Research and development

orb weaver

The OrbWeaver program is inspired by nature - here, a spider's web-creating organ

smart connector

Smart Connector' provides in-situ prognostic health management

cobra program

The Cobra program is a process to apply non-metallic carbon nanotubes for shielding and conductors

Minnesota Wire executes high technology R&D grants to build new, sustainable value as a leader in the transformation of the wire, cable and interconnect industry. We are becoming a materials and systems developer to create products of novel properties and enhanced performance that improve the signal integrity of traditional interconnect infrastructure. Our vision of embedded interconnect performance and lifecycle integrity is manifest in the product areas we are pursuing through R&D programs:

Elastomeric wire
High fatigue-resistant wire
In-situ intermittent fault isolation
Wire health prognostics
Multifunction Connectors for load, electrical, gas and liquid
Advanced material and process research for development of conductors with unique properties and application solutions

Minnesota Wire’s embrace of R&D as part of its strategic portfolio is evidenced in various ways, including:

First provisional patent for elastomeric conductors (“stretchy wire”) filed in 2008
51% capture rate of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants (compared to a 10% national average), 2003 – 2008
Receipt of the prestigious Tibbetts Award for SBIR R&D Grant excellence in 2007
Over $4 million in Department of Defense R&D grants awarded to date

* For details on Minnesota Wire's R&D program and its commercialization, contact the R&D Manager, Tom Kukowski at 651.659.6763, or tkukowski@mnwire.com