🚀 Industrial Network Infrastructure Integrates with Edge Computing!

[Ahmet Ö.]

💡 New Generation Network Solutions from Belden​

Belden has introduced updated network hardware, edge gateways, and cabling solutions that integrate industrial control systems with enterprise IT architectures. These innovations provide standardized physical and data transport layers for connecting legacy field devices to enterprise networks in manufacturing, energy, and transportation facilities.

The expanded portfolio includes specialized hardware interfaces, power distribution architectures, and centralized management software to simplify edge-to-core integration in challenging and distributed environments.

🔌 Field Device and Sensor Integration​

• LioN-X Analog I/O Modules: Directly convert analog signals to an IO-Link master architecture, offering four configurable ports that support voltage, current, resistance, and thermocouple inputs. They operate with standard IO-Link bus power, eliminating the need for an external DC power supply.
  
• ProSoft PLX51-HART-8I Gateway: Translates data directly to EtherNet/IP or Modbus networks with eight galvanically isolated HART channels. It enables up to 64 field devices to communicate with programmable logic controllers via a single gateway.
  

⚡ Robust Switching and Low Voltage Architectures​

• Hirschmann GREYHOUND GRS2000 Series: Offers low-voltage DC power supply options for power stations and railway applications. This allows switches to draw power directly from existing low-voltage DC bus rails, simplifying hardware transitions.
  
• Hirschmann IT MTS 2608 and MTS 2708: Provides eight access ports and four 1-gigabit SFP optical uplinks for enterprise and edge network switching. The MTS 2708 delivers up to 125 watts of IEEE 802.3at Power over Ethernet output to connected field devices.
  

📡 Centralized Wireless Management and High-Density Cabling​

• Software-Based WLAN Orchestration Platform: Manages distributed wireless infrastructure from a single interface with centralized policy deployment, traffic monitoring, and access point provisioning.
  
• ACX 4U Modular Fiber Distribution Panel: Supports up to 384 optical fibers for high-density interconnect environments in data centers.
  
• Safe T Line Cable Portfolio: Ensures circuit integrity compliant with EN 50200 PH120 and CPR Euroclass Cca (s1b, d1, a1) standards, ideal for emergency evacuation communications.
  

🔍 Additional Information​

In industrial automation architectures, IO-Link analog conversion hubs compete with distributed modular slice I/O systems from manufacturers like Phoenix Contact and Turck. The use of direct IO-Link bus power reduces cabinet space and eliminates dedicated M12 L-coded DC auxiliary power drops.

The Hirschmann GRS2000's low-voltage direct rail input is compliant with railway standard EN 50155 and substation standard IEC 61850-3 power requirements. This improves the mean time between failures in harsh electrical environments by eliminating external step-down converters, competing against platforms like the Cisco Industrial Ethernet 3000 series and Moxa EDS-G500E.