Black Cat Cables
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersHigh Wycombe, United Kingdom
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
Black Cat Cables firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Black Cat Cables
- Legal name
- MBS Components Ltd
- Website
- https://blackcatcables.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Black Cat Cables industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Custom Cable Assemblies
- NAICS
- Communication and Energy Wire and Cable Manufacturing (33592), Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing (335921), Other Communication and Energy Wire Manufacturing (335929)
- SIC
- Electronic Connectors (3678), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cable Assemblies & Wire Harnesses (HDAHAOAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Data, Communications & Fiber Optic Cable (IMADAMAD), Wiring Harnesses & Pre-Fabricated Assemblies (IMADAMAN)
Keywords
Where Black Cat Cables is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- High Wycombe
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Black Cat Cables business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations
Revenue model
- Cable Assembly Sales: One-time hardware sales of standard and custom cable assemblies including networking, coaxial, fibre, power, SCSI, and speciality cables
- Custom Manufacturing Services: Bespoke cable manufacturing from prototype to production volumes, with custom lengths, connectors, and specifications
- Installation Services: Network cabling installation services including Copper Cat5e-Cat7, Fibre Optic, and Voice cabling through accredited Excel Cabling Partner programme
- Media Converters: Sale of media conversion products for Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Gigabit Ethernet protocols supporting copper to fibre and fibre to fibre conversion
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard cable assemblies with fixed pricing |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Custom/bespoke cable manufacturing |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Installation services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels3 records
Black Cat Cables product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Black Cat Cables manufactures and supplies cable assemblies for the Networking, Broadcast, Audio Visual, and Telecoms market sectors. The company offers in-house custom and bespoke cable assembly manufacturing from one-off prototypes to production runs in thousands, alongside a comprehensive catalogue of standardized cables including Cisco-compatible, fibre optic, network, coaxial, mains/DC power, SCSI, telecoms, and military/defence cables. The offering is complemented by accredited structured cabling installation services and active networking media converters.
Product overview
Black Cat Cables is a manufacturer and supplier of cable assemblies for Networking, Broadcast, Audio Visual, and Telecoms markets, established in 1979 and operating as a division of MBS Components Ltd. The product portfolio centers on custom and bespoke cable assemblies but encompasses a comprehensive range of standardized cable products including Cisco-compatible cables, fibre optic cables (multimode and singlemode), telecoms cables, network cables (Cat5e through Cat7), coaxial/RF cables, power cables (IEC, UK mains, DC, commando), SCSI cables, IDC flat cables, and connectors/adaptors. Supporting the hardware products, the company offers installation services as an accredited Excel Cabling Partner (providing structured cabling with a 25-year warranty) and active networking products including Planet Networking media converters. Specialized offerings include military cable assemblies, locking IEC power cables, and powered USB cables for point-of-sale applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Custom Cables Bespoke cable assemblies manufactured in-house to client specification, from one-off prototypes to production runs in thousands. Offers custom lengths, colours, and connector configurations with stringent quality procedures.
- Cisco Cables Compatible Cisco cables including serial, X.21, DTE/DCE, stacking, and InfiniBand cables. Offered as one of the largest selections of compatible Cisco cables in the UK with technical advisory capability.
- Fibre Cables Multimode 62.5/125 OM1, Multimode 50/125 OM2, OM3, OM4 and singlemode OS1/OS2 patch cords from stock in lengths 0.5m to 30m. Connectors include LC, SC, ST, MTRJ, FC, E2000, MU, VF45. Each cable supplied individually bagged with test report.
- Telecoms Cables BT-approved telecoms/voice cables including RJ21 telco cables made with BT Spec CW1308 cable in PVC, LSF or LSZH. Available with 90°, 120°, 180° covers and male/female/open-end configurations. All cables are 100% tested on Cirris Touch 1 tester before dispatch.
- Network Cables Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a, Cat7 network cables including patch cords, crossover cables, telco cables, external/armoured cables, SFP+ cables, and X.21/V.35/RS232 interface cables.
- Coaxial Cables RF/microwave coaxial cable assemblies with BNC, MINI BNC, Euro, FME, F Type, MCX, MMCX, N Type, SMA, TNC, Type 43, HDC, UHDC, DIN 1.0/2.3, DIN 1.6/5.6 connectors. RG series, URM series, and Belden cables for HD-SDI broadcast applications.
- Mains & DC Power Cables Fully moulded range of power cords including IEC C13-C14, C19-C20, C15-C16, Y-split power cables, UK plug to C13/C19/C15/C5/C7 cables, European power cables, IEC 309 cables, and DC power cables. Custom lengths and connectors available.
- SCSI Cables SCSI I to VHDCI (SCSI V) cables in any length, compatible with HP and IBM. External SCSI VHDCI and HD68 assemblies with Madison or Hitachi U320 LVD/SE cable, RoHS compliant.
- Connectors & Adaptors 34 position V.35 connectors supplied as kit with moulded insulator and shielded hood, plus D-Sub gender changers (DB9, DB15, DB25, DB37, HD15), Sun Monitor DB13W3 to HD15 adaptors, and inter-series adaptors.
- IDC Flat Cables Standard IDC ribbon cables including ATA100, 40-way IDE, 44-way IDE, DB9 to IDC, and 10-way IDC rainbow ribbon cables.
- Active Networking (Media Converters) Media converters supporting copper-to-fibre and fibre-to-fibre conversion for Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Gigabit Ethernet protocols. Includes 10/100 and 10/100/1000Base-T/TX converters.
