May 7, 2014 – EBMag is sad to report the passing of structured cabling pioneer and founder of Ortronics, Maurice “Mo” Orlando, who died April 28 at his home in Long Boat Key, Fla., at the age of 91.

Mark C. Panico, president, data communications, Legrand North America (which acquired Ortronics in 1998), said the company recognizes Orlando “for his vision, vast knowledge and contribution to the structured cabling industry”.

According to Legrand, Orlando founded Ortronics Inc. in 1966. With his engineering background, he designed, built and patented his own assembly line machinery that manufactured electrical coils and wire harnesses. The company also designed and built transformers for IBM, its first major customer.

In 1968 and throughout the 1970s, Ortronics continued to build cabling assemblies for the Regional Bell Operating Companies, soon becoming the largest independent manufacturer of speed relay coils in New England. In the early 1980s, Ortronics developed a bridging adapter for customer premise equipment for the telephone industry.

In 1985, Ortronics entered the datacom market with modular patch panels and data adapters designed to work in the twisted-pair environment. As the structured cabling industry grew, Orlando “was instrumental” in introducing category jacks designed to meet specific industry standards.