Topic: ethernet-cables

In the Roaring Twenties, manufacturing was changing fast, sparking another common nickname for the era: The Prosperity Decade. Many might argue, however, that the 2020s are even more “roaring.” After all, a full century later, innovation is still moving – and faster than ever. As facilities embrace smart manufacturing initiatives, digital transformation, and Industry 4.0 strategies, the amount of real-time data moving across the plant floor continues to grow. That shift demands communication infrastructure that is faster, simpler, and built to survive the realities of industrial environments.

Most of us have a startling amount of tangled cables and connectors on, below, and behind our desks. Multiply that by a hundred or even a thousand, and you have a better idea of the cables and wiring that need to be managed for machinery in an entire manufacturing facility.

Wire and cable can be found all over a manufacturing facility. They are the life source of all power equipment and are required to fit in tight spaces, reach long distances, and still manage to not get in the way of day to day operations on the floor. The answer to all this cable chaos? Cable trays.

Since 2001, CAT5e (Category 5 enhanced) has been the Ethernet cable of choice.  Operations have specified CAT5e for reliable network and industrial automation performance. After decades of using CAT5e, why would you change specifications? Ethernet cable standards have evolved and with advancing technology, the need for more bandwidth, faster speeds, and the ability to be compatible with CAT5e, improved Ethernet cables have been created. New options include CAT6, CAT6A, CAT7 or CAT7A Ethernet cables.