assembly.

ODU silicone overmoldings for the medical industry

Over the past few years, the company has developed into a specialist for customer-specific overmoldings. The tools developed and manufactured by ODU for straight or angled versions are designed (depending on the application) for sample, small series or large series production.

Since applications in the medical industry must meet specific hygienic and mechanical requirements, the silicone overmolding of the contact specialist connects the ODU connector with the certified silicone cable and combines the best haptics with hygiene and resistance. The silicone overmoldings are easy to clean, flexible, insensitive to extreme temperatures and can be used even after the required autoclave cycles (steam sterilization at up to 134 °C and 3.040 mbar) neither subtract nor detach – the biocompatibility with regard to cytotoxicity testing (outgassing) according to DIN EN ISO 10993-5 is confirmed by an external test laboratory.

The complex process of silicone overmolding enables an absolutely tight but nevertheless flexible connection of the silicone cables to the connector (kink protection according to DIN EN ISO 61010-031 as well as increased strain relief) and is adapted to the specific material properties of the silicone cable.

Any quantity and length

The ODU silicone portfolio includes numerous silicone cables from qualified suppliers and includes the necessary certifications as well as further tests regarding surface finish, adhesion and cleaning, so that no further certification procedures are required by the customer. Through appropriate cooperation, ODU can always offer the cable assemblies in consistent quality (e.g. adhesion to cable jacket) and already in small quantities – availability is ensured by factory stocking. The cable assembly is available in any length (within the scope of technical possibilities), so that customers do not have to limit themselves to predefined dimensions.

Advantages of the ODU Silicone‐overmolded system solutions

Customers benefit from the following advantages with the ODU silicone-overmolded system solution:

• Certified quality of the silicone-overmolded complete solution (biocompatibility with regard to cytotoxicity testing (outgassing) according to DIN EN ISO 10993-5 and kink protection according to DIN EN ISO 61010-031)
• Pleasant, adhesive-free feel of silicone overmolding (even for patterns or small series) without stick-slip-effect
• Fast availability
• Fair pricing (incl. Cost reduction vs. Individual purchase)
• Length neutrality
• No minimum purchase quantity
• Reduce effort as no certification is required, the supply chain is limited to one point of contact and only one part number needs to be managed by the customer

FEEL THE DIFFERENCE – ODU offers individual, silicone-overmolded system solutions consisting of connectors, silicone overmolding and certified silicone cables with suitable assembly as well as optional laser marking in accordance with the UDI (unique device identification).

More information (https://odu-connectors.com/technologies/silicone-overmolded-system-solutions/)