APPLICATIONS > INDUSTRIAL
Following ethernet’s successful uptake in the commercial sector, industry has embraced ethernet as a proven networking standard. Supporting high bandwidth fibre, wireless and cable networks, ethernet enables a real-time flow of data between the factory and the office.
Process control applications and real-time control systems increasingly operate on industrial ethernet networks. Ethernet is a high-speed gateway linking SCADA systems directly to Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and Remote Telemetry Units (RTUs).
Distributed Control System (DCS) devices by all major manufacturers support ethernet communication, and ethernet networking and protocols such as Ethernet/IP, ModbusTCP and ProfiNet are now integral features in process control products. 
Recent technological advances have made it possible for plastic optical fibre to support ethernet at the data rates (100 Mbps) and distances (up to 100m) required by mainstream industrial applications.
Now industry can benefit from the reliability, security
and economy of Ethernet over Plastic Optical Fibre.
Whether it is for the manufacturing, mining, transport, construction or service industries, EoPOF can be used in new installations of network infrastructure, or retrofitted to existing cable networks.
EoPOF is well-suited to applications in the industrial environment:
- it is immune to electromagnetic interference and radiation
- it operates in temperature ranges of -20ºC to 70ºC
- it is a more robust and lightweight product than copper cabling and glass optical fibre
- it is suited for congested networking ducts or space-saving design (it has half the diameter of Twisted Pair and is more flexible than glass optical fibre)
- it is isolated from electrical current, so it is safe to install next to power sources
EoPOF presents system engineers, electrical managers and electrical engineers with two major and compelling advantages for networking solutions: performance and affordability.
Compared to copper cabling, EoPOF’s electrical isolation ensures performance: with EoPOF, downtime and data corruption due to electrical interference is no longer an issue. High-speed and highly reliable transportation of process control data is ensured, meaning quality of service is practically guaranteed.
Affordability is a major consideration in any infrastructure expenditure, and with EoPOF the benefits of optical fibre can now be deployed in cost sensitive projects.
EoPOF not only offers a lower cost on the bill of materials, but being four times lighter and half the diameter than Cat5e means freight costs can be significantly reduced.
EoPOF is also more cost effective to install: termination and connection can be completed without the need for specialist machinery or expertise, and a simple red LED indicates if the line is good. 
For those looking to upgrade Twisted Pair or Cat5e networks to the benefits of optical fibre, EoPOF is a more affordable solution than glass optical fibre.
For those already using glass optical fibre, EoPOF devices provide a cheaper alternative for network expansion.
By providing seamless, high-speed data transfer for cost-sensitive projects, Ethernet over Plastic Optical Fibre is a breakthrough for industry.
See the light and take advantage of the benefits of EoPOF for industrial networking.
