Molex will be at the Smart Production Solutions Exhibition

Molex will be at the Smart Production Solutions Exhibition

Early demonstration of Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) products

• Senior members of the SPE Industrial Partner Network are breaking new ground by developing unified SPE technology and adopting it as the new standard for Industrial Ethernet 

• SPE adopts an end-to-end communication method based on IP protocol to achieve barrier-free connection to sensors/actuators and other equipment.

• Molex will showcase SPE cable and connection products in advance at Smart Production Solutions 2022

Lisle, IL - November 9, 2022 - Molex, the global electronics industry leader and connectivity innovator, announced the launch of Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) products in its future product portfolio. Molex will exhibit the product in advance at the 2022 Smart Production Solutions (SPS) exhibition in Nuremberg, Germany, from November 8th to 10th.

Single-pair cabling solutions provide capabilities well beyond the capabilities of traditional Ethernet to extend IP connectivity in automated factory settings. SPE uses higher rates to transmit data over long distance cables, eliminating transmission bottlenecks in field-level network operations equipment and industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) infrastructure.

The current Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is often incomplete, containing “islands” of devices that are only indirectly connected through custom analog or proprietary gateways. SPE provides Internet connectivity and power directly to basic equipment, eliminating the need for fieldbus configuration in the factory. Open IP protocols through SPE enable industrial operations systems to bridge the gap between cloud servers and remote systems. 

Certified for high-speed data transmission over long cable distances

SPE implements Ethernet transmission through a pair of copper cables. In addition to data transmission, it also provides power to end devices (PoDL) via data lines (similar to Ethernet over power lines (EoL)), with an output power of up to 50 watts.

Recent developments in Ethernet technology are changing data accessibility and device control in smart industrial applications. Compliant SPE solutions meet IP20 and IP67 protection class requirements.

Future releases will be compliant with Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standards, with cable lengths up to 1 kilometer. The transmission rate of SPE can reach 10 Mbps specified in the IEEE802.3cg standard, and 1 Gbps specified in the IEEE802.3bw standard.

Molex plans to develop new products at a rate that will reach the 10 Gbps specified by the IEEE802.3ch standard. It is expected that these types of SPE can almost replace various existing fieldbuses.

SPE provides simpler, faster and cheaper input and output equipment (I/O) installation solutions for various industries, which can reduce the cost of new systems and provide a clear path to help us transition from traditional networks to modern networks. Devices, sensors and actuators can be easily integrated into existing Ethernet environments without the need for additional interfaces.

Adopting a lighter and more compact design for Industry 4.0

Mark Schuerman, senior manager of global market business development at Molex, said: "Molex's newly launched SPE products have passed verification and certification. This means that Molex will soon be ready for the deployment of SPE products. SPE products The launch of the product marks an important milestone in the development of the Industrial Internet of Things. "This product aims to bridge the gap between connected devices and control devices in industrial networks and is crucial when implementing the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) strategy, so Molex Shi is committed to using SPE to build a new Ethernet model.

Compared to traditional Ethernet, which requires two or four pairs of wires, SPE requires only one pair of cables, reducing equipment cost, size and weight. The product is designed with slimmer cables and compact connectors to fit cables into tight spaces. In order to ensure that the cable can operate normally in the factory environment for a long time, Molex uses strong materials in the outer layer of the cable.

Forging SPE technology and applications

The new standardized Ethernet platform has received support and investment from numerous industry leaders through the SPE Industrial Partner Network, a consortium of more than 50 companies. As a high-quality member of the ecosystem, Molex is committed to the wide application of SPE technology during the development of SPE.

All members are committed to interoperability standards, including adopting standardized pairing interfaces in accordance with IEC 63171-6/-7. SPE is expected to replace almost all types of fieldbus due to its excellent performance and standardization. SPE will be the ideal technology on our path to Industry 4.0.

Smart Production Solutions 2022

• Molex will join other leading industrial automation organizations at the SPS 2022 exhibition in Nuremberg, Germany, from November 8 to 10. Molex will be located in Booth 110, Hall 10.0.

• Visit the Molex booth to see Molex's SPE technology components on display and learn how the company leverages the latest Ethernet technology to optimize data transmission.