CONNECTIONS_64-e

CONNECTIONS 64 

Specialist magazine Reichle & De-Massari AG | April 2023 

Cabling 5G Premises – 

But How? 

New Repair Center in Portugal: 

A Milestone for Olympus 

CONEXIO Portfolio 

Raring to Go 

Saving Energy 

with Fiber Optics? 

050.7295

Editorial 

Sustainable 

Connectivity – 

in Every Respect 

050.7154 

Dear Business Partners 

5G is more than a continuation of the 2G, 3G 

and 4G mobile communications standards. 

It’s not just about transporting data even 

faster and more securely. Instead, the fifth 

generation forms a digital nervous system 

that takes our interaction possibilities to a 

new level. 5G makes communication between 

sensors, devices and us easier. Technology is 

an important foundation for the Internet of 

Things. 

To make this happen, investments in infrastructure 

are needed, as our FOCUS story 

shows. First, mobile network operators have 

to upgrade their masts (macro cells) to the 

latest state of the art. 5G connectivity can 

then be supplemented and condensed using 

the smallest cellular base stations (small cells). 

But each antenna location has different requirements, 

thus challenging creativity when 

it comes to finding cabling paths. 

Wireless 5G and fiber optic networks have 

been growing together for several years now. 

Fiber optics are of particular importance in 

this context. Fiber optic cabling is more 

reliable, more efficient and, above all, more 

sustainable than conventional copper cabling. 

But it is important to organize the fibers 

intelligently because glass fibers and contact 

surfaces are highly sensitive. 

The new CONEXIO family from R&M is one 

of the solutions of the day in this regard. The 

modular system makes it relatively easy to 

upgrade a macro-cell location. In doing so, 

it channels fiber optic, power and hybrid 

cabling. In the case of 5G cells in particular, 

these solutions have to work even under the 

most horrendous environmental conditions. 

The CONEXIO family and all-weather 

outdoor connectors from R&M meet these 

requirements. 

Environment-friendly fiber optics 

As already mentioned, optical fibers are more 

environment friendly than copper cables. They 

consist of quartz sand, the mining of which 

consumes fewer resources than copper. 5G 

and fiber optic networks are connecting more 

and more decentralized energy producers, 

such as hydroelectric power plants, wind and 

photovoltaic plants, and transmit information 

about energy production in real time. This 

allows municipal utilities to control current 

flow intelligently – read more about this in 

our TREND report. 

Data centers now consume three percent of 

the world’s electricity. Sophisticated cooling 

management enables them to continuously 

improve their energy efficiency. Even small 

drafts make a big difference. Solutions from 

R&M Tecnosteel are recommended for such 

optimization measures. It is worth measuring 

and controlling the circulation, temperature, 

pressure and humidity in the air of the 

computer room. If this data is embedded in 

a DCIM system such as inteliPhy from R&M, 

the first step towards saving energy has 

already been taken. 

In the latest issue of our specialist magazine 

CONNECTIONS, we once again present 

innovations – such as our mixed media patch 

panel Netscale 48, which offers all cabling 

on a single height unit in the rack, or the 

new ActiPower 4.0 PDU for data centers 

and server rooms, which is available in three 

variations. We are also pleased that we will 

be able to deliver our new FM45 connectors 

from summer onwards: These can withstand 

temperatures ranging from -40 to 85 degrees 

Celsius. 

Furthermore, you will find the latest reference 

stories to read, for example about the data 

center solution at the multifunctional Kai Tak 

Sports Park in Hong Kong and the cabling 

of the Olympus medical equipment repair 

center in Coimbra, Portugal. 

We wish you an inspiring read. 

Wolfgang Huber 

Head Corporate Quality 

2 | CONNECTIONS 04|2023–64

Contents 

Focus 

Success 

Trends 

Cabling 5G Premises – 

But How? 

4 

Kai Tak Sports Park, Hong Kong 

A Gem for Sport 8 

Small Draft – 

Major Impact 10 

News 

Saving with More Fibers 

in a Small Space 12 

HEC-BR and HEC-QR 

a Strong Duo 17 

Netscale 48 

Copper and Fiber Optics 22 

CONEXIO 

Raring to Go 23 

R&Mfreenet LAN and Server Racks 

Configuring Racks Appropriately 28 

A Space-Saving Miracle 

in the Netscale Portfolio 29 

The New FM45 EL 

Stable and Ingeniously Simple 30 

PDU ActiPower 4.0 

Distributing Power Intelligently 33 

Joyce Solutions, UK 

«A Really Good DC Services 

Solution» 14 

Olympus Repair Center, Portugal 

A Milestone 18 

NEXI Payments, Italy 

Infrastructure for Digital Payments 24 

Comprehensive Protection 

of Fiber Optic Networks 16 

Coherence – 

a Way to More Powerful 

Transmission 20 

Saving Energy 

with Fiber Optics? 26 

Corporate 

Sustainable Investment in 

Global Value Creation 31 

More than Customer Proximity 32 

Double Anniversary 

in Northeast Europe 34 

Publication details: 

CONNECTIONS 64 | April 2023 

Cover picture: 

R&M’s newly developed CONEXIO portfolio 

contains everything that mobile operators and 

tower companies need for the fiber optic and 

electrical connection of 5G and 4G radio units. 

Publisher: 

Reichle & De-Massari AG, Binzstrasse 32, 

CHE-8620 Wetzikon, Switzerland 

www.rdm.com 

R&M blog portal: https://www.rdm.com/blog/ 

Editorial team: 

Erica Monti (Editor-in-Chief), 

erica.monti@rdm.com, 

Silvia Brüllhardt, Bernward Damm, Robert Merki, 

Andreas Rüsseler, Ines Stotz 

Layout: KplusH, CHE-Amden, Markus Kuhn 

Printing: Ostschweiz Druck AG, CHE-Wittenbach 

Print run: 7, 000 copies 

CONNECTIONS is printed twice a year and can be 

ordered from the publisher. Reproduction allowed 

with permission from the editorial team. 

04|2023–64 CONNECTIONS | 3

Focus 

Cabling Megatrend 5G Premises – But How? 

With Macro Cell Upgrades to Small Cells 

050.7296 

5G promises to change the role of cellular phone networks. The fifth generation will 

create new economic opportunities and influence social development. But first, providers 

will have to set up their macro cells for 5G and create infrastructures for small cells. 

New solutions for fiber optic cabling are needed. 

Five factors are among the most important 

driving forces behind the transition to 5G: 

– growing global demand for mobile services 

– the continuous development of cellular 

technologies 

– the emergence of new use cases 

– the development of global standards 

– the availability of new frequency bands 

for 5G 

The mini radio cells (small cells) will play a 

decisive role in the gradual development of 

mobile networks from the predominant 4G/ 

LTE technology to 5G. They can provide the 

high-bandwidth, low-latency connections 

required for the potential 5G use cases. 

Unique position 

Mobile network operators are in a unique 

position. They can use their existing networks 

and make use of collocated sites for new, 

non-standalone 5G sites and expanded 4G 

sites. To do so, they need to equip existing 

4G macro-cell sites with new and additional 

infrastructure elements. 

First, network operators will expand their 

4G macro-cell locations. These can then be 

upgraded with additional 5G small cells in the 

form of underlying networks. This enables, 

among other things, targeted, local signal 

coverage as well as shorter latency times 

with the help of the small cell radio heads and 

correspondingly compact antenna systems. 

