Southco is a leading global provider of engineered access solutions, including inject/eject mechanisms, latches, captive fasteners, hinges, handles and other hardware for the telecommunications, networks and server markets.  Southco is the leader for inject/eject solutions—with more than 200 such products in its portfolio, dozens of which are designed to comply with ATCA standards.

Southco designs and manufactures products in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.  When it comes to access hardware solutions, Southco provides global support unsurpassed in the industry.  For more information, visit Southco’s website at www.southco.com; e-mail the 24/7 customer service department at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; call (44) 0 1905 346722 or fax (44) 0 1905 346723.

Product Overview

ATCA Handles are an important part of the system. They rotate to lock the board in place, ensuring that the board edge connectors interface properly with the backplane of the shelf.  The handles also are responsible for activating and deactivating the microswitch to signal a hot swap event.  Southco offers handles for various faceplate thicknesses and can fit many switch configurations.  Each handle operates with a simple push-to-close action that actuates the microswitch and uses a spring loaded secondary catch that locks the faceplate into position.

http://www.southco.com/minisites/atca/advanced-tca.aspx

ATCA Captive Retention Screws provide a physical means of anchoring board faceplates to the rack system. Southco recently introduced a new ATCA-compliant stainless steel screw with 1mm of total float.

http://www.southco.com/minisites/atca/advanced-tca.aspx

ATCA Alignment/Grounding Pins provide physical alignment for precise positioning, and a safe path for circuit board grounding during insertion and removal.  Southco’s design features a smooth bullet-nose point for easy alignment and insertion.

http://www.southco.com/minisites/atca/advanced-tca.aspx

ATCA Alignment and Keying Modules ensure proper positioning and contact between compatible circuit boards and their backplane connections.  Southco’s durable, yet economical design includes a variety of pin/receptacle configurations to ensure boards, backplanes and rear transition modules interface properly.

http://www.southco.com/minisites/atca/advanced-tca.aspx

AMC & MicroTCA Handles must lock the module into place and provide automatic operation of the microswitch. In addition, it must have three positions of operation to indicate when the microswitch is engaged / disengaged.  Southco offers AMC handles for compact, mid-size, and full-size modules that easily snap into the faceplate and then are secured by a screw.  Southco offers a standard design where the handle protrudes from the faceplate when secured, or a new flush version— that is nearly flush with the faceplate when the module is secured.  This flush version prevents handle breakage during shipping and snagging of the handle on wires.

http://www.southco.com/minisites/atca/advanced-mc.aspx

AMC & MicroTCA Light Pipe Brackets allow the user to identify the operating status of the module with color-coded LEDs.  Southco provides light pipe brackets for compact, mid-size, and full-size modules for both R1.0 and R2.0 specifications.

http://www.southco.com/minisites/atca/advanced-mc.aspx