Pickering Electronics’ ultra-high-density Series 125 reed relays have been named Passive or Electromechanical Product of the Year at the electronics industry’s Elektra Awards, underlining growing demand for space-efficient components in automated test and measurement systems.
The UK-based Manufacturer said the award recognises a product that sets a new benchmark for packing density, offering what it describes as the industry’s smallest two-pole reed relay. The Series 125 range was first introduced at electronica 2024, with additional variants unveiled at productronica 2025.
Series 125 initially launched as a 2 Form A DPST, double-pole, single-throw, relay. The portfolio has since expanded to include 1 Form A, 1 Form B, 1 Form C, and 1 Form A coaxial versions, broadening its appeal for engineers designing complex switching architectures. The relays can switch up to 1 amp and 20 watts, are available with 3, 5, or 12 volt coils, and stack on a compact 5 mm by 5 mm pitch.
According to the Company, the use of instrumentation-grade reed switches allows the devices to perform reliably in mixed-signal environments, combining high insulation resistance with low contact resistance. These characteristics are particularly valued in automated test equipment, where signal integrity and channel density are critical.
The Elektra Awards are judged by a panel of senior industry figures, who assess submissions through a multi-stage review process. Judges said the Series 125 stood out for the space savings it delivers without compromising reliability, making a clear case for differentiation in a crowded market.
Robert King, Reed Relays Product Manager at Pickering Electronics, said the product addresses a long-standing trade-off faced by design engineers. “Series 125’s ultra-high-density form factor means engineers no longer need to choose between performance and space,” he said. “By extending the range to include multiple contact configurations, we are enabling record channel density and greater routing flexibility on space-constrained cards, such as switching matrices and multiplexers used in ATE.”
The Company added that the Series 125 has also been shortlisted in EPDT’s Products of the Year, while its Microwave Switch Design Tool was shortlisted at the Instrumentation & Electronics Awards in the Test, Measurement & Inspection Product of the Year category.
Pickering Electronics said its wider reed relay portfolio is built on decades of manufacturing experience, with all products using instrumentation-grade switches rated for long operating life, in some cases reaching billions of cycles. Features such as formerless coil construction, patented SoftCenter technology, mu-metal screening, and 100% testing, including dynamic contact wave-shape analysis, are designed to support high reliability in densely packed systems.
Founded more than 50 years ago, Pickering Electronics focuses on reed relays for instrumentation and test equipment. It forms part of the privately owned Pickering Group, which also includes Pickering Interfaces and Pickering Connect, supplying switching systems, simulation products, cables, and connectors to customers worldwide.
