Wire harnesses for installation safety, security | Global Sources

by Vianie Li & Cecile de Veyra

Wire harnesses integrate wires and cables, optimizing space and simplifying installation while protecting them from environmental hazards such as extreme heat, dust, moisture, vibrations and abrasions. For these advantages, they are widely used in the automotive, medical, industrial and military sectors, as well as home appliances, computers, robots and security products.

In China, a wide variety of wire harnesses can be sourced for these applications. Commonly available are those with two to 50 pins and 22 to 34AWG wires, with plugs, and cable length and color based on buyers’ specifications. For plugs, Chinese manufacturers usually source from top connectors companies such as Tyco, Delphi, Molex, JST, Amphenol and JAE. They have water-resistant versions with an IP65 to IP68 rating, and types without water resistance.

The bulk of China’s shipments consists of wiring looms for the automotive, medical and industrial fields, according to suppliers interviewed by Global Sources. This trend will continue amid increasing vehicle electrification, and advances in the medical and robotics spheres, which are encouraging Chinese suppliers to develop more lightweight and reliable cable harnesses.

Key materials used in the production of wire harnesses include copper, bronze, aluminum, tin, PVC, PU, PE, rubber and nylon, all sourced domestically. The cost of these inputs rose slightly in the past year, but may stabilize in the coming months and not affect product prices.