NetworkingIndustrial Networking (OT)
Hardened switches that survive dust, heat and vibration, with ring redundancy and IT/OT separation for plants and mines.
What we usually find on site
Office switches put into a plant or mine often don't last a year. The fan pulls in mineral dust, the cabinet runs above 50°C, and power dips every time a large motor starts. Worse, PLCs and SCADA often sit on the same network as office PCs, so one ransomware email can stop the line.
OT networks need different things from IT. They run 24/7, must recover fast from a cut cable and live in hostile conditions. We use fanless DIN-rail industrial switches with wide temperature ratings, dual DC power inputs and an IP rating matched to each location.
Ring redundancy and segmentation
ERPS (ITU-T G.8032) rings are designed to recover in around 50 ms, and several vendor ring protocols are in the same range. Plain RSTP is slower and not a good fit for real-time control.
We separate OT from IT using the IEC 62443 zones-and-conduits model, with an industrial firewall or DMZ in between. Production data the office needs can flow out through the DMZ without anyone getting a direct path to a PLC.
What we do differently on Lao sites
- IP54/IP65 enclosures with filtered fans or cabinet coolers. At dusty mines the filters need cleaning monthly, so it goes into the maintenance plan.
- UPS or battery-backed DC power, because site power dips constantly.
- Fiber between nodes, not copper, so lightning has nothing to follow.
- Spare switches kept on site. Ordering from Thailand and clearing the border can take weeks.
What it does
Hardened switches
Fanless, wide-temperature, DIN-rail.
Fast-recovery rings
ERPS or vendor rings. One cut cable doesn't stop the line.
IT/OT separation
Zones and conduits following IEC 62443.
Dual power
Two DC feeds with battery backup.
Industrial PoE
Feeds outdoor cameras and APs from the same cabinet.
IP65 enclosures and cooling
Keeps out mineral dust and rainy-season humidity.
Design and rollout
- 1
Survey production areas, PLC/SCADA assets and conditions
- 2
Define zones and conduits; design fiber rings
- 3
Install enclosures, switches and power
- 4
Put the firewall/DMZ between IT and OT
- 5
Test ring failover during a planned shutdown
Where it fits
- Gold and copper mines with dust, vibration and distance
- Hydropower plants and substations
- Cement, sugar and agro-processing plants
- Automated lines in special economic zones
Typical system sizes
Line
Fits: One line or 1–5 control panels
- Managed industrial switches
- Separate OT VLANs
- Redundant DC power
Plant
Fits: The whole plant
- Fiber ring and industrial core
- IT/OT firewall and DMZ
- IP65 enclosures with cooling
Mine / Utility
Fits: Sites spanning several km
- Multi-tier rings plus radio links
- OT monitoring and alerts
- Spares kit kept on site
Brands we supply & install
All brand names and trademarks belong to their respective owners. Mention does not imply official partnership unless explicitly stated. Products are sourced through legitimate distribution channels.
FAQ
Can I use office switches in a plant?
In a clean air-conditioned room, yes. On the plant floor the fan sucks in dust and it was never built for 50°C. We've seen them fail within months.
Why separate IT and OT?
Ransomware that arrives in a staff email can reach HMI PCs and PLCs if they share a network. Separate them and if the office is hit, the plant keeps running.
Do you support Modbus TCP or PROFINET?
The Ethernet network carries them. PROFINET has its own switch and timing requirements, so we work with your automation integrator to get VLANs and QoS right.
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We’ll come back with a few questions, then a first design. The first consultation is free, in Lao, Thai or English, on WhatsApp or our Facebook page.