Artificial intelligence (AI) requires high-performance data centres – an area that is becoming increasingly important. The working group (WG19) of IEC subcommittee 23B focuses on the standardisation of the requirements for the operation of DC-powered server equipment.
Standardisation of DC connectors: Jonas Bachmann takes over management of WG19
New convenor of the working group: Jonas Bachmann, Director R&D at SCHURTER AG.
IEC technical committees and subcommittees consist of working groups (WG) and maintenance teams (MT). The WG are responsible for standardisation, while the MT are responsible for maintaining the standards. A committee is headed by a chairman, a WG or an MT by a convenor.
IEC TC 23 is responsible for electrical accessories, i.e. connectors, cable connections, switches, and the like. The SC 23B subcommittee is specifically responsible for the standardisation of connectors. SCHURTER launched the world's first complete 400VDC connector family according to IEC in 2024. It was therefore only natural that a profound advocate of this technology should now also take over the coordination and leadership of this WG since the end of March 2025.
For SCHURTER, participation in standardisation committees has always been important, even if it is not remunerated. Manufacturers who actively participate benefit from a knowledge advantage, potential technical influence, and the opportunity to co-decide on controversial issues.
Chairman of SC 23G since 2024 less than a year ago, on 15th May 2024, Bachmann was appointed Chairman of the IEC subcommittee 23G for appliance couplers. As chairman of this subcommittee, he is responsible for the strategic direction of the standardisation of appliance couplers.
Both subcommittees 23G and 23B are part of Technical Committee 23, which is responsible for coordination between the various subcommittees and is linked to other technical bodies within and outside the IEC. TC 23 is responsible for aspects of safety, electromagnetic compatibility, performance, compatibility, interoperability, interchangeability, and energy efficiency as well as terminology for electrical accessories, all of which contribute to the global management of electrical energy.
IEC 1906 Award in 2020
With the ‘IEC 1906 Award’, the IEC annually honours people who have made outstanding achievements in the technical or organisational area of a current standards project. Bachmann was one of the award winners in 2020.
