Bristol, UK and Greenville, South Carolina – May 7, 2026 – Q5D Technologies (Q5D), the specialist in robotic automation of wiring harness manufacture, and KYOCERA AVX today announced the latest phase of a three‑year collaboration to enable fully automated wire harness assembly using insulation displacement connector (IDC) technology. The two companies are now jointly developing custom IDC connectors optimised for termination by Q5D’s robotic wiring platforms.
Q5D’s five‑axis manufacturing robots automate one of industry’s most stubborn bottlenecks: manual wiring harness assembly in sectors such as automotive, aerospace, white goods and industrial equipment. Unlike conventional crimp contacts that usually require hand tools, IDC contacts can be fixed to a surface and terminated from one side, making them ideal for robotic processes that lay in the wire, hold it with simple traps and then press down to complete the connection.
Over the past three years, Q5D and KYOCERA AVX have carried out numerous joint test programmes using established IDC product families with customer‑specified wires. These evaluations span typical harness conductors from around 12 to 32 AWG and current levels from small‑signal through to approximately 20 A, with a focus on reliable cold‑weld terminations and robust performance under shock and vibration.
“IDC technology is ideal for automation because we can place the wire across a fixed contact and use the robot to press it into a controlled, repeatable termination,” said Chris Elsworthy, Chief Technology Officer at Q5D. “Working closely with KYOCERA AVX has given us the confidence to move from standard parts toward custom IDC designs that make fully automated harness assembly even more attractive to our customers.”
James Webb, Kyocera AVX’s Field Applications Manager, adds, “The custom IDC concepts under development are modular and can be arranged side‑by‑side, allowing designers to scale contact count and layout for each application while minimising material use and overall system cost.”
Once finalised and qualified with early adopters, Q5D and KYOCERA AVX expect the technology to help establish repeatable, industry‑standard approaches to automated harness manufacture across multiple industry sectors.
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About Q5D
Based in Bristol, UK, Q5D manufactures five-axis robotic platforms. These automate the installation of electrical wiring into products, eliminating the need for conventional wiring harnesses. The processes reduce cost, weight, and complexity in automotive, aerospace, and consumer products. They boost manufacturing productivity by up to 10X, improve product reliability, and simplify supply chains. For more information, visit https://q5d.com.
Q5D Contact
Simon Baggott
Chief Marketing Officer
[email protected]
Agency Contact
Bob Jones, OriginalityB2B
About KYOCERA AVX
KYOCERA AVX is a leading global manufacturer of advanced electronic components engineered to accelerate technological innovation and build a better future. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Kyocera Corporation structured to capitalize on shared resources and technical expertise, KYOCERA AVX has an expansive global footprint comprised of several dozen research, development, and manufacturing facilities spanning more than 15 countries and staffed with talented personnel dedicated to innovation, component quality, customer service, and enabling a brighter future through technology. KYOCERA AVX designs, develops, manufactures, and supplies advanced capacitors, antennas, interconnects, circuit protection and timing devices, sensors, controls, filters, fuses, diodes, resistors, couplers, and inductors optimized for employment in the international 5G, IoT, aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics, industrial, medical, and military markets.
KYOCERA AVX Contact
James Webb
Field Applications Manager
[email protected]
