Fast PROFINET® cables for industrial networks

The new PROFINET® cables from Lapp achieve the highest data rates, delivering 10 gigabits per second according to the Cat.7 standard. Although Cat.6A cables achieve comparable speeds, Cat.7 cables feature larger reserves in terms of performance and transmission security as they operate at a much higher transmission frequency of 600 MHz. As a result, the cables still achieve maximum performance even if they age or are damaged over the course of time. The cables remain remarkably thin, however, with outer diameters ranging from 8.1 mm for fixed cables to 8.7 mm for flexible cables. This helps save space in the event of cramped conditions in machines or control cabinets.

The new cables comply with the PROFINET® standard, which is why their names also contain the abbreviation “PN”. PROFINET® is the standard that has been agreed on by a large number of manufacturers and has recorded the highest growth rates for data cables in industrial applications. For users, this means that all products within the PROFINET® universe are compatible with one another. Another positive aspect of the new PROFINET® cables from Lapp is that they are also certified for the North American market, meaning that users can deploy a single product in all markets without needing to concern themselves with further approval procedures. The issue of parts and inventory management is also simplified, as companies are only required to manage a smaller number of different part variants.

There are five variants of the ETHERLINE® PN Cat.7: for fixed installation it can be flame-retardant with a PVC sheath with the name affix “Y”, it can be halogen-free and flame-retardant with an FRNC sheath, or it can have a PUR sheath meaning it is halogen-free, flame-retardant and more mechanically robust. There are also two variants for flexible installation (“FLEX”) with a flame-retardant PVC sheath or with a halogen-free and flame-retardant FRNC sheath.