Feature

High performance industrial managed Ethernet switches for rail and marine

A range of high performance industrial managed Ethernet switches that are certified for use in trackside and onboard rail, as well as offshore marine applications, are now available from MAC Solutions (UK)

11/01/2015 13:04:13

Providing the latest security and surveillance systems and onboard entertainment technologies such as passenger WiFi services to the demanding rail sector is a challenge. Reliability of these onboard technologies is critical for both train operators and passengers, while also improving the maintenance of onboard devices when trains are on the move.

The Lantech series of industrial managed Ethernet switches is certified to EN50155 and EN5012-4 European Rail standards, and are available in a variety of design specifications to suit the specific requirements of the rail industry. These include switches with wide power/operating voltage ranges, wide operating temperature ranges (-40°C to +75°C), as well as switches with anti-vibration M12 Ethernet connectors and industrial PoE (Power-over-Ethernet) capability. The switches are also protected by an aluminium enclosure to IP67/IP43.

All Lantech switches are supplied with simple network management/configuration software with fully intuitive graphical user interface (GUI). This allows the features of the switches to be utilised in order to build a dynamic network map using up-to-date status information.

The software allows users to configure, monitor and diagnose networked devices quickly and easily. Furthermore, all Lantech equipment is supplied with a GUI that is common across all devices, which significantly reduces the learning curve for users, whilst also simplifying the deployment of Lantech devices across the network.

Offshore marine
Marine vessels are confronted with several challenges for onboard equipment including vibration, high voltages, RFI and EMC. Cruise ships, for example, need to provide their onboard passengers with a variety of infotainment systems and so a reliable, highly efficient Ethernet network is essential to handle all video, voice and data transmission requirements from anywhere on the ship.

Lantech switches are available in a wide variety of design specifications to suit offshore marine environments. The switches are DNV (Det Norske Veritas) Type approval-certified to withstand the harsh marine conditions such as extreme operating temperatures, high humidity and corrosion, high shock and vibration, and where protection from EMI (electromagnetic interference) or RFI (radio frequency immunity) is required.

Most Lantech switches with a DNV Type approval certificate are approved to UL class I division II. ATEX-certified switches are also available for installation in potentially explosive atmospheres such as those present on offshore oil & gas platforms and onshore chemicals and petrochemicals plants. These switches are able to connect and remotely manage CCTV, audio PA, telephones, lighting systems, ventilation and SCADA systems.

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.