Lapp: The One-stop Bus Cable Specialist

August 2000 

Used in industrial automation for data system communications in production automation, fieldbus technology has a direct bearing on the flexibility of manufacturing and the ability to stay ahead of the competition.

Fieldbus technology allows the distribution of intelligence much closer (or in) to the actual field devices. These typically perform local control and complex monitoring, and provide diagnostics and reporting, all resulting in reduced hard wiring, start-up time and downtime.

Copper is the most common and widely accepted bus cable, benefiting from installer familiarity but limited to the length allowable per bus segment. Growing in acceptance and in market penetration (currently running at 15 per cent), the alternative fibre optic cabling, and hybrid copper/fibre versions, offers the possibility of enlarged bus segments and no electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems. However, installers have limited experience of such a relatively new technology that also requires specialist measurement equipment.

Despite the reduction in hard wiring that fieldbus technology allows, the need for sophisticated bus cabling to carry power and digital communication is ever increasing. Lapp Cable satisfies this need with its comprehensive Unitronic® range of dedicated bus cabling products, certified and conforming to a variety of major bus user organisations including market leaders Profibus, Interbus, DeviceNet and CAN.

The importance of certified and system conforming bus cables - openly displaying the competence of companies like Lapp Cable - cannot be over-emphasised. Such cables are easier for the buyer or end-user to select and specify; the buyer or end-user can be sure that the function of the system - related to the bus cable - is not compromised; and there can be no confusion regarding technical details.

Technological trends in bus cabling include the so-called 'Combi' cable where data transmission (copper twisted pairs) and power supply (copper multi core) are combined. An example of such a cable is Lapp's Unitronic® Bus P Combi IBS which is used as an installation remote bus cable (INBC) on the Interbus system. The future of bus cabling lies in hybrid products in which data transmission is carried by fibre optics and the power supply by copper cores both under a common outer sheath.

A typical, and universal, example of a bus system application can be found in a building management system (BMS) which includes the control of all lighting, heating and ventilating, energy management, security and fire alarms, time switches, blinds/window shades, etc. The main processor is programmed to control the local devices, such as motors, valves and actuators, thereby reacting 'automatically' to external influences such as temperature and light fluctuations. The Bus cable forms the vital link between the controller and these devices.

Lapp Cable's indispensable, highly informative, new applications guide 'Control cables for all environments' identifies the appropriate Lapp Cable power chain product for a given application and performance requirement. In fact the guide lists all Lapp Cable's products. To request a free copy or for more details of Lapp Cable's power chain cable range, visit the contacts page.

The Lapp Group is a leading global manufacturer of control cables and accessories. In addition to ÖLFLEX® control cables its brands include UNITRONIC® (Data and Bus cables), SKINTOP® (Cable Glands), EPIC® (Cable Connectors), FLEXIMARK® (Cable Marking Systems) and HITRONIC® (Fibre Optic Cables).