In response, binder has announced that it is strategically expanding its product portfolio and is advancing its M12-X-coded connectors to meet the stringent demands of these markets. This development creates forward-looking solutions for applications such as Ethernet-based communication infrastructures, camera-based monitoring systems, and passenger infotainment services.
“The rail industry and the transport sector are becoming increasingly digital. We are currently adapting the M12-X-coded connectors for the specific applications in these target markets. Our connectors will be used in backbone communication structures with high data rates as well as in passenger infotainment systems,” explained Dieter Sandula, Product Manager at binder.
binder will ensure reliable data transmission according to the Cat6A standard – even under extreme conditions such as strong vibrations and shock loads.
Connectors for these target markets must meet specific requirements. The DIN EN 61076-2-109 standard specifies, among other things, the requirements for the mechanical robustness, vibration resistance, and sealing of connectors specifically designed for industrial and harsh environments.
In addition, there are stricter requirements for new areas of application. For railway applications, for instance, connectors must pass additional shock and vibration tests according to DIN EN 61373. Connectors that pass these tests ensure their functionality even under short-term stresses, such as those that occur during shunting or coupling operations.
“Mechanical robustness and fire safety of materials are particularly significant challenges. binder addresses these by using new materials that are reliably processed in adapted manufacturing processes,” said Sandula. “These materials have been selected based on the criteria of EN 45545-2. Additional manufacturing steps are necessary to ensure that the quality standards and protection levels expected by our customers are met."
In addition to the rail industry, where several hundred connectors may be installed in a single carriage, and the transport sector, which demands ever-higher data rates in every vehicle, these robust connectors are also finding applications in agriculture.
Highly complex machinery in this field requires reliable, robust functionality to prevent downtime. Furthermore, increasingly data-intensive real-time monitoring systems are being integrated into this sector. These systems work with real-time data, such as in combine harvesters, where camera-based systems help to avoid collisions with wildlife.