Important technical developments for this are 

the «massive active multi-input multi-output 

antennas» (MIMO) and «beamforming» features 

of modern 5G antennas using phase 

array technology. Together, these innovations 

offer improved network coverage and transmission 

capacity as well as an optimization 


of power management between antennas 

and cell phones for uplink and downlink. In 

beamforming, the base station generates 

highly focused beams to the individual users. 

This minimizes interference from other 

sources, supports higher data rates that 

would otherwise not be possible and, thanks 

to improved power management, reduces 

battery discharge on the end device side. 

Fiber is needed for virtualization 

The 5G core network is also evolving with 

regard to the compression of network functions. 

Centralized and Virtual Radio Access 

Network (C-RAN, V-RAN) are the key issues. 

In addition, the baseband units (BBUs) from 

the cell locations are grouped together in the 

network center and operated «in the pool». 

This results in a higher demand for fiber optic 

capacity in order to connect the centralized 

BBUs with their HF radio equipment via 

fronthaul connection expansion over a further 

distance (10-20 km instead of 100-200 

m). The actual additional fiber optic demand 

depends on distance and traffic load. 

Overall, these topology improvements will 

enable faster, more flexible and optimally 

scalable networks depending on the load. 

Sequential expansion and integration of miscellaneous 5G locations into the 

existing 4G/LTE network infrastructure 

4G /5G 

New 5G 

small cell 

5G nonstandalone 

Central 

office 

Base station 

4G/5G 

combined 

small cell 

Visualization of the gradual introduction of 5G infrastructure elements in mobile networks, 

macro and small cell applications Graphic: R&M 

5G network centralization 

C-RAN, fronthaul/backhaul 

Core CO 

BBU pool 

Fronthaul 

network 

BRH 

BRH 

4G/5G combined 

roof installation 

Small cell 

Macro cell 

BRH 

050.7334 

BRH 

Ecosystem of small cells 

While 5G offers new application possibilities, 

it also has some important implications for 

mobile network operators (MNOs). One of 

them, which represents both a challenge 

and an opportunity, is the aforementioned 

network densification. 

The MNOs have to set up significantly denser 

network topologies with mini radio cells in 

Backhaul 

network 

BRH 

BBU 

BRH 

BBU 

BRH 

BRH 

BBU 

BRH 

In the upstream of macro cells and small cells, there is an increased demand for high-performance 

fiber optic cabling. Graphic: R&M 

050.7337 

Mobile cell densification 

order to achieve higher data rates and capacities 

for 5G. We are talking magnitudes of 20 

to 50 times more antennas compared to 4G/ 

LTE. For eMBB (Enhanced Mobile Broadband) 

applications, small cells will be used in both 

the medium band and the millimeter band, 

depending on the type of environment. 

050.7340 

Macro Sites (6) Small Cells (98) Indoor Hotspots (13) 

Diagram of cell compression in the construction of 5G infrastructures in city centers 

Graphic: R&M / Source: FTTH Council Europe 

Medium-band small cells (frequencies 3.5 

GHz or less than 6 GHz) are best suited for 

high density urban areas. With millimeter 

waves (28, 33, 66 GHz), MNOs usually work 

in highly frequented areas such as stadiums, 

airports and pedestrian areas. In addition, 

small cells with millimeter waves are also 

suitable for fixed wireless access (FWA) or 

flexible applications that serve both fixed 

network and mobile subscribers. 


Focus 

The biggest challenges in setting up small 

cells include: 

– site acquisition (co-located, standalone) 

– backhaul connectivity (fiber optic availability 

and capacity) 

– location-specific fiber optic and power 

supply (connectivity and metering) 

Using existing systems 

As mentioned above, mobile network 

operators can use existing infrastructures to 

quickly install additional frequencies and thus 

new radio cells in certain areas. Three key 

challenges have already been met: location 

access, backhaul availability/capacity, and 

power supply. Access is usually already regulated 

by agreements. This saves some of the 

time searching for locations and equipment. 

Suitable backhaul connectivity is essential for 

setting up small cells. It goes without saying 

that the fastest possible direct signal trans- 

Radio cell planning 

First, suppliers must equip the macro cells 

with new and additional infrastructures. As 

a rule, signal cabling and the power supply 

for the existing 4G/LTE technology are 

available. The new 5G active technology 

and the corresponding cabling must also 

be accommodated – taking into account 

wind load, load capacity, scalability, supplier 

changes and technology upgrades. 

The components of 5G fiber optic cabling 

should be as compact, lightweight and integrable 

as possible and suitable for miscellaneous 

location situations. Another decisive 

criterion: uncomplicated, fast installation and 

the best possible accessibility for maintenance. 

030.8335 

The cabling solutions must take into account 

procedures for the individual upgrading of 

existing 4G/5G locations (brown field). They 

must also be able to meet demands for the 

most standardized design of new 5G locations 

(green field). 

041.0769 

R&M’s CONEXIO FTTA all-in-one solution 

In the near future, 5G small cells will be 

added as «non-standalone», followed by new 

«standalone 5G» locations. They, too, need 

multi-fiber links to fiber optic networks at 

every conceivable point in the urban, underground 

communications network, often in a 

sometimes extremely challenging environment. 

This calls for a new generation of FTTA 

cabling which meets the challenges of 5G 

deployment with modular solutions. 

030.8322 

This makes it easy to install the required 

infrastructure and adapt and scale it to the 

individual location conditions. Naturally, 

components and connectivity in fiber optic 

cabling have to be configured for harsh ambient 

conditions and have the corresponding 

robustness (impact and compressive 

strength) and tightness (IP protection). 

With CONEXIO, R&M is currently introducing 

an all-in-one FTTA solution on the 

market (see also page 23). It consists of 

CONEXIO lite, flexx and easy. The portfolio 

covers fiber optic, power and hybrid 

cabling for connecting 4G and 5G radio cell 

locations. R&M uses products developed 

in-house especially for outdoor connectivity 

(IP68, HEC-BR) and outdoor cables in the 

fiber optic sector. 

In the FTTA area, R&M also offers cabling 

solutions with hybrid cables. As a result, the 

overall cabling typically requires less space, 

the installation effort is correspondingly 

reduced and the spatial requirements can be 

better consolidated. With correspondingly 

farsighted planning, additional optical fibers 

and copper strands can be provided in the 

hybrid cable. This would prepare the station 

for future expansion with additional RRHs. 

030.8373 030.8374 030.8375 

www.rdm.com/conexio/ 

With its flexx, easy and lite variants, CONEXIO from R&M offers optimal solutions 

for every location situation. Figures: R&M 


050.7297 050.7298 

Macro cell premises, upgrade to 5G 

Small cell antenna 

port from the cell to the core network must 

be ensured. There are several transport solutions 

today, including dedicated fiber optics, 

wavelength division multiplexing technology 

(DWDM), passive optical networks (PON), 

DOCSIS and microwave radio. The preferred 

solution depends on a variety of factors 

and considerations. These include technical 

performance, immediate delivery, capacity, 

costs and access. 

Coordinating cabling 

In the future, many additional antenna sites 

will have to be connected to core networks: 

macro cells, small cells, combined 4G/5G cells, 

combinations with public WiFi offerings, edge 

data centers and networks for the Internet of 

Things (IoT), and other public radio services. 

The construction of fiber optic connections 

between the backhaul network and antennas 

– Fiber to the Antenna (FTTA) – is a complex 

matter. Sometimes creative cabling paths 

have to be found in the most unusual places. 

