A wiring harness is a highly reliable component of modern electrical installations, used in everything from cars to public utilities, security systems, and more. And some of the biggest reasons they’re so popular is their longevity. Because of the way they’re designed, wiring harnesses can resist a lot of the wear and tear that might otherwise affect the performance of single wires connected individually. The Lifespan of a Wire Harness Wiring harnesses are designed to last for several years, although harsh conditions or unexpected events like accidents, exposure to temperature and weather extremes, and impact can cause them to no Read More
Category: Custom Services
How do you Dispose of Sealed Lead Acid Batteries?
Batteries are highly valuable for the way they provide power in places where cords and plugs are impractical. And because they’re so inexpensive and convenient, we buy lots of batteries and keep them on hand for clocks, flashlights, radios, remote controls, cameras, and more. But when they’re out of energy and it’s time to remove them, you may be wondering the best way to dispose of them. Because of their lead acid, nickel, lithium, cadmium, mercury or nickel metal hydride contents, simply tossing them in the trash is hazardous.Alkaline batteries are the ONLY battery chemistry that may be discarded in Read More
Are Battery Packs Waterproof?
Batteries provide an excellent source of power. They’re reliable, durable, and configurable to meet specific power demands, whether you’re using them for residential, commercial or industrial needs. However, depending on the location, some batteries may be exposed to water, and that can be a problem. The Risks of Water to Your Batteries Water can interfere with the performance of your battery pack, and it can affect the integrity of the battery, too. Much of the risk comes down to how much water is the battery subject to and how deeply does it penetrate the housing. An occasional splash of water Read More
What is an Enclosure Box?
A lot is riding on your electrical equipment, whether your installation is residential, commercial, industrial, or municipal. That’s why the added protection of an enclosure box is essential to keep it in good working order. Whether it’s located indoors or outdoors, electrical equipment is subject to a variety of hazards that can interfere with the reliable and safe performance that customers expect. Typical Enclosure Box Designs An enclosure box or box build is a box built around an electrical installation that protects it while still allowing access for maintenance and repairs. It will typically have one or two doors that Read More
Automation and Craftsmanship: Why Crimping Cable and Other Manual Skills Matter
We live in an age of rapidly increasing automation. Tasks that we once thought would always be done by hand are now being completed by specialized tools, systems, and robots in a fraction of the time and with incredible accuracy. For that reason, it may seem that craftsmanship is something that is no longer needed, especially in a manufacturing or production environment where a task like crimping cable for use in a cable assembly can be partially or fully automated. Fortunately for individuals who take pride in the physical skills they have developed on the job, there is still a Read More
From Battery Packs to Wiring Harnesses: Building Quality Into the Product
When people talk about producing “high-quality” products, there is often a perception that this simply involves conducting tests at the end of a manufacturing process to ensure that the products coming off the assembly line have achieved or exceeded any applicable standards for their functionality, appearance, etc. However, at Rapport we’ve found that in order to produce everything from battery packs to wiring harnesses that are of the highest caliber, we must build quality into our products at every step. Quality Assurance vs. Quality Control in Battery Pack and Wiring Harness Production In discussing the quality of battery packs, wiring Read More
The Importance of Quality Equipment for Electrical Wire Stripping and Battery Pack Production
One of the first machines Rapport bought when we started in the cable/wire harness assemblies business in 1993 was an Artos CS-1 electrical wire cutting and stripping machine that was built in 1935. While we haven’t used it in over a decade, you can still see it at our office. We’ve kept it as a reminder of how far our industry has come and how much our company has evolved. The machine is still functional. It operates with an electric motor. Through a series of cams and adjustments to the various arms, the cut lengths of the wire can be Read More
Just-in-Time Manufacturing: Used on Everything from Wiring Harnesses to Battery Packs
Just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing is a strategy focused on aligning the receiving of raw materials with manufacturing production schedules. The goal is to ensure that wiring harness and battery pack assembly teams have what they need, when they need it, but without materials or end product remaining in storage for extended periods. More Efficient Production of Wiring Harnesses and Battery Packs at Rapport At Rapport, in most cases we manufacture to a JIT delivery plan. Components are purchased once the customer places their order, and the manufacturing process takes place after all components are received. Then, we ship to the customer Read More
The Importance of “First Articles” in the Manufacture of a Custom Wiring Harness or Cable Assembly
In manufacturing, a “first article” is an initial piece produced so that a customer can confirm that the assembly has been built precisely to their written specifications. In the development of a custom wiring harness or cable assembly, for example, coming to an agreement on whether the finished product adheres to the specifications provided before a production run is initiated is critically important. Doing so ensures that the customer’s investment in the parts will be money well-spent and helps prevent the need for significant rework. Bringing Extensive Expertise to Bear on Custom Wiring Harness First Articles In order to ensure Read More
Rapport Celebrates 40 Years as an Electronics Manufacturing Leader
Rapport is thrilled to announce that this year the company is celebrating 40 years in business! Appropriately for what was, at the time, a woman-owned sole proprietorship, Sherry Lehman founded Rapport on Mother’s Day 1979. Little did she know that her company would evolve into a leader in wiring harnesses and wholesale batteries. The Early Years Sherry initially worked as an electronic manufacturer’s rep for printed circuit boards. She had to wear multiple hats in that role, selling the boards to OEMs both through inside sales (taking orders from customers) and outside sales (making sales calls). It was hard work Read More