Mouser Electronics and Marvel Invite Imahara and Pan to Build Super Hero Tech Using Molex Products

DALLAS & FORT WORTH, Texas

Mouser Electronics, Inc. is excited to announce a pair of cutting-edge projects as part of its latest series in the Empowering Innovation Together™ program with former Mythbusters star and longtime Mouser customer, Grant Imahara. The new Project Heroes series introduces Mouser’s new Innovation Lab™ and assembles a “super team” composed of Grant, viral video celebrity engineer Allen Pan, and Marvel Entertainment. Together, they set out to build Super Hero technology straight from the movie Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War using electronic components from some of Mouser’s leading manufacturers, including Platinum Partners Molex and Analog Devices.

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Grant Imahara and Allen Pan show off their Super Hero creations as part of Mouser and Marvel’s Empowering Innovation Together Project Hero Series, co-sponsored by Molex. To learn more about the cool Super Hero technology, visit www.mouser.com/empowering-innovation.

Viewers will take a unique journey into Mouser’s Innovation Lab, where Grant and Allen create real-life working versions of Iron Man’s gauntlet and Captain America’s shield. They’ll see who wins as the two battle it out for the most innovative design. Supplying parts for both teams is Molex, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of interconnect products and sponsor of the Project Heroes series.

For Iron Man’s gauntlet and laser assembly, Grant felt that Ultra-Fit™ power connectors from Molex were the best connectors for “taking tech out of the film realm and into reality.” Chosen for their small, current-dense design and high current-carrying capability in a locking connector, Ultra-Fit connectors feature different mechanical and color keys to eliminate same-circuit-size cross mating, and are optimized to conduct the maximum current while using minimal PCB area. Their fully isolated terminals and six independent points of contact on each terminal ensure the maximum amount of electrical isolation, protection during handling and assembly, and the highest long-term performance and reliability — all critical attributes needed for Super Hero gear that can withstand the elements.

“When it came to choosing the best fit for the gauntlet, I really needed a part that could not only carry the 10 amps I needed for the laser, but could do it in a package that is smaller than other power connectors,” said Grant Imahara. “That’s why I chose Molex Ultra-Fit Power connectors; they were the best part for the job.”

Basing his technology for Captain America’s shield on a quad copter drone, Allen Pan looked to Molex Temp-Flex^® cable assemblies. Designed to deliver high cutoff frequency, phase stability, and low insertion loss in harsh environments, Temp-Flex cable assemblies offer high performance with a cable impedance of 50 and 75 Ohms. The solid-core, low-loss assemblies feature dual shielding and provide minimum Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR), and the proprietary Air-Dielectric Ultra-Low Loss cable provides superior velocity of propagation and ultra-low insertion loss. Allen chose the Temp-Flex coaxial cable assemblies to carry analog signals for his build because they provide the flexibility and durability needed to withstand the force of repeatedly throwing the shield.

“Partnering with Marvel on this new series is a great way to keep future engineers engaged and excited about science, technology, engineering, and math — or STEM — education,” said Kevin Hess, Mouser Senior Vice President of Marketing. “We need to continue to shape that next generation of innovators, and Mouser is proud to work with Grant, Allen, and our valued manufacturing partner Molex to show how real-life technology can build Super Hero gadgets.”

“As a leading global provider of integrated electronic solutions, this sponsorship gives Molex the opportunity to further demonstrate the value of our products in a fun way that engages with a tech-savvy audience,” said Fred Bell, Vice President, Global Distribution, Molex. “Not only do we have the opportunity to support a creative program that focuses on technical challenges, we also will be able to demonstrate how our innovative products perform in challenging environments.”

To watch Grant and Allen discuss their project designs, visit https://youtu.be/wHchwRJNK2k. Then, to watch their epic Super Hero battle, go to https://youtu.be/_bN4b0cM9Bk.

Mouser provides a unique perspective to the industry for such programs with its broad product line, unsurpassed customer service and industry-first interactive catalog with vast amounts of engineering and technical data. Mouser Electronics’ website is updated daily and searches more than 10 million products to locate more than four million orderable part numbers available for easy online purchase.

For more information on the Project Heroes series, visit http://www.mouser.com/empowering-innovation/superhero-technology-project.

About Mouser Electronics

Mouser Electronics, a subsidiary of TTI, Inc., is part of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway family of companies. Mouser is an award-winning, authorized semiconductor and electronic component distributor, focused on the rapid introduction of new products and technologies to electronic design engineers and buyers. Mouser.com features more than 4 million products online from more than 600 manufacturers. Mouser publishes multiple catalogs per year providing designers with up-to-date data on the components now available for the next generation of electronic devices. Mouser ships globally to over 500,000 customers in 170 countries from its 750,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility south of Dallas, Texas. For more information, visit www.mouser.com.

About Molex

Molex brings together innovation and technology to deliver electronic solutions to customers worldwide. With a presence in more than 40 countries, Molex offers a full suite of solutions and services for many markets, including data communications, consumer electronics, industrial, automotive, commercial vehicle and medical.

Molex is a registered trademark of Molex, LLC in the United States of America and may be registered in other jurisdictions.

About Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War”

Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” finds Steve Rogers leading the newly formed team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. But after another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in two camps—one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark’s surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability.

Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” stars Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Renner, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Emily VanCamp, Marisa Tomei, Tom Holland, Frank Grillo and Martin Freeman, with William Hurt and Daniel Brühl.

Anthony & Joe Russo are directing with Kevin Feige, p.g.a. producing. Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Patricia Whitcher, Nate Moore and Stan Lee are the executive producers. The screenplay is by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely. Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” opened in U.S. theaters on May 6, 2016.

About Marvel Entertainment

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy-five years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information visit marvel.com. © 2016 MARVEL

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Mouser Electronics
Further information, contact:
Kevin Hess, 817-804-3833
Senior Vice President of Marketing
Kevin.Hess@mouser.com
or
For press inquiries, contact:
Kelly DeGarmo, 817-804-7764
Manager, Corporate Communications and Media Relations
Kelly.DeGarmo@mouser.com