Public and private telecom operators, 

neutral hosts and tower companies will in 

some places be forced to merge parts of 

their fiber optic networks. The question of 

space or wind load can play a decisive role 

in installation planning. Network operators 

could coordinate their expansion more comprehensively, 

saving space, weight and costs. 

Together, they could make optimum use of 

their infrastructures and resources. 

It makes sense to specify the cabling 

independently of the application. Application-neutral, 

modular and integrated connectivity 

solutions are a key issue for solving 

the installation challenges of the high density 

and intermeshed networks of the future. In 

addition, modular active technology and its 

software provide various service platforms 

concurrently. In this way, the parties involved 

create the conditions for a smart future and 

optimized interaction between radio cells. 

High-quality connectivity 

The demand for high-speed mobile communications 

is high. Data transmission performance 

in the 5G network will increase from 

today’s 4x10 Gbit to up to 4x25 Gbit with 

typically two SFPs (small factor pluggable) per 

remote radio head (RRH). 

For cabling, this means: Quality, safety and 

performance of cable configurations between 

the base station (Base Band Unit, BBU) and 

the RRH (remote radio head) close to the 

antenna are of crucial importance. If network 

operators want to maintain the promised 

quality of service, a main focus must also be 

on cabling and connectivity. 

This applies not only to the fiber optic signal 

connection between BBU and RRH, but 

also to the demanding power supply of the 

RRHs and active antenna systems (Power to 

the Antenna, PTTA). Wherever there is 5G 

technology, there is also a need for more 

power. In the future, the typical power will 

be 1,500 watts per sector for complex 5G 

antenna systems. Until now, 400 to 500 

watts per RRH were sufficient to operate the 

antenna systems. Additional copper cables, 

ideally with low losses and higher cable 

cross-sections, must therefore be planned 

and installed for 5G technology. 

Along with extra costs for the higher proportion 

of copper in the cabling, this also poses 

additional challenges. The cabling weighs 

more, the wind load increases, handling on 

site becomes more laborious. Greater power 

also means that larger battery buffers are 

required and larger voltage drops on higher 

masts must be taken into account. 

Conclusion 

As we enter the promising 5G era, the infrastructure 

of macro and small cells demands 

increased attention. Each antenna site places 

different, specific demands on fiber optic and 

copper connectivity and on integration into 

existing infrastructures. Different customer 

needs, applications, topologies and environmental 

conditions therefore require variable 

and varied solutions. A modular system 

helps network operators to implement 

such site-specific solutions quickly and costeffectively. 

Thomas Ritz 

Market Manager Public Networks 

thomas.ritz@rdm.com 

050.7012 


Success 

Photo credit © Kai Tak Sports Park Limited & Populous 

050.7299 

A Gem for Sport 

at Kowloon Bay 

Hong Kong is creating a new gem for sport, the Kai Tak Sports 

Park at Kowloon Bay. The iconic center is a shell-shaped 

mega-stadium with a pearly shell. The 28-hectare site will be 

more than just a breathtaking sports venue. 

One hundred companies from all over the world are involved 

in the completion, including R&M. 

The Hong Kong government calls Kai Tak 

Sports Park the most important investment 

in sports infrastructure in recent decades. 

It is intended to promote the health and 

well-being of citizens. Once completed, the 

28-hectare Kai Tak Sports Park will be the 

largest sports venue in Hong Kong. 

A wide range of high-end facilities promotes 

«sport for all» and the young sporting talent of 

the future. Hong Kong wants to create more 

opportunities for local sports students and 

top athletes to participate in competitions. 

These are the central objectives of the 

project. 

Hosting major national and international 

competitions, the sports park will be the pride 

and eye-catcher of the entire city, especially 

in 2025, when Hong Kong will host the 

National Games together with Guangdong 

and Macau. 

It was also important for the government to 

develop a landscape park for all inhabitants 

on the site of the former airport. Here, people 

will go out, stroll around, spend their free 

time, visit concerts and much more. Kai Tak 

Sports Park is said to be a living destination 

that promotes positive social interaction 

through the power of sport and leisure. The 

– Multi-purpose arena for rugby, football, 

sports competitions, concerts and events, 

space for 50,000 spectators 

– Indoor sports center, space for 10,000 

spectators 

– Public sports field, space for 5,000 

spectators 

– Eight landscape-designed hectares of public 

land for leisure and sports activities, 

active and passive recreation, including 

cycle paths, sculpture trails, Tai Chi zones 

and open lawns 

- Investment volume HK$ 29.9 bn 

(CHF 3.6 bn) 

planners speak of an «urban oasis» that meets 

the different needs of the public as well as 

professional and amateur athletes. 

Suitable infrastructures 

Kai Tak Sports Park Ltd. has been implementing 

the master plan on behalf of the 

government since 2019. It’s going to run 

the park for 20 years. The basis is a Design-Build-and-Operate 

Agreement (DBO). In 

addition to the architectural, constructional 

and logistical challenges, it pays particular 

attention to the integration of durable and 

precisely suitable infrastructures. Among 

other things, the planners were looking for 

high-quality solutions for data traffic, telephony 

and security infrastructure. 

A key requirement for the planned data center 

and the data and communications network 

was that the networks had to be reliable and 

provide stable high performance. Providers 

should present solutions for outdoor and 

indoor cabling, building connections and data 

centers. 


«The all-in-one connectivity solution 

provided by R&M is convincing on all levels.» 

Chris Yeung, Owner S-Plux International Limited 

All-in-one solution for networks 

Together with the local distribution partner 

S-PLUX, R&M offered an all-in-one solution 

in 2019 that quickly convinced the client. As 

a result, the client was able to combine all the 

relevant installation services under one roof. 

The all-in-one solution primarily comprised 

high density cabling for the local area network 

and data center. R&M took care of the cold 

aisle enclosures and matching patch panels 

from the Netscale family. Protective measures 

for cables and patch panels were also 

part of the solution. R&M integrated the VS 

distribution platform for telecommunications 

cabling. Technical support is part of the 

package. 

Digital management 

Hundreds of companies from all over the 

world and 3,000 team members are involved 

in the project. The planners supplied them 

with 60,000 drawings. «There is no manual 

for us to execute a project of this magnitude 

and complexity,» said Kenneth Ma, Director 

050.7300 050.7301 

R&M fiber optic platform 

Netscale 72 

050.7302 050.7303 

R&M data center infrastructure solution 

R&M high density solution for 

the data center with fiber optic 

and copper distribution 

Design and Build at Kai Tak Sports Park Ltd., 

at an expert meeting. In order to master 

the complexity, however, his company uses 

digital tools and processes based on Building 

Information Modeling (BIM). For the Kai Tak 

Sports Park project, the project team uses 

openBIM and Virtual Design and Construction 

(VDC). 

Other digital tools include Design for Manufacture 

and Assembly (DfMA), Modular Integrated 

Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing 

(MiMEP), laser scanning and photogrammetry. 

Everything is integrated and coordinated 

on a Common Data Environment (CDE) 

platform to speed up the project and promote 

communication between contractors and 

various trades. 

Best tools 

«To do a good job, a craftsman needs the best 

tools,» says Kenneth Ma, describing the determination 

to implement the huge construction 

project digitally. The Hong Kong Alliance of 

Built Asset & Environment Information Man- 

R&M solution 

High density outdoor and indoor network 

solution with structured fiber optic and 

copper cabling for data, voice, and security. 

