Molex is second-source producer of Teradyne''s GbXT connector

Our Corporate Bureau
20 May 2003

Under the agreement terms, Molex is licensed under Teradyne''s patents, trademarks, and technology to manufacture and sell the GbX product family worldwide. The two companies will work jointly to deliver truly intermateable, interchangeable products by sharing design and manufacturing processes. Molex expects to begin production of the four pair configuration of the GbX connector in September 2003.

"The Teradyne-Molex partnership is unique in that the two companies deliver products that share design, not just specification," says Rick Schneider, president, Teradyne TCS. "We collaborate continuously over the product lifecycle to improve our respective production and process capabilities. OEM users can source either company''s components with confidence that the parts will work together and meet their performance and reliability requirements."

The GbX license agreement marks the fourth product generation that Teradyne has licensed to Molex since 1995, beginning with Teradyne''s HDM connector family and extending to include its industry-leading VHDM and VHDM-HSDT high-speed, high-density connector platforms.

Says Martin Slark, president and chief operating officer, Molex: "We are very pleased about extending our second-source partnership with Teradyne. The GbX connector is well positioned in the marketplace, enabling real-world system solutions with exceptional mechanical integrity and electrical performance. Molex will work aggressively to tool the GbX product family."

Teradyne''s GbX connector provides the highest level of density available today, offering an upgrade path beyond existing 2mm platforms. The GbX 4-pair platform offers 55 differential pairs per linear inch, allowing for the most XAUI links in the industry today. GbX is currently available from Teradyne in 4-pair and 5-pair versions (69 differential pairs per inch) with a complete breadth of components including power, guidance and polarising.

Teradyne delivers solutions for testing and connecting electronics. It is the world''s leading supplier of automatic test equipment for testing semiconductors, circuit boards and modules, vehicle diagnostics and voice and broadband telephone networks.