- Installations Accredited Excel Cabling Partner providing structured cabling installations including Copper (Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a, Cat7), Fibre Optic, and Voice cabling. Free site survey available, backed by 25-year application warranty.
- Broadcast and Audio Visual Cables Professional broadcast and AV cable assemblies for major camera system manufacturers including 12G/4K/8K UHD broadcast camera cables using Belden 4694R and Neutrik UHD BNC connectors. Tightly specified coaxial and interconnect transmission lines with UL listing.
- Military Cable Assemblies and Harnesses Custom military cables and electronic wire harnesses for Military, Defence, and Aerospace applications. Includes ruggedised assemblies built for harsh environment specifications.
- Powered USB Cables 12V and 24V Powered USB cables for point-of-sale and till equipment compatible with IBM/NCR systems. Includes powered USB to DC, Mini DIN, and USB Type B configurations.
- Locking Mains Power Cables and Cisco/APC Power Cords IEC-lock and IEC-Lock+ power leads preventing accidental disconnection (C13-C14 and C19-C20 configurations in multiple colours) and power cords compatible with Cisco and APC equipment for data centre and networking applications.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% testing on Cirris Touch 1 before dispatch
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Black Cat Cables
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Black Cat Cables technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Black Cat Cables partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Excel Cabling Partner (ECP)coreAccredited Excel Cabling Partner programme enabling Black Cat to install complete range of Excel Structured Network Cable products with backup of 25-year warranty. Provides access to Excel's third-party independent approval from Delta test house.
- DPD LocalminorUK time critical logistics carrier providing next day shipping, pre-12 and pre-10:30 timed delivery options with real-time tracking. Award-winning delivery service with one-hour delivery windows.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Black Cat Cables competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lapp Group: German-headquartered manufacturer of custom cable assemblies, wiring harnesses and connectivity solutions for industrial, networking and broadcast applications — closely comparable in customisation model and end-market mix to Black Cat Cables.
- Volex plc: UK-listed specialist in power cords, cable assemblies and connectors serving data centre, industrial and consumer customers. Highly comparable as a UK-based custom cable assembler with similar end-markets including networking and POS/retail.
- HellermannTyton: Manufacturer of cable management solutions, connectors and pre-terminated cable assemblies for networking, telecoms and industrial customers — directly comparable in product scope and customer verticals to Black Cat Cables.
- Excel Networking Solutions: UK manufacturer of structured cabling systems whose Cabling Partner programme Black Cat is accredited under. Directly comparable in the Cat5e–Cat7 copper and fibre structured cabling installation business.
- Weidmüller: German manufacturer of industrial connectivity including custom cable assemblies, connectors and electronics for industrial automation, telecoms and power — comparable product mix and customisation focus to Black Cat.
Broad incumbents
- Belden Inc. Major US-headquartered manufacturer of signal transmission cable and connectivity, including broadcast-grade coaxial (Belden 4694R referenced by Black Cat) and networking cables. Overlaps directly with Black Cat's broadcast and data centre product lines.
- Prysmian Group: World's largest cable manufacturer with broad fibre optic, telecom and energy cable lines. Comparable to Black Cat's fibre patch cord and structured cabling business, though at vastly larger scale and broader scope.
- CommScope: Global provider of network cabling, fibre and broadcast infrastructure equipment. Overlaps with Black Cat's structured cabling, fibre patch cord and broadcast cable assembly offerings, especially through enterprise and carrier channels.
- Molex: Global manufacturer of electronic interconnect solutions including cable assemblies, connectors and adaptors (e.g. D-Sub, V.35 style products). Broad incumbent with significant overlap to Black Cat's connector/adaptor and cable assembly portfolio.
- RS Components: UK-based broad-line electronics and industrial product distributor stocking cables, connectors and networking components. Adjacent competitor for standard cable and connector SKUs, though not a custom manufacturer.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Black Cat Cables financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Black Cat Cables leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Black Cat Cables funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Black Cat Cables M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Black Cat Cables
What does Black Cat Cables do?
Black Cat Cables manufactures and supplies cable assemblies for the Networking, Broadcast, Audio Visual, and Telecoms market sectors. The company offers in-house custom and bespoke cable assembly manufacturing from one-off prototypes to production runs in thousands, alongside a comprehensive catalogue of standardized cables including Cisco-compatible, fibre optic, network, coaxial, mains/DC power, SCSI, telecoms, and military/defence cables. The offering is complemented by accredited structured cabling installation services and active networking media converters.
Is Black Cat Cables a public or private company?
Black Cat Cables is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Black Cat Cables founded?
Black Cat Cables was founded in 1979.
Where is Black Cat Cables based?
Black Cat Cables is headquartered in High Wycombe, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Black Cat Cables make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Cable Assembly Sales are the primary driver. The others are custom Manufacturing Services, installation Services and media Converters.
Who are Black Cat Cables's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lapp Group, Volex plc, HellermannTyton, Excel Networking Solutions and Weidmüller. Broad incumbents are Belden Inc., Prysmian Group, CommScope, Molex and RS Components.
Does Black Cat Cables have an API?
No public API is recorded for Black Cat Cables.
What industry is Black Cat Cables in?
Black Cat Cables's product category is Custom Cable Assemblies. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHAOAB, Cable Assemblies & Wire Harnesses, with a secondary code of IMADAMAD, Data, Communications & Fiber Optic Cable. Its NAICS code is 33592 and its SIC code is 3678.