Once all decisions have been made, a pre-assembled cable offers a convenient, worry-free solution. However, anyone involved in commissioning industrial systems knows where the real challenges lie. The difficult decisions are made long before installation begins, when key choices regarding the cable assembly are determined choices that can be difficult and costly to correct later. What protection class concept applies in the field? Which connector can withstand the cyclical stresses of a drag chain? Should the cable be protected against oil, coolants, or UV radiation?
Clearly, no one-size-fits-all solution can address this wide range of requirements. What is needed is a specialist who combines expertise and experience with a differentiated portfolio of patch cables and cordsets. Whether it is the ETHERLINE® PN Cabinet Cat. 6A for connecting switches and other network devices within the control cabinet, or M8 and M12 cable assemblies for robust field-level wiring, every LAPP product is designed to deliver maximum performance when combined with other components from the Stuttgart-based connectivity specialist.
Cordsets: Connecting Sensors to the I/O Master
At the field level, where sensors and actuators provide the interface to the physical world, M8 and M12 cable assemblies are widely used. They connect field devices to decentralised I/O systems or IO-Link masters such as the UNITRONIC® ACCESS MP08 IOL. In these environments, transmission quality is only one part of the equation; resistance to environmental influences is equally important.
“The environmental conditions at the field level differ fundamentally from those inside a control cabinet. Vibrations, cleaning agents, EMC requirements, temperature fluctuations – a cable must withstand all these influences without compromising signal quality.”
– Simon Vrbnjak, Global Business Development Manager Industrial Communications, LAPP
Pre-assembled cordsets such as the UNITRONIC® SENSOR SH M12 are therefore not only easy to install but also provide long-term reliability and have been tested for use in drag chain applications.
Patch cables: Precision at network level
Where controllers, switches and other network components exchange data, Ethernet patch cables ensure reliable communication. In the control cabinet in particular, every detail counts: category, shielding and flex properties influence performance and play a key role in determining how complex the installation will be. Particularly in PROFINET systems, where real-time communication is the objective, it is important to comply with the cable categories and shielding requirements specified in the installation guidelines.
For control cabinets in particular, LAPP has, for example, developed the ETHERLINE® PN Cabinet Cat.6A. Its particularly small bend radius makes it easy to lay, even in confined spaces. Pre-assembled RJ45 connectors enable quick installation, whilst data rates of up to 10 Gbit/s lay the foundation for high-performance industrial communication. If a fibre-optic connection between switches is required, LAPP has suitable fibre-optic cables in its portfolio. They transmit signals over even long distances without interference.
Customers who are unsure about which products to choose can seek comprehensive advice from specialists at the connectivity specialist regarding solutions and the selection of the right components. At the LAPP Exploration Center at the company’s headquarters in Stuttgart, certified technicians work together with clients to plan network topologies.
Active infrastructure: Industrial Ethernet switches
Cables transmit signals. Switches distribute them. And here, too, smart preparation and the right products are crucial before installation and commissioning: an Industrial Ethernet switch is the central hub of every production network – it determines whether data reaches the right recipient at the right time and in the right order. “Naturally, the hardware we’re familiar with from office use isn’t sufficient here,” explains Simon Vrbnjak, Global Business Development Manager for Industrial Communication at LAPP. “We’re talking about wide temperature ranges, EMC resilience and support for the real-time protocols required by production automation. LAPP’s industrial switch portfolio is designed precisely for these conditions.”
One key consideration for customers is the distinction between managed and unmanaged switches. Managed switches provide complete transparency and control for network operators. Unmanaged switches offer plug-and-play simplicity for straightforward machine-level connections where configuration effort is not justified. Both product families support PROFINET and EtherNet/IP, the dominant real-time protocols across European, North American, and Asian markets.
Decentralised Intelligence: Remote I/O Modules
In traditional control architectures, every signal from every sensor, actuator, button, and indicator is routed through individual cables to a central control cabinet. The result is often a literal tangle of cables, but in any case, a highly complex installation associated with significant installation costs. Scaling such systems is difficult. Moreover, concentrating everything in a single control cabinet creates the risk of a complete system failure – a scenario no operator wants to face.
LAPP experts know that this bottleneck can be eliminated through the use of remote I/O modules. A single module mounted directly on a machine or conveyor system collects signals from multiple field devices and transmits them digitally via a network connection to the central controller.
The benefits are substantial: dramatically reduced cable lengths, smaller control cabinets, faster commissioning, and integrated diagnostic capabilities that identify faults at their source rather than only at the control cabinet connection point.
Conclusion
The conclusion is straightforward: industrial communication requires components that fit together perfectly. LAPP offers the complete portfolio – cables, connectors, and network components – all designed to work seamlessly together.
“What truly differentiates us from suppliers of individual components is our system-oriented approach,” summarises Simon Vrbnjak, Global Business Development Manager at LAPP. “At LAPP, customers receive more than just a cable and a connector. They receive coordinated, tested connectivity solutions as a complete system, along with the support of our experts.”
The LAPP Exploration Center is a place where customers can experience our solutions and innovations firsthand, supported by concentrated technical expertise. We offer training, troubleshooting, and individual consulting services for your connectivity infrastructure and are PI-certified. Visit us in Stuttgart and discover how LAPP connectivity solutions can optimise your industrial communication.
Connectivity without compromise
Reliable networks form the backbone of any modern production facility. With our range of Ethernet switches, patchcords, cordsets and remote I/Os, you have access to all the components needed for a seamless, reliable communications infrastructure – all designed to work together and tailored to the demands of industry. Whether you’re setting up a new installation or expanding existing systems, we support you with solutions built for durability and reliability.
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