Northern Connectors

What Northern Connectors does

Northern Connectors is a privately held, family-run specialist distributor of industrial electro-mechanical connectors headquartered in St. Helens, United Kingdom. Founded in 1983 by Keith and Linda Hewitt, the company operates as an authorized distributor of 14 leading connector manufacturers including HARTING, Souriau, Hirschmann, binder, Mennekes, CONEC, HUMMEL, Lumberg Automation, Alpha Wire, Weidmüller, PMA, Radiall, and WISKA. The company holds ISO 9001:2015 certification and Premier Distribution Partner status from Belden (for Hirschmann and Lumberg Automation brands), and has been recognized with nine HARTING Distributor of the Year awards between 2002 and 2019.

The company distributes an 18-category product portfolio spanning circular, rectangular, modular, harsh environment, hybrid, sensor/automation, power, data, RF coaxial, D-Sub, M12, PCB, photovoltaic, and valve/actuator connectors, together with cables, cable glands, and cable protection accessories. The underlying technology is conventional electromechanical interconnect hardware — no proprietary silicon, software platforms, or AI/ML components — sourced entirely from authorized manufacturing partners. Services include Kanban/Just-in-Time scheduling, technical support by in-house specialists, and credit account management.

Northern Connectors serves customers across ten industrial verticals — automation, broadcasting, energy, food & beverage, instrumentation, lighting technology, medical, surveillance systems, transportation, and water technology — exclusively in the UK domestic market. The go-to-market is sales-led via telephone, online contact forms, and direct account relationships, supported by quote-based pricing, 30-day payment terms, and next-day delivery on stocked items. Multi-year scheduled order programs and credit accounts target enterprise and mid-market buyers. Revenue is generated through hardware resale margins on distributed connector lines plus ancillary service revenue from technical support and inventory management programs.

Name

Northern Connectors

Legal name

Northern Connectors Ltd

Website

https://northern-connectors.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Northern Connectors is a UK-based, family-run specialist authorized distributor of industrial electro-mechanical connectors from 14 leading manufacturers, serving ten industrial verticals including automation, energy, medical, and transportation through direct sales and scheduled order programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Connectors

NAICS

Electronic Connector Manufacturing (334417), Current-Carrying Wiring Device Manufacturing (335931), Communication and Energy Wire and Cable Manufacturing (33592)

SIC

Electronic Connectors (3678), Wholesale-Electronic Parts & Equipment, Nec (5065)

akta.pro primary industry

Connectors & Interconnect Components (Industrial connectors, terminals, sockets, backplane) (IMAGAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

RF & Microwave Connectors and Coaxial Assemblies (HDAHAOAD), Ruggedized Connectors, Cabling & M12 Connectivity (Industrial Ethernet Physical Layer) (HDAFAJAJ), Connectors (Power/Signal/High-Speed) (HDAHAOAA), Wiring Devices & Receptacles (switches, sockets, plugs, industrial outlets, pin & sleeve) (IMAGAEAF)

Keywords

• Industrial connector distribution
• Electromechanical connectors
• Cable management solutions
• Connector distribution services
• Industrial wiring accessories

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Helens

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Industrial Connector Distribution: Revenue is generated through the sale of industrial connectors, cable glands, wires, cables, and associated accessories sourced from authorized manufacturing partners. The company also generates revenue from technical support services, credit account management, and scheduled order programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Northern Connectors is an authorised UK distributor of industrial electro-mechanical connectors and associated cable management products. The company distributes circular, rectangular, modular, harsh environment, hybrid, sensor/automation, power, data, RF coaxial, D-Sub, M12, PCB, photovoltaic, and valve/actuator connectors, along with industrial wires, cables, glands and cable protection solutions, sourced from leading manufacturers such as HARTING, Souriau, Hirschmann, binder, Mennekes, CONEC, HUMMEL, Lumberg Automation, Alpha Wire, Weidmüller, PMA, and Radiall.

