Exclusive Interview | Harmontronics: Building a Moat for Domestic Substitution Through Independent R&D of Core Technologies

Currently, the automotive industry is shifting from electrification to a critical stage of intelligence. With steady growth in new energy vehicle sales, technologies including 800V high voltage fast charging, autonomous driving and LiDAR are being gradually adopted. Demand for high voltage / high speed high frequency connectors has risen significantly, requiring higher performance in transmission speed, voltage resistance, high temperature resistance and signal shielding. Meanwhile, the industry's growing need for cost reduction brings development opportunities for domestic substitution in core materials and high end equipment.

As an enterprise specializing in intelligent manufacturing of electrical connections, Harmontronics empowers industrial upgrading through technological innovation.

Q: Could you briefly introduce your company?

Suzhou Harmontronics Automation Technology Co., Ltd. (SH: 688022), founded in 2007 and became one of the first batch of companies listed on the STAR Market in 2019. We focuse on intelligent equipment for connection and sensing technologies and specialize in high‑speed wiring harness automation equipment, PCB Pin Insertion Machine and header connector equipment, plug connectors high-speed automation assembly solution. Serving world‑renowned global auto parts enterprises including TE, Aptiv, Bosch, Continental and Yazaki, we empower the upgrading of automotive autonomous driving and intelligence through smart manufacturing. Going forward, we will continue to leverage our core strengths of high‑speed connection, superior stability, high reliability and high efficiency to create greater value for the industry.

Q: What are your highlighted products showcased at this exhibition? What message do you intend to deliver to the industry?

At productronica Shanghai 2026, we display high speed wiring harness automation equipment, PCB pin insertion machines, plug connector equipment and header connector equipment. Our star product highlighted here is the high speed wiring harness platform equipment.

Adopting a flexible platform design, this equipment enables real time monitoring of equipment performance and process parameters, paired with an intelligent and user friendly human machine interface for fast and efficient product changeover. It achieves a cycle time (CT) of 2.5–4.5 seconds, wire stripping precision of ±0.05 mm and crimping precision of ±0.03 mm, delivering outstanding performance in high precision and stability.

The message we want to convey is that Harmontronics always takes technological innovation as its core, focuses on intelligent manufacturing and high end equipment upgrading, and continuously provides customers with high speed, high precision, high flexibility and digital automated solutions. We will further deepen our industry presence, help customers improve production efficiency and product quality, and drive the wire harness and connector sector toward greater intelligence, efficiency and reliability.

Q: What is the current progress of domestic substitution in the industry? What core “moat” does your company believe domestic brands need to break the monopoly of international giants?

Domestic substitution of high end equipment is accelerating comprehensively. Domestic equipment has rapidly approached international standards in precision, stability and digitalization, evolving from individual breakthroughs to full line solution substitution with continuously enhanced independent controllability.

Core Moats of Domestic Brands

· Independent R&D of Core Technologies

Self controllable precision control, industrial software and digital platforms build technological barriers.

· Efficient Localized Services

Faster response, deeper understanding of process pain points, and more efficient delivery and after sales service.

· Cost Effective & Reliable Delivery

Quality comparable to international standards, with prominent advantages in overall cost and industrial chain.

Q: Automotive connections are trending toward high frequency, high speed and miniaturization, demanding higher precision and stability. How does your company overcome these R&D challenges?

We highly replicate every link from theoretical design to practical verification to improve product precision. For example, Harmontronics' newly developed high speed pin insertion head upgrades from clearance fit to transition fit or even interference fit in drawing tolerances. By applying high precision machine tools together with self developed process control algorithms and unique assembly processes, we effectively reduce internal clearances in the cam box.

Such precision control capability from design to manufacturing ensures highly consistent and accurate assembly of even ultra tiny connection structures under high speed production rhythms, systematically improving overall product precision and long term reliability.