Which six trends are driving connection technology?

Automation Which six trends are driving connection technology?

2024-07-25 A guest post by Hubertus Breier, Vorstand Technik und Innovation, Lapp | Translated by AI 5 min Reading Time

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In connection technology, six trends are currently clearly emerging: direct current technology, digitization, Single Pair Ethernet, miniaturization, EMC compatibility, and sustainability. Read why this is so here.

Direct current is supposed to make an important contribution to the success of the energy transition and to increase sustainability.(Image: Lapp) — Direct current is supposed to make an important contribution to the success of the energy transition and to increase sustainability.
(Image: Lapp)

1. Trend: Direct current technology

Hubertus Breier, board member for technology and innovation at Lapp, presents six trends in connection technology.
(Image:Lapp)

Experts have determined that the use of DC networks significantly reduces energy consumption in existing facilities by avoiding conversion stages. The need for copper for the three-/four-wire DC cables and AC-DC converter devices is also reduced. Therefore, DC will make a significant contribution to the success of the energy transition and to more sustainability. DC networks in factories also contribute to a lower peak power at the supply connection in the direction of the network and relieve here. The connection technology provider Lapp is therefore developing cables and lines for low-voltage direct current networks for industrial applications and has a broad portfolio of connection solutions for industrial DC networks. Lapp has been one of the founding members of the Open Direct Current Alliance (ODCA) since fall 2022. This is an alliance of companies, research institutions and the ZVEI with the aim of paving the way for DC technology from research to industrial practice. In addition, Lapp networks worldwide with other DC initiatives, for example in Austria, the Netherlands and France as well as in the USA.

In the subject of direct current, Lapp leads by example and shows what the first steps might look like: The cooperation between Lapp and the Fraunhofer IPA led to the development of a scalable DC network concept for a production site expansion in France. This increases efficiency and enables the integration of PV systems for sustainable network concepts. This pioneering concept work supports the transformation of factory power supply towards direct current and promotes efficiency and sustainability.

2. Trend: Digitization

The greed for data is ever increasing. One hundred eighty-one zettabytes, or to put it more vividly, the number 181 followed by 21 zeros - that's the forecast for the global amount of digital data generated for the year 2025. How can this gigantic amount of data be transmitted stably and quickly? Copper cables alone cannot handle this. The solution: light, more precisely optical fibers. Therefore, a future-proof communication infrastructure in the factory with fiber optic cables is indispensable. As of today, there are already implementations like Fibre-to-the-Curb, where the fiber optic connection is practically laid to the distribution box in front of the residential building or factory. Fibre-to-the-Machine is the next logical step to network the highly networked machines in the factory with sufficient data transmission performance. Lapp already has a wide range of fiber optic cables and connectors for almost every industry and application. New to the portfolio are the field-assembled Epic Data FFC-LC connectors and Epic Data FFC-SC connectors for GOF optical fibers. They simplify the creation of a pluggable fiber optic connection and offer a high degree of flexibility.

3. Trend: Single Pair Ethernet

Despite the enormous hunger for data, copper-based data transmission remains the dominant solution in the industry. Lapp has been a member of the SPE Industrial Partner Network e.V. since 2019. The association of well-known companies is a central information and exchange platform for Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) and together helps the technology to break through. Simply translated, it is about connecting the field level, for example sensors or actuators, to the cloud via the Ethernet protocol. Existing fieldbus systems are to be replaced by the more modern protocol, paving the way for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). To meet the demands of the market, Lapp is expanding its portfolio with SPE solutions. The Etherline T1 FD is suitable for continuous use in the drag chain. For demanding applications in the process industry, Ethernet Advanced Physical Layer (Ethernet APL) has been developed, which is partially based on SPE. The technology enables secure data transmission to the field level in potentially explosive environments. This is ensured by the type of ignition protection 'Intrinsic Safety'. Ethernet APL also covers long distances up to 1,000 meters.

4. Trend: Miniaturization

The trend towards miniaturization continues in many areas of industry. Applications are becoming more compact, installation spaces are getting smaller, and a growing number of data and power connections need to be accommodated in a very small space. The Epic Power M12 connectors were developed in response to these market requirements and implemented consistently. The applications for the Epic Power M12L and M12K connectors are diverse. They are suitable, for example, for collaborative human-robot solutions, known as cobots, that work together with humans in manufacturing or in the warehouse. The technical properties of the connectors were already simulated using virtual models during development.

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Date: 08.12.2025

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5. Trend: EMC compatibility

The motor line Ölflex FD Servo ZeroCM has been optimized for leakage current by a special stranding process and makes an important contribution to EMC optimization of frequency-controlled drive systems.
(Image:Lapp)

With the increasing networking of machines and systems in the Smart Factory, the topic of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is becoming increasingly important. Especially in industrial plants where frequency converter-controlled motors are used, there can be more frequent undesired currents on the equipotential bonding conductors (PA) or protective earth conductors (PE). These unwanted currents can affect neighboring data lines and their data quality in transmission, falsely trigger fault protection switches, or even lead to increased rusting effects in building structures. A new cable design from Lapp reliably reduces leakage currents and makes a crucial contribution to improved EMC in machines and systems. The motor cable Ölflex FD Servo ZeroCM has been optimized for leakage current through a special silver-plating process and makes an important contribution to EMC optimization of frequency-controlled drive systems.

6. Trend: Sustainability

The Etherline FD P Cat. 5e is a cable with a sheath made from partially bio-based TPU sheath material.
(Image:Lapp)

More and more users are asking for environmentally friendly and energy-efficient connection solutions. With the Etherline FD P Cat. 5e, Lapp already has a line with a jacket made of a partially bio-based TPU jacket material in its range. This is now followed by the Ölflex Classic FD 810, the prototype of a cable with a sustainable PVC jacket. Lapp is also investigating initial approaches to the use of recycled material, both in the production cycle and the use of cable scrap. In addition to product-related sustainability approaches, the transparency and documentation of the Product Carbon Footprint is important, as is the accounting of Scope 1 and 2.