Product overview

Northern Connectors is a specialist distributor of industrial electro-mechanical connectors, offering an extensive portfolio of products from 14 authorized manufacturing partners. The core offering spans 18 distinct connector categories including circular, rectangular, modular, harsh environment, hybrid, sensor/automation, power, data, RF coaxial, D-Sub, M12, PCB, photovoltaic, valve/actuator connectors, plus wires/cables and cable protection. The product portfolio includes distributed brands such as HARTING (Han Series, Han-Modular, ix Industrial, T1 Industrial), Hirschmann (CA Series, G Series), binder (Snap-In 720, Bayonet 770), Mennekes (CEE, PowerTOP Xtra), Souriau (UTS, UTO), HUMMEL (PVDF cable glands), Lumberg Automation (M12 A-Coded), CONEC (IP67 RJ45), and others. Services include Kanban/Just-in-Time scheduling, technical support, and credit account facilities. The company operates as an authorized distributor rather than a manufacturer, supplying connectors for applications across automation, broadcasting, energy, food & beverage, instrumentation, lighting, medical, surveillance, transportation, and water technology industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Circular Connectors Industry-standard circular connector systems for industrial automation and sensor applications, distributed from leading manufacturers.
• Data Connectors Connectors designed for data transmission and communication applications in industrial environments.
• D-Sub Connectors D-Subminiature rectangular connectors for industrial computing and communications applications.
• Food & Beverage Connectors Specialised connectors designed for hygienic safety requirements in food processing and beverage production applications.
• Glands & Cable Protection Cable glands and cable protection accessories for safeguarding equipment and wiring systems in industrial environments.
• Harsh Environment Connectors Robust connectors engineered for demanding industrial environments with high mechanical strength, temperature resistance, and ingress protection.
• Hybrid Connectors Combined power, signal, data, and fibre optic connectivity solutions within single connector housings.
• M12 Connectors Industry-standard IEC 61076-2-101 M12x1 screw locking circular connectors for sensor and automation applications with IP67 sealing.
• Modular Connectors Customisable modular connector systems allowing users to mix and match power, signal, data, compressed air, and fibre optic modules.
• PCB Connectors Board-level connectors for PCB termination including SMT, IDC, and spring-cage technologies.

