Industrial network connection

What is industrial networking?

Industrial networking covers the physical and logical layers that connect machines, sensors, and control systems in a production environment. With the right infrastructure, you can ensure high uptime, minimal delays, and robust protection against cyberattacks.

The three primary technologies—serial communication, protocol gateways, and controllers & I/O—each perform their own tasks depending on speed, complexity, and security requirements.

When is serial communication used?

Serial communication is ideal for point-to-point connections between devices such as PLCs, motor controllers, and sensors when:

  • Data transfer is simple and low speed (e.g., RS-232, RS-485)
  • The distance is short to medium (up to several hundred meters).
  • The system requires high reliability and low complexity.
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When are protocol gateways used?

Protocol gateways translate data between different network protocols (e.g., Modbus RTU ↔ Modbus TCP, Profinet ↔ Ethernet/IP), which is necessary when:

  • Different brands or older equipment must be integrated
  • You want to centralize monitoring and control in a single SCADA or OT environment
  • Security and segmentation of OT networks is critical
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When do you use Controllers & I/O?

Controllers & I/O modules combine data processing and input/output control close to machine equipment and are ideal when:

  • Real-time control and automation are required
  • You want decentralized data processing capacity and increased flexibility in your OT architecture.
  • Integration with modern fieldbuses (ProfiBus, EtherCAT) or industrial Ethernet standards
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Why choose us to ensure a robust industrial network connection?

  • Expert knowledge in both traditional serial systems and modern IIoT solutions
  • Focus on safety with segmentation and encryption against cyber attacks
  • Flexibility through modular gateways and scalable I/O devices

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