Fiber: 

– Protected outdoor and indoor fiber optic 

cable: 364.6 km OS2, dry type 

– 605 km indoor fiber optic cable: OM4 

and OS2 

– Building entry solution: Polaris box 

Copper: 

– Indoor copper cable: 2,500 km 

Cat. 6 A 

U/UTP 

– Connectivity: 32,000 Cat. 6 A 

U/EL modules 

Further infrastructure solution for customized 

modular data center for PSR, SSR: 

– High density fiber optic panels, customized 

for cold aisle containment: 500 sets 

1U Netscale 72 splicing panel 

– Modular solution for PSR, SSR 

– Connectivity: 16,000 LC patch cords 

– Cabinets: 640 sets of 42U 800x800 racks, 

94 sets of 800x1,200 racks, 16 rows Main 

Distribution Cabinets (MDC) 

– Cold aisle containment 

with modular R&M DC 

solution 

Why R&M? 

– Comprehensive solution: 

- Data, voice, security 

- High density 

- Outdoor and indoor cabling 

- Outdoor protection, security system 

– Reliable, stable, high-performance 

network 

– Customizing 

– Local partner, distributor, supply 

capability, specialist support 

agement Association (HKABAEIMA) thinks 

the way it works is exemplary. In March 2022, 

it presented the project with the major prizes 

in the Hong Kong openBIM/openGIS Award. 

R&M contributes to the success of digital 

project management and provides corresponding 

data material for cabling and data 

center infrastructure. Director Kenneth Ma 

and his team will have a fully integrated and 

stable data, communications and security 

network. 

Ready to deliver at all times 

An important aspect for the client was that 

R&M remained able to deliver during the 

Covid pandemic. Cost optimizations enabled 

the company to cope with the dramatic 

increase in logistics prices over the course 

of the project. 

The success of the project underscores 

R&M’s market position in the Asia Pacific 

region. R&M stands out as a predominantly 

project- and customer-oriented provider of 

infrastructure solutions for data networks 

and data centers. The R&M branches in 

China, Singapore and Australia are available 

with expertise. The two R&M plants in China 

manufacture and supply important infrastructure 

components to the region. 

050.7304 

Peng Liang | R&M China 

liang.peng@rdm.com 


Trends 

Small Draft – 

Major Impact 

030.7927 

Data centers already consume three percent of the electricity generated worldwide. 

By 2030, they will account for four percent. Cooling consumes half the energy costs. 

And that means when data centers want to save costs, use energy more efficiently, and 

quickly improve their carbon footprint, they achieve great leverage in cooling. 

One of the most important energy-saving 

options for data centers is undoubtedly 

cooling management. It includes detailed 

sensors embedded in an intelligent DCIM as 

well as innovative cooling systems and strict 

control of airflow. 

Even a small and uncontrolled draft has a 

major impact. The countless gaps, holes and 

slots in the racks allow a lot of cooling air to 

flow away uselessly to the side. According 

to Graphical Research*, typical data centers 

waste up to 50 percent of the cooling airflow. 

This flows unused into the computer room 

or back to the CRAC/CRAH fans instead of 

flowing through the racks and IT equipment. 

Many operators generate a low-temperature 

climate of 16 to 18 degrees Celsius in the 

computer room in order to achieve a cooling 

effect based on outdated models. Some 

run fans at high speed. Others allow warm 

exhaust air from the rear side of the racks to 

circulate into areas that should remain cool. 

Indispensable enclosures 

Closed enclosures or curtains can strictly 

separate the rack corridors into cold aisle 

and warm aisle. They ensure that the cold air 

flowing from the sub-floor stays in the cold 

aisle first. This is indispensable in larger data 

centers today. The BladeCube enclosures in 

combination with T7 BladeShelter cabinets 

from R&M Tecnosteel are sophisticated 

solutions. 

It comes down to small, simple details to 

ensure cold and warm air no longer mix. The 

cable guides can be sealed with brushes. 

Cleverly constructed brackets, screens, 

lamellas, lips and dummy plugs close gaps and 

empty slots in the racks. Market researchers 

from Gartner* say that seals that are not 

technically complex can save ten percent of 

the power consumption for cooling. 

Every percent more perforation in the front 

and rear doors of cabinets helps to avoid 

congestion and hotspots. R&M’s T7 cabinets 


each a record with 82 % perforation. Inside 

the cabinets, additional lateral air ducts and 

sensor-controlled fans can optimize the cold/ 

warm airflow. 

Hyperscalers are already dispensing with 

raised floors. They build on hard ground to 

maximize packing density. Side and inline 

cooling units supply the cold air. It is important 

to ensure constant air pressure and stable air 

circulation and ensure that there is sufficient 

airflow throughout the aisle to prevent 

overheating at the end of a row. Multi-cloud 

providers confirm that a well-managed cold 

aisle containment requires an estimated ten 

percent less energy. 

030.7939 

Modular enclosures, such as BladeShelter 

from R&M Tecnosteel, can even be integrated 

into brownfield infrastructures. It may 

therefore be worth exploring and exploiting 

the potential for optimization in an existing 

computer room. 

Gartner believes it is possible to reduce the 

share of air conditioning in energy consumption 

to 15 percent. Today, it is usually 35 to 

50 percent. Further targeted thermal, fluidic 

and design measures are required as well as 

continuous efficiency increases. 

030.8060 

The PUE value 

Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) is the 

name of the most important indicator of 

the energy efficiency of data centers. It 

expresses the relationship between the 

electricity fed in and the energy used 

to operate the IT equipment in the data 

center. 

The lower the PUE value, the more climate 

friendly and power efficient the 

plant. With a theoretical PUE value of 1, 

the entire power goes to the computers. 

With a PUE value of 1.2 or 1.3, a data 

center is considered «green». Here, 20 

or 30 percent flow into processes such 

as cooling or air conditioning rather than 

processing power. Conventional data 

centers have a PUE value of 1.9. This 

means that almost half of the total energy 

consumption is not used for the actual 

purpose – i.e. processing power. 

Saving with cooling modules 

One effective step is the installation of compressed, 

innovative cooling modules. They 

are placed to the side of rows of cabinets, 

inside the rows or on the rear side of cabinets. 

They require little surface area and current, 

and are close to the heat sources. 

According to Graphical Research*, rack and 

row cooling modules allow cost savings of 

up to 30 percent. They can be implemented 

up to 60 percent faster than conventional 

circulating air solutions. In addition to water, 

ammonia, propane and CO 2 

are also suitable 

coolants. With its BladeCooling family, R&M 

Tecnosteel offers gas- and water-cooled 

modules with open and closed circuits. 

It could be warmer 

How much cooling should there be? This 

is a controversial issue. The server room 

temperature is 22 to 25 degrees Celsius 

as standard. Many data centers are already 

working at operating temperatures above 25 

degrees without overheating or IT failures. 

Innovative liquid cooling systems enable 

operation with water at a temperature of 

50 to 70 degrees Celsius. Under certain 

conditions, heat recovery is possible to heat 

neighboring buildings. The Swiss provider 

Green Datacenter AG is setting a good 

example, supplying several thousand homes 

with district heating. 

Not all climate friendly measures are 

worthwhile for every data center. It is always 

important to check what suits your own 

system best. In any case, data centers should 

monitor the circulation, temperature, pressure 

and humidity of the air in the computer 

room across the board. The speed and wear 

of the fans must also be monitored. Efficiency 

cannot be evaluated and improved without 

this data, which a holistic DCIM system such 

as R&M inteliPhy net has to process. 

www.rdm.com/ 

bladeshelter 

*Sources: Graphical Research, Gartner 

Robert Merki | CTO 

robert.merki@rdm.com 

www.rdm.com/ 

inteliphy-net/ 

050.7148 


News 

Saving with More Fibers 

in a Small Space 

060.2128 

The cornerstones of the R&M product portfolio for Fiber-to-the-Home networks 

include ribbon solutions for the SYNO splice closure portfolio. They combine 

the advantages of innovative SYNO gel sealing technology with R&M ribbon fiber 

management technology. 

The direct connection of modern data centers 

and forward-looking smart city concepts is 

leading to ever higher fiber densities with 

corresponding amounts of data and thus to 

more complex networks. Nowadays, trillions 

of bytes of data are already being produced 

worldwide every day. As a result, the demand 

for fiber optic connections is increasing 

significantly. But because the space for such 

cabling routes is scarce, the cabling has to 

be compacted. Ribbon fiber cables are used 

to cope with these fiber densities. Thanks to 

their special design, the multi-fiber cables are 

more compact than traditional multi-fiber 

optical fiber cables. With special devices, 

they can also be spliced in parallel and faster 

than conventional central loose tube cables, 

which shortens installation time and thus 

reduces labor costs. Typically, ribbon fiber 

cables consist of bands with four, eight or 

twelve fibers each. 

Fiber distribution system – modular 

and high density 

The R&M ST500 optical distribution system 

is adapted to this. The integrated «heat shrink 

splice holders» for ribbon fibers and single 

fibers allow the use of various cable types in 

the same splice trays. In combination with the 

STH-500-R splice holder, 144 (12x12) fibers 

can be reliably and easily supplied in ribbon 

technology or, with the STH500-S variant, 

24 fibers in single fiber management. Stacks 

of up to eight such splice trays, secured with 

Velcro tape, can be realized in a SYNO ribbon 

closure, thus resulting in a maximum number 

of 1,152 (ribbon) or 192 (single) fibers. 

In the splice closure, the ribbon fibers are 

guided to the respective splice tray through 

specially attached flexible pipes. Overlengths 

are stored in a freely accessible loose tube 

tray (splice basket). 

More splices in the splice closure 

The new features of ribbon fiber management 

strengthen the successful SYNO splice 

closure family and support R&M customers 

with rollouts of corresponding fiber optic 

030.6336 


030.7748 

networks. In addition to saving space for 

cable routing, the high splice and fiber density 

of ribbon cables is a key success factor in 

optimizing working time and costs. 

The SYNO gel closure has eight entry bays 

at the bottom, which can be fitted with cable 

entry kits for cables with a diameter of 2 to 

28 mm or for micro ducts with a diameter 

of 5 to 14 mm if the blow-in technique is 

used. The splice closure configuration can 

be adapted to individual requirements. As a 

result, network operators can not only plan 

more individually and at shorter notice, but 

can also retrofit with a manageable amount 

of effort. 

Clever: The SYNO gel seal protects the valuable 

content by adapting to the cable diameters 

and the cable geometry. The integrated 

gel blocks are easy to open and exchange. 

In turn, the cable gripper is fastened in a user-friendly 

manner, outside the splice closure. 

An additional plus: The inner mechanisms of 

the dome closure remain undisturbed and 

protected during assembly work. 

All cables are reliably strain-relieved individually 

in just a few steps. Once they have 

been prepared, the strain relief clamps can 

be mounted in next to no time. Uniform 

clamping all around the cable jacket ensures 

stress-free absorption of traction and torsion. 

Stephan Näpfer | Product Manager 

stephan.naepfer@rdm.com 

050.7267 


Success 

«A Really Good 

Data Center Services Solution» 

050.7305 

Time pressure, lack of material, spontaneous changes of plan, complex IT 

infrastructures and sensitive migrations. These are the daily challenges faced 

by the team at Joyce Solutions. 

Joyce Solutions does not shy away from 

challenges when it comes to managing IT 

infrastructure projects. They deliver first 

class data center services internationally 

from their base just outside central London 

in Chelmsford, Essex, in the UK. They have 

fought through Brexit, mastered the global 

pandemic and, despite the dynamic growth 

in the market, have always managed to keep 

a clear view of what is happening in the data 

center space. 

«One of the biggest challenge since Brexit, is 

the availability of materials which have lead 

times which are difficult to manage,» says 

Managing Director Paul Joyce. 

«At Joyce Solutions, we have to remain agile 

as today’s customers plan more quickly and 

decision making is more spontaneous. With 

challenging lead times on materials, the entire 

design of a solution often has to be adapted at 

the last minute to ensure we deliver on time.» 

Creating relationships 

Joyce Solutions is committed to ensuring 

that customer standards are met at all times. 

These are often companies in the legal and 

financial sectors that place great demands on 

network and data center infrastructure. «We 

always want to guarantee that customers 

everywhere have high-quality, reliable equipment 

and an infrastructure they can trust and 

manage easily», says Paul Joyce. 

In order to achieve clients’ goals, Joyce 

Solutions work with a close support network 

of trusted suppliers. Paul Joyce explains his 

business model as follows: «It’s about creating 

long-term relationships and supporting customers. 

We always focus on a solution-oriented, 

feasible approach. Following a needs 

assessment, in which we ask why the customer 

needs a certain number of connections and 

Why R&M? 

– Ready for delivery, round-the-clock 

service 

– Solution-oriented, quality-conscious 

– Easy-to-install products 

– Specialist support, training 


«One of our Senior Engineers said that these products 

were definitely designed with engineers in mind! » 

Paul Joyce, Managing Director Joyce Solutions, Chelmsford, UK 

what they want to achieve with the products, 

we develop the right solution with the best 

products and the right infrastructure. This 

creates a lasting basis of trust by providing 

customers with the right technical expertise.» 

As Paul Joyce discovered a few years ago, 

R&M’s product range and performance 

go hand in hand with this way of working. 

Following referral by the British distributor 

The R&M solution 

In recent migration projects, Joyce 

used the Ultra-High Density platform 

Netscale 48. The advantages: 

– Modular construction, easy to install 

– Mixed media solution (copper/optical 

fiber) 

– High performance level 

– Quality, reliability 

www.rdm.com/ 

netscale-48/ 

NBM, all Joyce engineers completed R&M’s 

QPP certification. Paul Joyce: «We are establishing 

R&M as a brand for us in the area of 

structured cabling.» 

Made for engineers 

Last year, Joyce used Netscale 48, R&M’s mixed 

media and Ultra-High Density distribution 

platform, for the first time in a tightly timed 

project at a leading British law firm. With the 

in-house planning tool and use of Netscale 48, 

it was possible to design the optimal layout and 

consolidate the rack rows. Joyce also housed 

two racks as a reserve for future expansions. 

The structured cabling had to be installed 

and tested within two days. «This was our 

team’s first on-site experience with the R&M 

product, which convinced us all. R&M has 

a really good data center solution that is 

easy to install and schedule, cost-effective 

and scalable. One of our engineers said that 

these products were definitely designed with 

engineers in mind,» says Paul Joyce. Support, 

advice and delivery service are also faultless. 

Joyce Solutions, based in Chelmsford, 

Essex, northeast of London, was founded 

23 years ago by Paul Joyce. The company 

is a leading British provider of infrastructure, 

migration, rollout and relocation 

projects for data centers and sizeable IT 

users. The service catalog focuses on the 

planning, installation and measurement 

of structured cabling, the setup of aisle 

containments, racks, hardware and fire 

protection. 

050.7306 

joycesolutions.co.uk/ 

050.7010 

030.7796 

050.7121 

Fatholah Zaki | R&M UK 

fatholah.zaki@rdm.com 


Trends 

Comprehensive Protection 

of Fiber Optic Networks 

Fiber optic cables in public spaces form the backbone 

for the broadband supply of entire countries. They are 

often easily accessible in shafts, ditches, tunnels or 

on buildings and railway lines. This makes their protection 

all the more important. 

050.7307 

Fiber optic cables are easily accessible during 

above-ground cable laying. This makes it all 

the more important to pay attention to their 

protection and safety. 

The security risks for public fiber optic networks 

are increasing. The enormous growth 

in the number of cables, street cabinets, 

splice closures, and domestic cut-ons creates 

a higher risk potential. The risks range from 

improper handling through eavesdropping 

attempts and disasters to vandalism and sabotage. 

Security-conscious network managers 

should pay attention to the following points. 

Seamless documentation 

Documentation: If you have a seamless and 

timely record of where and how cables have 

been laid and which points they connect, 

you can react in a targeted manner in the 

event of a failure. Failure scenarios, alarming/ 

warning processes, maintenance intervals, 

measurement results, etc. should always be 

precisely documented. R&M inteliPhy net can 

help with this. 

Bending radii: Optical fibers are sensitive 

to bending. Bends that are too severe and 

too frequent dampen signal transmission. 

During installation, strict attention must be 

paid to the bending radius of the cables and 

sufficient fiber reserves. 

Dust and water: Fiber optic connections 

must be dust-free, as dust interferes with the 

transmission of light at the contacts. Moisture 

can also have a detrimental effect. In 

underground line construction, longitudinally 

watertight cables with fillings made of gel or 

spring yarn should be used. Blind-mating 

solutions, such as the HEC coupling from 

R&M, help to prevent dirt ingress in aboveground 

cable laying. 

Reinforcement: Cables may be touched 

during ground work or attacked by rodents. 

Strong reinforcement in the cable jacket and 

resistant pipes provide protection. 

Access: Cabins, shafts and raised floor distributors 

must be locked in such a way that 

only authorized persons can open them. At 

safety-critical premises, additional armor 

or impact-resistant housing, fences with 

barbed wire crowns and lowered pipes are 

recommended. 

Eavesdrop protection: Optical fibers can 

be tapped using optical splitters or bending 

couplers. With active fiber monitoring (AFM) 

or OTDR measuring, changes in light transmission 

can be localized over long distances. 

In order to fully exploit the potential of fiber 

optic cabling, it is important to take these 

points into account during the design, planning 

and installation phase as well as during 

ongoing operation. 

Fiber optic cabling on mobile communication 

antennas is often only protected by a fence. 

Photo: damm.com.de 

050.7309 

050.7308 

In FTTH cabling, protection against possible 

damage plays an important role. The cables and 

splice closures are just below the ground or in 

the road shaft. 

Redundancy: When active and passive 

redundancy in the fiber optic network is 

planned with foresight, downtime can be 

minimized or automatically prevented. 

Andreas Rüsseler | CMO 

andreas.ruesseler@rdm.com 

050.7086 


News 

HEC-BR and HEC-QR – 

a Strong Duo 

050.7255 

The 5G trend calls for fiber optic connectors that can withstand 

a lot. They have to ensure secure connections between radio 

heads and networks outdoors on the many new antennas. 

That’s why R&M has developed strong outdoor connectors. 

Fiber optics is increasingly replacing copper 

cabling over short distances, even outdoors. 

This allows users to set up more powerful 

data transmission which is much-needed. 

The demand is particularly high in the many 

new 5G cells and public WiFi infrastructures. 

Broadcasting, transport, mining and industry 

are also increasingly focusing on data transmission 

using fiber optics in outdoor areas. 

The trend presents manufacturers with challenges. 

The FO fibers and contact surfaces 

are sensitive. They must be protected from 

hazards that rarely occur in main distribution 

cabinets: extreme temperatures, vibrations, 

salt mist, dirt, moisture. The connectors must 

also be able to be installed safely and without 

error whatever the environment. 

Universal housing 

Solutions for outdoor connectivity in the 

FTTx and aerial segments have been part of 

R&M’s expertise for decades. One focus is 

on modular distribution platforms for public 

networks, with the HECs (Harsh Environment 

Connectors) providing benefits down the line. 

The range initially consisted of the HEC-BR 

with a quarter-turn fastener and 32 mm 

diameter. In the future, there will also be the 

HEC-QR with a Quick Release mechanism 

and 19 mm housing for higher packing 

density at the place of use. 

HEC housings accommodate LC, SC and 

MPO connectors. They are decoupled from 

the cable strain relief in the housing, which 

means the plugged ferrules are not affected 

by temperature fluctuations, cable shrinkage 

and mechanical influences. The push-twistpull 

coupling on the HEC-QR needs to be 

turned slightly counterclockwise, which prevents 

unintentional unlocking by operators, 

plants and animals. 

R&M tests the HECs in accordance with 

«Telcordia GR 3120 and IEC 61753-1 

Extreme Environment Category». They are 

UV-resistant and configured for -40°C to 

+85°C and protection class IP68. With a 

tensile stress of up to 450 N, they are among 

the strongest outdoor connectors in their 

class. The protective caps for HEC adapters 

Daniel Eigenmann | Product Manager 

daniel.eigenmann@rdm.com 

050.6984 

050.7310 

R&M has now implemented its experience 

in the outdoor installation of fiber optics 

in the design of the HEC housings. This 

results in strong connectors that are easy 

to install in harsh environments. 

and connector housings are compatible and 

can be fitted against each other to prevent 

contamination. 

Blind mating 

The «blind mating» assembly technology 

developed by R&M is just as convincing. 

HEC connectors can be mated by someone 

without a direct view who is wearing gloves 

and working one-handed, without the end 

face being dirtied or scratched. 

050.7311 

Hermann Christen | Market Development 

Manager 

hermann.christen@rdm.com 


Success 

A Milestone 

for Olympus 

050.7312 

In the midst of the pandemic, Olympus resolutely had a new industrial facility built 

in Coimbra. It is one of the largest medical device repair centers in Europe. R&M and its 

Portuguese partner GAP made a decisive contribution to the success of the project. 

The center went into operation in September 2022. 

The Japanese Olympus Group has based 

one of its biggest medical repair centers at 

its Coimbra site in the heart of Portugal. 

Olympus invested 32 million euros in the 

building plus two million euros in a climate 

friendly solar system. For Olympus, this is 

a long-term investment in a strategic site 

and a milestone on the way to becoming a 

world-leading medical technology company. 

Demand for medical device repair services 

is growing. Around 15,000 appliances are 

currently repaired in Coimbra each year. 

By 2024, the number is expected to rise to 

30,000 per year. 

Medical technology sets 

new standards 

The repair center fulfills industry standards 

that meet the special conditions of medical 

technology. Strict standards apply for quality 

management as well as for efficiency, data 

processing, delivery reliability and security. 

Olympus will be able to optimize all processes 

in the new building. This will increase the 

quality of repairs and shorten throughput 

times. 

Solid data network required 

Project management called for a solid data 

network to support the diverse requirements 

and services of the repair center. Other 

criteria were: 

– Functionality: Olympus wants to use the 

LAN not only for data processing, quality 

management, the ERP system and Internet 

applications. It is also intended to support 

significantly more functions and applications. 

Among other things, CCTV monitoring, 

the control of technical equipment and 

industrial applications are to be integrated 

into the LAN. 

«Successfully finishing this project in the middle of 

the COVID19 pandemic was an amazing logistic, health 

and human resources challenge. The partners DST, DTE 

and GAP did it in a perfect way with the support of 

R&M and the customer Olympus.» 

Alexandre Pacheco, CEO & Partner at GAP LDA 

Why R&M? 

– Complete infrastructure solution from 

a single source 

– Cooperation with local planners and installers 

– Experience, commitment 

– Adaptability in the event of plan changes 

– Technical support, expert advice on site 

– Ability to deliver despite pandemic and 

restrictions 

– Quality 

– 25-year system warranty 


«Building this facility without significant delay during the pandemic was only possible 

thanks to the dedication of the entire workforce and the close cooperation and mutual 

support of all parties involved.» 

Constantin Zangemeister, Executive Managing Director Olympus, EMEA 

Long-term warranty included 

Alexandre Pacheco, CEO and partner of GAP, 

regards what happened as an astonishing 

feat. Thanks to the close cooperation of all 

those involved in the project and despite the 

restrictions, production at R&M, transport 

and installation were all carried out on time. 

The GAP installers completed the entire LAN 

infrastructure within 12 months. The building 

network was ready for operation in July 2022 

– including a 25-year system warranty from 

R&M, which confirms the desired investment 

security for the customer Olympus. 

050.7313 050.7314 

050.7315 

– Future viability: In conjunction with 

strategic investment planning, the passive 

network infrastructure was to have reasonable 

reserves. The data network was to be 

configured for the growth of repair services 

from the outset. 

– Distributors and cabling were to be configured 

for decades of sustainable operation 

and to support future IT generations. 

– «Top quality» was another selection criterion 

for the network technology. 

– Ability to deliver: Project participants 

should adhere to a fixed schedule. The 

availability of skilled workers and the necessary 

materials should be reliable. 

Olympus chose GAP LDA as its partner, an 

experienced, innovative and leading Portuguese 

engineering, installation and service 

company based in Lisbon. Founded in 2004, 

the supplier combines expertise in copper, 

fiber optic and measurement technology for 

data and communications networks. GAP is 

a certified R&M partner. 

Cooperation in planning 

GAP was awarded the contract to develop 

and implement the entire network with fiber 

optic backbone and Cat. 7 A 

/Cat. 6 A 

copper 

technology. The GAP team worked together 

with R&M from an early stage of planning. 

Specialists from dst s.a., a leading planning 

office for large construction and infrastructure 

projects in Portugal, provided technical 

support. Olympus had commissioned dst s.a. 

with the overall supervision of the construction 

project. 

The customer 

The Olympus Group is known worldwide 

as a developer of products for medical 

technology, science and industry. It is 

considered to be the leading manufacturer 

of optical and digital precision technology. 

For more than 100 years, Olympus has 

focused on «making people’s lives healthier, 

safer and more fulfilling». Olympus 

products help to detect, prevent and treat 

diseases. They promote scientific research 

and support the security of society. 

Olympus is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, 

and employs more than 30,000 people in 

nearly 40 countries around the world. The 

Portuguese subsidiary – Olympus Medical 

Products Portugal (OMPP) – operates 

the medical technology repair center in 

Coimbra. 

R&M solution 

– Structured cabling (ITED) for 15,500 m 2 

industrial building 

– 17 cabinets for network distributors 

– Fiber optic backbone with OS2 and OM4, 

spliced on UniRack2 patch panels 

– Copper installation cables: Cat. 7 A 

– Connectivity: Cat. 6 A 

This made it possible to define the structural 

and technical specifications for the data network 

at an early stage and optimally prepare 

the installation work. However, the pandemic 

caused considerable disruption. The partners 

faced unexpected logistical and personnel 

challenges. In addition, there were several 

changes to the plan. 

Paulo Pinto | R&M Portugal 

paulo.pinto@rdm.com 

050.7316 


Trends 

Coherence – 

a Way to More Powerful Transmission 

050.7317 

Coherent optical communication has been on the technological radar for some 

time now. The promise of longer reach and much higher capacity is enticing, but 

what does it really mean for networks and their deployments? 

The communication protocols currently 

used (NRZ, PAM4, etc.) are based on the 

modulation of light intensity. Detectors at 

the receiving end can measure the optical 

power and translate this into a digital signal. 

Coherent optical communication technology 

differs significantly from this scheme. Here 

both transmission and detection are based 

on different principles. 

For the transmission, an optical beam is split 

into its orthogonal light polarizations, and the 

phase of one of them is modulated before 

recombining them again into a single beam. 

This beam is then transmitted via optical fiber. 

Different detection 

The core difference in the technology lies 

in the detection scheme. This detection is 

no longer based solely on measuring the 

power of the arriving optical signal; instead, 

it splits the arriving signal into its orthogonal 

polarizations again and combines it with a 

local light source. 

This amplifies the signal-to-noise ratio 

significantly. The sensitivity of the system is 

improved by 20 dB or 100 times better than 

traditional transmission systems. 

Longer distances 

This means a signal can travel considerably 

longer distances under the same conditions. 

The achievable distance for coherent communication 

is in thousands of kilometers 

as opposed to a few tens of kilometers for 

regular non-coherent transmission. 

Although the transmission and detection are 

based on a manipulation of the polarization 

of light, this happens inside the coherent 

optical modules. After the recombination and 

coupling of the beam into the optical fiber, 

the propagation of light in the network does 

not require polarization-maintaining fibers or 

any particular connectivity enhancement. 

In other words, a much denser and far-reaching 

signal can be sent using the same path; 

the tradeoff, of course, is the complexity and 

price of the optical modules. 

«Both webscale and telco operators are making 

fundamental changes to their network architectures 

due to the availability of pluggable 400G coherent 

modules. » 

Scott Wilkinson, Lead Optical Component Analyst at Cignal AI 

Source: Transport Applications Report 


«On the way to 400G, coherent optical communication is 

a key technology to significantly better signal transmission.» 

Data Center 

Service 

Providers 

DC to DC 

Metro Network 

Other companies such as Ciena, NOKIA 

and Cisco announced very comprehensive 

solutions. Almost every transceiver producer 

has created a DCO version of their pluggable. 

Ethernet 

Central office to Metro 

In March 2022, market research firm Cignal AI 

expected shipments of 400ZR/ZR+ modules 

to triple in 2022. 

050.7344 

Coherent Optics 

The knowledge center of the FSCommunity 

stated in June 2022: «With 400G applications, 

two streams of pluggable coherent 

optics are emerging. The first is a CFP2-based 

solution with 1000+km reach capability, 

while the second is a QSFP DD ZR solution 

for Ethernet and DCI applications. » 

Coherent optical signal transmission enables 

direct and high-performance connections, e.g. 

for data center interconnects using 400 Gigabit 

Ethernet or for service provider. 

Source: EXFO 

Light 

Source 

Modulator 

Detector 

+ Demux 

Signal 

While a 100G LR optical module can be 

obtained for a few hundred US$ (based 

on 4 lanes), the price of a digital coherent 

optics (DCO) module is approximately US$ 

7,000 at the time of writing (based on 100G, 

single lane, QSFP-DD). It is easy to see that 

the return on investment depends on the 

application. 

Profitable use cases 

The obvious application for coherent optical 

communication technology is long-haul links. 

