"Empty-closure", a common occurrence in manufacturing and assembly, is the operation of an actuator without inserting an FPC into the connector. It can cause connector damage or incomplete mating when the FPC is subsequently inserted. This white paper introduces the "empty-closure" issue by using I-PEX's MINIFLEX^® series as an example, and how it is addressed, as well as the design know-how gained through analysis and calculation to ensure that the connector will function even if an empty closure occurs.