Lindsey Parker
Industrial Network Business Development Manager, Panduit
Q: Panduit has long been a leader in providing the physical infrastructure for digital networks as well as electrical power for plant-floor and production environments. What have you found are the most important characteristics that industrial end users and OEMs seek in a network infrastructure solution?
A: First off, don’t sacrifice performance and reliability over price and availability. Second, choose partners that understand the unique requirements of industrial environments. Third, plan not just for what you need today but what you’ll need tomorrow and the day after.
It’s important to know, for example, what type of media is suitable for your environment. You don’t always need an IP67-rated enclosure or an M12 connector, but in our world, sometimes you do. Panduit references the TIA 1005-A standard for industrial environments, which provides guidance through mechanical, ingress, chemical/climatic and electromagnetic (MICE) considerations. Knowing when to invest in hardened cabling infrastructure and when to use commercial grade will save you money in the long run, while ensuring your infrastructure can withstand its surroundings.
Also, remember that while the network infrastructure will only represent 7-10% of the spending on a given project, it's got to be properly configured. That means choosing the right topology to provide appropriate performance and resilience. ‘Should be good enough’ just won’t cut it. Rather, consider following a proven approach such as the Converged Plantwide Ethernet (CPwE) reference architectures that Panduit has developed with Rockwell Automation and Cisco to validate network performance. Using those architectures as a guide, you can know exactly what performance to expect from your completed solution.
Q: While physical cabling certainly remains the backbone of plant-floor automation and information networks, how has the infrastructure equation changed with the increased performance of wireless networks, such as those defined by the WiFi 6 standard and 5G from the telecommunications industry?
A: High-performance wireless is an important technology that can deliver new capabilities to industry, but it’s important to realize that it doesn’t replace physical network infrastructure. Rather, the latest high-speed wireless standards such as WiFi 6 actually require more access points in order to deliver that higher speed and bandwidth. And more access points mean more cabling!
That same equation applies to the 5G wireless infrastructure being promoted by the telecommunications industry. But with the WiFi 6 vs. 5G decision, the biggest question isn't performance, but whether you want to own your network outright, or enter into a contract to have that infrastructure managed on your behalf.
Another implication of the latest wireless standards is they all but require Category 6A cabling infrastructure, which supports 10-Gb Ethernet. Many plants today operate on Category 5e cabling, which is only 1-Gb Ethernet capable. Also, since physical infrastructure is likely to outlive the radios connected to it—consider running a second, redundant Cat 6A cable while you’re at it. Think two steps ahead, so you’re better prepared for what’s to come.
