Westermo Unveils SandCat: Plug-and-Play Switches for Industrial Ethernet Networks

Of all the devices in an industrial facility that can wreak havoc by failing at the worst time, it’s those devices that interconnect all the other systems. Network components are some of the most critical infrastructure, so reliability and ease of troubleshooting are important networking qualities.

 

Westermo SandCat Ethernet Switches

Westermo, a provider of reliable industrial data communication solutions, has recently added to its product line a new series of unmanaged industrial Ethernet switches. The SandCat five-port fast Ethernet switch series comes in a user-friendly and compact design and is set to complement the company’s existing range of managed switches for a versatile and reliable solution for expanding data networks.

 

The SandCat series plug-and-play unmanaged industrial Ethernet switch. Image used courtesy of Westermo

 

The SandCat Series

The new SandCat series from Westermo caters to the increasing reliability, complexity, and bandwidth demand of various industries like utilities, marine, manufacturing, and energy industries with its support of a fast 100 Mbit/s speed requirements. Designed for mission-critical applications, the new switches provide an affordable means of establishing network communication for multiple end devices. With a built-in fiber port, communication capabilities in the industrial setup can be extended over longer distances or between sites, since fiber can extend far beyond the range of typical wired networks.

 

Use Cases and Applications

Managed network switches are used to improve the security and configuration ability of data networks. This new SandCat series of unmanaged switches is suited to increase the port counts of these higher-level managed switches, allowing the installation of more end devices. For remote access and optimal redundancy, the new unmanaged switches can be used as a central device when a physical topology needs to be created or as a basic switch in stand-alone industrial automation applications where cyber security is a lower risk.

 

Industrial Design and Standards

Built to work in harsh industrial settings, the SandCat series also allows for DIN rail mounting for mission-critical applications. The switch provides an Ethernet connection between I/O units, drives, PLCs, inverters, and HMIs. Designed for durability, the switches boast an IP30-rated metal housing allowing for an operating temperature of -40 to 75 °C while also meeting isolation, EMC, shock, and vibration standards. The multiple small form-factor pluggable transceiver options, extensive industry approvals, and a wide power input range ensure maximum flexibility in applications.

 

Endorsements and Certifications

According to a highlight by Rasmus Sjöström, Product Manager at Westermo, the SandCat series offers reliable, simple, high-quality, and high-performing switching solutions. Rasmus emphasizes the versatility of SFP options and the comprehensive range of industry certifications, providing the flexibility needed to meet the complexity and the expanding size of data networks.

As the technology in data networks keeps improving, industries must seek out fast, affordable, and reliable communication solutions that best fit their needs. Westermo’s SandCat series offers impressive features that could potentially meet demands in the global market for industries seeking affordable unmanaged Ethernet switching solutions for their complex data networks.