OSC talks with TE | Interview on industrial automation and connectivity technologies

We are honored to have Ruud van den Brink, TE Connectivity’s European Product Manager for Industrial Communications , share with us some of TE Connectivity’s automation connectivity technologies.

Below is our interview content.

Ruud, thank you for taking the time to share some of TE Connectivity’s automation connectivity technologies with DesignSpark. So what are the key changes in industrial connectivity and automation that are driving TE Connectivity’s latest innovations?

The increase in labor costs contrasts with the ever-decreasing costs of automation, rising quality standards, and increased production speeds, making automation more advantageous than expanding labor-based production.

Combined with the increasing complexity of today's industrial automation installations, TE believes that more and more sensors, actuators and other components need to be interconnected in industrial automation construction. This translates into more and more new connections, about 250 million connections per year in the industrial automation field alone.

With the need for more data, Ethernet becomes the better technology choice. Unlike systems that use peripherals and a hierarchical construction of serial, bus and partial Ethernet, a more manageable system is achieved by using Ethernet everywhere. In combination with intelligent peripherals, additional data collection can be performed along with the required control data, enabling services such as predictive maintenance.

What are the benefits for organizations seeking automation and the engineers they employ?

TE's products will benefit OEMs developing next-generation equipment as well as machinery manufacturers and installers who use the equipment to build industrial facilities.

Mini-I/O and industrial RJ45 interfaces with integrated magnetics are good examples of products that reduce the board space of a design and save development time and cost due to the integration of analog system parts, thus providing industrial robustness.

Installers and machine builders can easily and error-free install TE's cable connectors. These tool-free installable connectors have a short installation time (RJ45 in 1 minute) and achieve optimal performance with an automatic wire-disconnect function to provide industrial stability.

What applications are these latest connection technologies best suited for?

TE's industrial connectors are widely used in the industrial field. They range from devices using serial connections, bus systems to industrial Ethernet. In addition, IP20-rated applications, up to industrial workplaces that require IP67-rated products.

Application examples include, but are not limited to:

• Automobile production

• mechanical

• Motors and Motor Control

• Control cabinet

• PLCs

• computer

• Industrial Communications

Has the product/range been used in any unusual designs or applications that you are aware of?

While TE's products are designed for use in industrial environments, they can also see use outside of that industry. Easy-to-terminate field-installable cable connectors such as the RJ45 are used in traditional RJ45 applications - typically office and home use - while the M12 connector can be used in charger applications.

The range of solutions includes:

• Industrial IP20 RJ45 Cat6A Plug - One-piece universal core Cat6A plug, tool-free, error-free installation, with automatic disconnect function

• Industrial RJ45 Fiber Optic Push-Pull Connectors - Supports IEC 61076-3-117 and is ideal for automotive production.

• Industrial RJ45 Jacks with Integrated Magnetics - Reduces the design effort required with magnetics already integrated into the jack.

△ TE Connectivity's Industrial Ethernet - RJ45 connector

How do engineers select the correct product type from these ranges?

Detailed product flyers for TE Connectivity's product range can be used to determine the correct connection type based on the engineer's requirements.

Find out more about these TE series at RS now: