The Open DeviceNet Vendor Association (ODVA) recently specified the ix Industrial mating face for Ethernet/IP network applications. This completes the picture of standardization and referencing for the much smaller alternative to the classic RJ45 connector. In addition to Ethernet/IP, the ix Industrial is already part of industry standards such as PROFINET, CC-Link IE TSN, FL-net and GigE Vision.

As an official IEC standard (IEC 61076-3-124), ix Industrial is offered by three independent manufacturers – Hirose, HARTING and Amphenol.

With an assembly pitch of only 10 mm and a volume reduced by around 75 % compared to RJ45, ix Industrial enables a significantly higher port density in a confined space – a decisive advantage for manufacturers of industrial PCs, robot controllers, servo drives and FA cameras.

ix Industrial offers double-row contact system, two metal locks and a high-strength PCB connection through THR shield pins ensure reliable operation even under harsh industrial conditions. Tested 5,000 mating/disconnection cycles at operating temperatures from −40 °C to +85 °C prove the durability. A pull-tab variant makes unlocking easier even in confined installation situations.

Electrically, ix Industrial offers Cat. 6A performance with 360° full shielding and is designed for data rates of up to 10 Gbit/s (10GBASE-T). In addition, it supports IEEE802.3bt PoE++ with 1.5 A current carrying capacity per pair – ideal for directly powering field devices via the Ethernet cable.