From "Art to Part"
Complete Design, Development, and Manufacturing Capabilities
Product Innovation - Concept Development
Alden Products is skilled and experienced at packaging industry standard connectors, cables, and componentry into effective interconnect products - Alden is not however limited to using what already exists. For the unique application where an existing component doesn't fit, we are limited only by our imaginations. As our current product line might suggest, we are innovators, our imaginations quite fertile. A rich heritage in custom molding has contributed greatly to our creative nature that distinguishes Alden from much of it's competition.
Design Engineering
Alden's experienced design team utilizes CAD technology to design, model, and analyze interconnect products. Finite Element Analysis software aids in providing critical performance data while the interconnect is still on the "drawing board". The goal is to turn useful, effective, and manufacturable designs as quickly as possible. Our design expertise includes contact, connector, strain relief, and plastic enclosure design for signal, high current, high voltage, and RF applications. Alden's design efforts are fully integrated with our customers to ensure that all product expectations are met.
Prototyping
Alden's rapid prototype process utilizes machined or 3D printed masters to create cosmetic or fully functional prototype parts. From individual components to complete interconnect systems - prototyping is a useful option for validating a products design before investing in final tooling.
Tooling
Alden Product's mold fabrication department designs, develops, and manufactures all of the tooling required to establish a manufacturing capability for a new interconnect product. Our mold designers utilize the original solid model to design and detail production mold cavities. Mold flow analysis software aids the designer in properly positioning gates to optimize the molding process. Alden's "state of the art" tool room is fully equipped to exploit our 3D CAD/CAM software package to compress development time. A variety of EDM, vertical machining centers, lathes, and turning centers produce molds and tooling that support Alden's standard product and cable integration efforts.
Fabrication
Alden maintains in house capabilities for fabricating all of the components required to produce contemporary interconnect systems. We are set up to mold thermoplastic, thermoset, and elastomeric polymers and resins. Screw machines, turning centers, and high speed stamping presses enable Alden to manufacture it's own contacts and metal housings.
Assembly
Alden interconnects are assembled in either of it's two ISO 9000-2000 compliant facilities located in Brockton, Massachusetts and Hermosillo, Mexico. Efficient interconnect assembly is achieved through a skilled workforce, applied robotics, automated equipment, and a total quality philosophy.
Test and Qualification
- Product Component Qualification
New moldings and fabricated components are all subjected to Alden's comprehensive PQR process. Utilizing the latest electronic Coordinate Measuring and Optical Measuring tools, the accuracy of all critical function dimensions is quickly confirmed and documented before a mold is commissioned. - Product Performance Qualification
Alden's fully equipped test lab is utilized on first article assemblies to verify that the final product lives up to it's original performance specification. The in-house lab provides our design engineers with immediate, first hand performance feed back further streamlining the development process. - Production Process Qualification
Manufacturing and quality engineering evaluate each operation in the production process for a new interconnect measuring sensitivity and repeatability. Process control documents are developed for any unique operation. Where required the Verification and Validation process is applied to establish windows of acceptability for any process with inherent variability.
Program Management
An impressive set of in-house capabilities is meaningless if Alden fails to deliver a program in spec and on time. Successful coordination of a project through the many facets of the design and development process is key to making Alden customers happy.
