MAC Panel Company

MAC Panel Company designs mass interconnect systems for automated test. A mass interconnect is a structured way to link test equipment to the device being tested. The company serves aerospace, defense and government teams, along with other industries that need reliable testing.

The company sells three main platforms. SCOUT is a PXI mass interconnect platform. APEX is a rugged connector platform with high signal density. TITAN uses cables and suits test setups that do not use PXI or that mix instruments. It also makes receivers, Direct Access Kits, custom ITAs and cable assemblies. An ITA is an interface test adapter that sits between the test system and the product under test.

MAC Panel says traditional point to point wiring does not scale well. Cable bundles grow, builds vary and fixes take longer. It says structured interconnect makes systems easier to document, repair and grow. Direct Access Kits, or DAKs, give a cleaner link from PXI instruments into the system. Customers can pick from hundreds of standard options or ask for a custom DAK.

The company lists strengths such as long cycle life. Its LIF modules were tested to more than 20,000 engagements, and APEX options handle high temperatures. It also offers patented, modular platforms that grow from one connector to a full system. Applications engineers help define the interface and stay in touch after delivery.

MAC Panel was founded in 1958 in High Point, North Carolina, to build patch panel hardware for IBM computers. In the 1980s it made test hardware for the NASA Space Shuttle program. In the 2000s it supplied a test interface for LM-STAR on the F-35. In the 2010s it supplied an interface for the United States Army NGATS.

The company has its headquarters and 60,000 square feet of manufacturing space in High Point. It has sales representatives in Florida, Colorado and North Carolina, plus local representation in the United Kingdom and India. It is a partner of NI for aerospace, defense and government work and is registered with the United States State Department under ITAR.

The MAC Panel website has product pages, configurators for building a test path, and a contact page. Visitors can also read about the industries the company serves and ask to speak with an expert.