Featuring industry-leading “double connect” on both the leg wire and duplex wire.

Austin Powder, a leader in the manufacture, distribution, and application of industrial explosives and engineered blasting solutions, announces the release of its new E*STAR Connectors, which are now globally available. The new connectors are ergonomically designed with built-in features to provide an easy-to-use, reliable industry solution.

The connectors’ robust construction includes an all-weather resistant seal, ensuring E*STAR detonators will function as intended even in low temperatures or precipitation. Built with field conditions in mind, E*STAR Connectors are easy to handle while wearing gloves because of the grip provided by anti-slip contours and the robust flip-top hinge. A blaster can open the connector using just one thumb, yet once closed, the connector is sealed and secure from dirt, debris, and moisture ingress.

So much innovation is packed into these small devices to ensure the highest standard of usability, reliability, and safety. Duplex bus line wire eliminates the need to split wires when making a connection, thus saving time and decreasing the chance for wire damage during splicing. With E*STAR, the connection is made by simply placing the duplex wire into the connector (in any polarity) and snapping the lid shut.

“E*STAR connectors are leading the industry with their new innovative “double connect” capability on both the leg wire and duplex wire. The double connect capability allows for eight points of contact on the detonator leg wires and eight contact points on the bus lines. The new E*STAR connector effectively ensures a 100% reliable connection of all wires within the connector, at all times,” explains Campbell Robertson, Global Manager – Electronic Initiation Systems at Austin Powder. “Blasters can also perform through connector testingwithout reopening the connector, streamlining the testing procedure.”

Also, the new connectors make both detonator-to-logger and detonator-to-branch connections faster and more reliable. Wire type and length are identifiable at-a-glance because of standardized color-coding. The connector’s back is flat with ample surface area so that the delay time or other pertinent information can be noted.

The new E*STAR connectors are just one way Austin Powder is working to ensure that our products contribute to safe, predictable and, optimized results.

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Austin Powder­ – Used in 1833 & Ever Since.  Austin Powder is a leader in the manufacture, distribution, and application of industrial explosives for the quarrying, surface mining, underground mining, oil & gas, seismic, and construction markets. We provide a broad range of highly engineered solutions, ­– from bulk trucks to Red Devil Underground Units; emulsion technology to E*STAR detonators; predictive vibration modeling software to optimized blast design. All Austin Powder solutions are developed to advance the safety, reliability, and efficiency of breaking rock.

At Austin Powder, we believe in the power of family and the simple truth that in our business, details matter in all that we do. That is why Safety is Our First Priority.  This ethos is carried through every aspect of our business and by every Austin employee around the world.

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Photo 1: ESTAR connector with gloves.jpg

Caption 1: E*STAR Detonator connections are designed to be easy to use in the field, even with gloved hands.

Photo 2: ESTAR connector in dirt.jpg

Caption 2: E*STAR Detonator connections are robust and all-weather resistant to handle the harshest real-world conditions.