Socapex #1042

A French manufacturer of high-reliability electrical connectors and interconnect systems for harsh operating environments (aerospace, defense, entertainment industry). In the rental and events sector it is best known for its 19-pin Socapex multi-pin connectors used to switch multicore power cables in stage, film, and TV lighting (the brand name has become a generic term — 'soca').

The company was founded in 1947 by Henri Ponsot under the name Socapex Ponsot in Suresnes, near Paris; it soon shifted focus to aviation electrical equipment and connectors. In 1956, production moved to Cluses (Haute-Savoie), and a plant was later built in Thyez; between 1958 and 1961 the first military connector series were released (TEI Series 58, SL61). In 1961, the Socapex connector was created, which went on to become a standard in the entertainment industry. In 1986, the company was acquired from Thomson by the American Amphenol group and was renamed Amphenol Socapex.