history.molex.comMolex Timeline

-- ') From our early days as a maker of moldable thermoplastic to the industry-leading interconnect solutions we create today, our legacy of innovation spans more than seven decades. Explore it now 30s 40s 40s 50s 50s 60s 60s 70s 70s 80s 80s 90s 90s 00s 00s 10s 10s explore 19 30 19 40 19 50 19 60 19 70 19 80 19 90 20 00 20 10 Pluto is discovered. Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic. And in Brookfield, Illinois, Molex is born. 1938 Frederick August Krehbiel and his son Edwin develop a durable, moldable thermoplastic, manufactured from limestone and industrial by-products. They call their material "Molex." -- The father-son team forms what will become Molex Products Company and begin transforming their proprietary material into everything from flowerpots to toys to clock cases. The world is at war. American factories work round-the-clock. And the Krehbiels discover important new uses for the moldable material called Molex . 1940 John H. Krehbiel Sr. ("Senior") joins his father and brother, bringing his innovative ideas for Molex's future. Mid-1940s Senior recognizes the potential of the industrial market and adds metal stamping to the Molex material to create new products. 1945 Molex enters the fledgling electrical appliance market by producing the first molded terminal block for GE Hotpoint ® stoves. The Company Records U.S. Sales of $ 0 World War II is over, but the economic boom is just beginning. The modern credit card appears, color TV is invented, and more and more products need electrical components from Molex . 1951 The first American computer designed primarily for administrative use — the UNIVAC I — is unveiled. Filling an entire room, it includes a dozen Molex interconnects. The growth of the auto industry is creating the need for interconnects that withstand the vibration of moving vehicles, especially in sensitive applications like car radios. Molex responds with a reliable interconnect solution. 1953 Molex introduces its first two-piece interconnect and chain-form terminals — advancements that simplify design, installation and maintenance of electrical wiring. 1956 By experimenting with newer plastic materials, Molex becomes a leader in the electrical appliance market with an expanding family of interconnect devices. Molex makes another leap forward in interconnect technology, reducing plug-and-receptacle and terminal sizes by 50% — without sacrificing performance. Company sales reach $ 556,964 Molex introduces employee profit-sharing — virtually unheard of among technology companies at the time. 1959 The proliferation of push-button switches opens new markets for Molex components, including vending machines and bowling pin setters. An era of cultural and technological change has begun. And when Neil Armstrong lands on the moon, the world watches on TVs made with Molex interconnects . 1961 The idea of automatically making ice in a refrigerator's freezer section was an engineering challenge — until Molex engineers help Whirlpool ® crack the code. Their solution is still in use today. 1966 Molex helps make a wide range of electronic devices more compact with the development of .062" terminal interconnects, the microminiature products of their day. 1967 Molex becomes the first interconnect manufacturer — and one of the first U.S. companies — to recognize the business potential of Japan. An international division is created to begin working with customers abroad. A decade later, Japan becomes the global leader in TV, camera and video recorder manufacturing. And Molex is already there, on the ground floor. 1968 With the introduction of the KK ® Modular Interconnect System, Molex is integral to color TV manufacturing. This PCB solder-board-type assembly lets manufacturers test individual components before assembly — saving time and money. The Company Records Sales of $ 0 Electronics permeate almost every part of our daily lives. By the end of the decade, we are using VCRs, pocket calculators, word processors and floppy disks. And Molex innovation is there, each step of the way. 1970 To service the consumer and telecommunications markets in Europe, Molex opens a production facility in Shannon, Ireland. 1970 The pace of innovation at Molex is so rapid that the company institutes a new event — the Patent Award Ceremony — to recognize inventive ideas and design breakthroughs. 1972 Molex becomes a public company and opens its new corporate headquarters in Lisle, Illinois. 1975 As new technologies appear on the horizon, Molex hits the ground running with interconnect solutions for computer printers, fax machines and disk drives. 1977 To better service customers, Molex opens new manufacturing plants in Singapore and Lincoln, Nebraska. 1979 For the first time, the company's international sales surpass U.S. sales. Molex is now a truly worldwide company, selling products in 37 countries and operating 9 manufacturing facilities around the globe. The Company Records Sales of $ 0 As technology expands globally, the Internet comes into being, and the world is increasingly connected. Molex helps link people around the globe with high-speed networking and communications technology. 1981 Molex helps enable a quantum leap forward in portable video recording with the introduction of miniature interconnects. For the first time, it's possible to build a camcorder that does not need to be supported on the shoulder. 1984 Molex continues to advance cellular phone technology by becoming an integral part of Nova Tel’s Cellular Mobile Radio, a groundbreaking innovation that serves as a blueprint for cell phones as we know them today. 1985 With the introduction of the Molex C-Grid ® SL™, photocopier manufacturing becomes simpler and faster. Manufacturers are able to use one proven interface across a wide range of housings. Plus, fully automated equipment enables modular assembly and pre-testing. 1986 Molex becomes the first international interconnect company in India when Jalex Connector Systems Ltd., a joint venture, begins operations. The Company Records Sales of $ 0 By the end of the decade, Molex has become an undisputed global leader in the interconnect industry. 1989 Expanding its global footprint, Molex opens its first facility in China, located in Dongguan, Guandong. Digital cameras. Satellite television. The growth of the Internet. The age of digital technology has arrived — enabled, in part, by standard-setting Molex solutions . 1991 Molex enters the memory card socket business, paving the way for future innovations in smartphones, mobile handsets, tablets and more. Molex develops new Low Force Helix (LFH ™ ) low insertion contact for high-density datacom applications — a solution that is still in use today. 1994 The company launches its first website, www.molex.com. The Company Records Sales of $ 0 1999 The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) chooses the Molex MicroCross™ Interconnect Family as its plug-and-play display standard. Based on an innovative use of crossing ground blades, the system provides high-speed electrical performance in a low-cost format. As the world enters a new millennium, Molex focuses on accelerated innovation to provide solutions that support everything from mobile phones to electric cars to robotic surgery. Molex helps advance mobile phones with flexible interconnects that support new features like color displays and touchscreens. In Just Five Years, The Company Doubles Its Sales, Which Now Exceed $ 0 With the introduction of the da Vinci ® Surgical System, more intricate medical procedures become possible. The manufacturer chooses Molex high-speed cable assemblies to handle the robot's complex data processing needs. 2003 Molex helps Tesla Motors, Inc put more electric vehicles on the road by supplying cable assemblies that meet the automotive industry's stringent failure-rate requirements. Molex is named to provide network cabling infrastructure for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. Molex is named as the...