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• BeldenflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2022Achieved Premier Distribution Partner status from Belden in 2022 for Hirschmann & Lumberg Automation brands. Belden acquired Hirschmann and Lumberg Automation.
• MennekescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2014Became distribution partner for Mennekes in 2014. Mennekes is a premier manufacturer of heavy-duty industrial connectors since 1935, known for CEE industrial plugs, sockets, and PowerTOP Xtra range.
• Lumberg AutomationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2007Partnered with Lumberg Automation in 2007. Celebrated 10 years in 2017. Achieved Preferred Distribution Partner Gold Status in 2012 and Premier Distribution Partner status in 2022 via Belden.
• HUMMELcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2007Became authorized distributor for HUMMEL in 2007.
• CONECcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2006Signed distribution agreement in 2006. Celebrated 10 years partnership in 2016.
• bindercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2001Signed distribution agreement in 2001. Celebrated 10 years in 2011 and 20 years in 2021. Awarded Top Performing Distributor in 2013.
• HirschmanncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2000Signed distribution agreement in 2000. Celebrated 10 years in 2010. Achieved Preferred Distribution Partner Gold Status in 2012 and Premier Distribution Partner status in 2022 via Belden.
• PMAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2000Signed distribution agreement in 2000 alongside Hirschmann.
• Alpha WirecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1999Signed distribution agreement in 1999. Celebrated 10 years partnership in 2009.
• HARTINGflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1998Signed distribution agreement in 1998. Celebrated 10 years in 2008 and 20 years in 2018. Awarded HARTING Distributor of the Year multiple times (2002, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019) - nine times total.
• WeidmüllercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1996Signed distribution agreement in 1996. Celebrated 10 years partnership in 2006 and 20 years in 2016.
• RadiallcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1990Signed distribution agreement in 1990. Celebrated 10 years partnership in 2000, 20 years in 2010, and 30 years in 2020. Won Fastest Growing Distributor for RF Connectors award in 1999.
• BurndycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1983First authorized distribution partner established in 1983 when Northern Connectors was founded. Northern Connectors has maintained a relationship with Burndy for over 40 years, celebrating 10 years in electronics industry with Burndy in 1990.
• SouriaucoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-standing authorized distributor for Souriau, a manufacturer of harsh environment connectors with over 100 years of experience. Received VAD assembly awards for UTO (2005) and UTS (2006) series. Celebrated 20 years in 2003 and 30 years in 2013.
• WISKAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as an authorized brand carried by Northern Connectors.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Mouser Electronics: Mouser Electronics is a US-headquartered global broad-line distributor of electronic components with major UK/European operations, authorized for HARTING, Souriau, binder, and many of the same manufacturers as Northern Connectors. Comparable as a multi-brand connector distributor, but operates globally with full transactional e-commerce, parametric search, and significantly broader catalog.
• Digi-Key Electronics: Digi-Key Electronics is a US-headquartered global broad-line distributor of electronic components with millions of SKUs including extensive connector ranges. Comparable to Northern Connectors for connector category presence, but operates globally at vastly larger scale with industry-leading e-commerce, parametric search, and next-day logistics reaching the UK market.
• Farnell / element14: Farnell (element14) is a UK-headquartered broad-line distributor of electronic components and connectors with global reach, owned by Avnet. Comparable to Northern Connectors as a UK-based connector distributor, but operates at much larger scale across a broader catalog including semiconductors, passives, and test equipment with full e-commerce platform.
• RS Components: RS Components is a UK-headquartered broad-line distributor of electronic, electrical, and industrial components including extensive connector ranges, owned by RS Group plc. Comparable to Northern Connectors in UK industrial market coverage and connector category presence, but operates at significantly larger scale with full transactional e-commerce and broad catalog spanning millions of SKUs.

Regional players

• Distrelec: Distrelec is a European broad-line distributor of electronic and industrial components including connectors, headquartered in Switzerland with strong DACH/Nordic market presence. Comparable to Northern Connectors as a European connector distributor serving industrial customers, but operates across continental Europe rather than UK-only.

Direct peers

• TTI Inc. TTI Inc. is a Berkshire Hathaway-owned specialist distributor of electronic components including connectors, passive, electromechanical, and discrete devices. Highly comparable to Northern Connectors for its connector category leadership, inventory depth, and authorized partnerships across HARTING, Molex, TE Connectivity, and Amphenol serving industrial markets.
• Heilind Electronics: Heilind Electronics is a specialist distributor of connectors, relays, and electromechanical components, with deep authorized partnerships across TE Connectivity, Molex, and HARTING. Highly comparable to Northern Connectors as a connector-specialist value-added distributor serving industrial, transportation, and harsh-environment applications.
• Powell Electronics: Powell Electronics is a US-headquartered specialist distributor focused on connectors, passive components, and electromechanical devices, serving defense, aerospace, industrial, and transportation markets. Highly comparable to Northern Connectors in its connector-specialist positioning and authorized partnerships with manufacturers including Souriau and other premium brands.
• PEI-Genesis: PEI-Genesis is a global specialist distributor of connectors and cable assemblies with deep authorized partnerships across HARTING, Souriau, Amphenol, and other premium manufacturers. Highly comparable to Northern Connectors as a value-added connector specialist serving industrial, military, aerospace, and transportation markets with technical support and custom assembly services.
• Blockmaster Electronics: Blockmaster Electronics is a UK-based specialist distributor of interconnect products, terminal blocks, and electromechanical components serving industrial customers. Comparable to Northern Connectors as a smaller UK-focused specialist distributor with similar sales-led, quote-based model and emphasis on technical customer support.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NorthConnectors
• Facebookfacebook.com/Northern-Connectors-142600029132363
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/northern-connectors

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Northern Connectors