Beryllium Copper for Miniature Connectors

Beryllium copper for miniature connectors lets designers shrink terminals and contacts without losing reliability, saving up to 75% of material weight compared with other copper alloys. NGK Berylco is part of the NGK Group. NGK Berylco France, in Couëron near Nantes, has been one of Europe's leading high precision processors of beryllium copper strip since 1971, and UK, Irish and Nordic customers are looked after by NGK Berylco UK in Salford.

In electronics, beryllium copper is mainly used for electrical contactors and connectors. Among copper based alloys, it offers the best combination of mechanical strength, electrical conductivity, stress relaxation resistance at elevated temperature and formability. Beryllium is the only alloying element that significantly boosts copper's strength without dragging down its conductivity.

That matters as connectors shrink. Smaller terminals and contacts can be used without losing reliability, with material weight savings of up to 75% compared with other copper alloys.

Berylco alloys may cost more per kilo, but total part cost can come out lower, and smaller connectors need less plastic. Applications include 5G and 6G infrastructure, data centres, the Internet of Things, autonomous driving and semiconductor test equipment.

The core Berylco grades are C17200 (CuBe2, Berylco 25) for high strength, C17300 (CuBe2Pb, Berylco 33/25) for free machining and C17510 (CuNi2Be, Berylco 14) for high conductivity. Where a beryllium-free option suits better, the GMX copper-nickel-tin range covers it. NGK's technical team can help match grade, temper and form to the job.

Quality is backed by ISO 9001, the aerospace standard EN 9100, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, with an in-house testing and inspection laboratory and an active R&D programme.

To discuss Beryllium Copper for Miniature Connectors, contact NGK Berylco UK on +44 (0)161 745 7162 or email enquiries@ngkberylco.co.uk. The Salford team covers the UK, Ireland and the Nordic countries.