Molex has unveiled its unified single-pair Ethernet technology as a new standard for industrial Ethernet.

Molex showcased Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) technology as a new product in its future product portfolio at the Smart Production Solutions (SPS) 2022 exhibition in Nuremberg, Germany, from November 8 to 10.

Single-pair cable connectivity solutions expand IP connectivity in automated factory settings by exceeding existing Ethernet capabilities. SPE delivers higher data rates over long cables, eliminating transmission bottlenecks in field network operations and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) infrastructure.

Current IIoT networks are often incomplete, containing "islands" of devices connected only indirectly through custom, analog, or proprietary gateways. SPEs deliver internet connectivity and power directly to essential devices, eliminating the need for fieldbus configuration. Industrial facilities can bridge the gap between the cloud and remote systems by leveraging open IP protocols via SPEs.

SPE provides Ethernet transmission over a single pair of copper cables. SPE can simultaneously supply up to 50W of power to end devices via Power over Data Line (PoDL), similar to Ethernet-over-Line (EoL), along with data transmission. As the latest evolution of Ethernet technology, SPE is transforming data accessibility and device control in the intelligent industrial sector. Standard SPE solutions support IP20 and IP67-rated connections.

The new product will meet the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standards for cables up to 1 km in length. SPE can achieve 10 Mbps for IEEE 802.3cg and 1 Gbps for IEEE 802.3bw. Molex plans to achieve 10 Gbps for the newly developed IEEE 802.3ch. SPE is expected to replace virtually all existing fieldbus types in these categories.

SPE offers the industry faster, simpler, and more cost-effective I/O (Input and Output) installation, reducing new deployment costs and providing a clear migration path for existing networks. It also allows devices, sensors, and actuators to be easily integrated into existing Ethernet environments without requiring additional interfaces.

“Molex’s new SPE has completed the validation and certification phase, meaning its imminent release marks a significant milestone in the IIoT evolution,” said Mark Schuerman, senior manager of business development for Molex’s global markets segment. “This new product will play a key role in implementing our IIoT strategy by bridging the connectivity and control gap in industrial networks and accelerates Molex’s commitment to establishing SPE as the new Ethernet model.”