Whereas previously, it would be necessary to 

place a repeater every few tens of kilometers, 

now high-bandwidth intercity links are possible 

with a single coherent module. 

Coherent optical communication can also be 

used to upgrade the backbone network and 

to provide mid-haul 5G backbone. 

One less obvious application is starting to 

gain momentum; coherent communication 

for the interconnection of hyperscale data 

centers and next-generation cloud services. 

Here, coherence technology would be a 

solution to leverage existing fiber optic connections 

on a campus or in a metropolitan 

area between distributed sites. 

Light 

Source 

Simplified communication elements in a regular vs coherent network 

Source: R&M 

Signal 

Signal 

Coherent 

Modulator 

Transceiver 

For this application, coherent communication 

competes with other technologies proposed 

to overcome space and bandwidth limitations, 

such as multicore fibers; being able to use the 

installed links is a very convincing argument. 

Increasing shipments 

Several companies have released coherent 

optical communication products. One example 

for point-to-multipoint communication 

was shown by Infinera at ECOC 2022 in 

Basel. 

In this approach, several individual transceivers 

can be replaced by a single coherent 

module that is able to communicate with 

each endpoint using a different subcarrier in 

the same line. 

Regular (NRZ, PAM4, etc.) 

Coherent Communication 

050.6231 

Light 

Source 

Receiver 

Coherent 

Demux 

Dr. Blanca Ruiz 

Technology & Innovation Manager 

blanca.ruiz@rdm.com 

Signal 

050.7347 

Shipments of coherent ports are increasing 

rapidly and we can expect some changes in 

the architecture and topology of networks. 


News 

Copper and Fiber Optics 

Cleverly Combined and Monitored 

030.7513 

IT and infrastructure managers have to achieve ever greater performance at lower costs 

in data centers – and with increasing flexibility. This is exactly what R&M designed its 

copper and fiber optic patch panel Netscale 48 for. 

Whether in offices, edge and colocation 

data centers, at wholesalers and retailers, for 

example, in the computer room – copper and 

fiber optic lines have to be cabled flexibly, 

usually in the tightest of spaces, but still 

neatly. The modular and high density R&M 

mixed media panel with its cable management 

system accommodates everything in a 

single height unit in the rack to save space. 

Cable tangle is a thing of the past for all types 

of copper and fiber optic connections. 

Both technologies can be connected 

cost-efficiently in the same height unit and 

create systematic order. This is because R&M 

supplies the standardized, but also individually 

plannable, pre-terminated Netscale 48 

sets fully equipped. This saves time during 

installation. The panels also score well in 

use, when upgrade, maintenance and repair 

measures are required. 

Flexible and intuitive installation 

The tray-fitted copper and fiber optic trunk 

cables support LC, MPO, SC and E-2000 

as well as Cat. 6, Cat. 6 A 

and the latest Cat. 

8 copper connectivity. In addition, the new 

connection options are available with a high 

number of fibers, such as SN, CS, MDC as 

well as the new MPO16. A standard tray 

allows use in all slide-in positions – regardless 

of whether the patch panel is straight or 

angled. An additional plus: All current fiber 

optic connectors can be connected in the 

same panel. The tray system has a modular 

design so that slots can be freely selected. 

away in an orderly and space-saving manner, 

both at the front and at the back. 

With the appropriate inteliPhy net AIM 

system from R&M, which can be expanded 

at any time, additional security is added to 

the ordered all-in-one solution. 

Another good argument to conclude: 

Netscale not only stands for maximum port 

density, but R&M can offer a five-year product 

warranty and a 25-year system warranty 

thanks to its robust design. 

www.rdm.com/ 

netscale-48/ 

030.7515 

Mounting the trays is easy: Thanks to their 

snap lock system, technicians can install and 

remove the pre-terminated modules in a 

matter of seconds in just a few steps without 

special tools. Very intuitive – and safe: Despite 

the snap function, ground bonding is 

guaranteed at all times. The cables are routed 

Paul Bankwitz | Product Manager 

paul.bankwitz@rdm.com 

050.7318 


News 

CONEXIO 

Raring to Go 

FTTA is just as much a part of 5G as broadband is part 

of the digital era. But how can FTTA be implemented 

as easily, individually and cost-effectively as possible? 

R&M’s answer is CONEXIO and is now launching. 

030.8321 

The macro cells for the new radio-based highspeed 

data traffic require stable, outdoor-capable 

fiber optic infrastructures (Fiber to the 

Antenna = FTTA). From the core network and 

base stations to the radio head, the cabling 

has to meet numerous requirements. 

Mobile operators and tower companies 

are looking for solutions for a wide range 

of location situations and topologies. They 

want to move forward quickly and cost-effectively. 

And they need robust, easy-to-install 

products. 

R&M is now providing an appropriate modular 

system with the new CONEXIO family. It 

includes all the modules that operators need 

for connecting, converting and upgrading 

macro-cell sites. These include boxes, cable 

head terminals, dividers, jumper cables and 

outdoor connectivity. 

More than FTTA 

CONEXIO can do more than Fiber to the 

Antenna (FTTA). The R&M modular system 

also offers solutions for Power to the Antenna 

(PTTA) and hybrid connectivity (HTTA). 

Therefore, CONEXIO is a complete system 

for site- and operator-specific infrastructures 

of macro cells. CONEXIO is also a plug-andplay 

solution. 

R&M has done everything to make it easy 

for installers to install, maintain, extend and 

replace the boxes, cable head terminals, 

dividers, connectivity and jumper cables. This 

reduces the cost of labor. The new HEC-BR 

(Bayonet Release) outdoor connectors 

feature unmatched failure safety and can be 

coupled quickly, even with gloves. 

The CONEXIO development is based on 

R&M’s decades of experience in equipping 

telecom and FTTX networks. 

Global market launch 

The market launch will take place globally. 

The R&M network ensures that the products 

are available everywhere and meet global 

quality standards. R&M offers manufacturers 

of active equipment specific designs. 

The range of services also includes local 

application engineering, individual assembly, 

customizing, planning support as well as 

logistics and supply chain support from a 

single source. 

030.8315 

030.8336 

www.rdm.com/conexio/ 

050.7320 

CONEXIO flexx is the name of the box range. 

The boxes accommodate fiber optic, power and 

hybrid cabling for up to twelve radio heads. The 

jumpers are interchangeable. Cable protection 

switches and overvoltage protection can also 

be installed. 

CONEXIO family 

– Boxes: CONEXIO flexx 

– Cable head terminals: CONEXIO easy 

– Dividers, canisters: CONEXIO lite 

– Jumpers: CONEXIO jump 

– Outdoor connectivity: HEC-BR 

– Other cables: feeder cables, pre-terminated 

fanout cables, patch cords 

– FTTx extensions: splice closures, 

distribution boxes, PoP stations, ODF, 

patch and splice panels 

050.7319 

Michael Dellsperger | Product Manager 

michael.dellsperger@rdm.com 


Success 

050.7321 

of investment. Further large shipments of 238 

BladeShelter server racks and 476 controlled 

PDUs followed in late 2022 and early 2023. 

Infrastructure for 

Digital Payments 

030.7942 

The transition to a cashless Europe is progressing relentlessly. 

Payment service providers such as Nexi are spending a lot 

of time and money expanding their data centers. This is the 

only way to meet the rapidly increasing demand for digital 

services. Nexi is expanding the rack rows in an efficient way. 

Nexi, the European market leader in the 

sector, wants to innovate digital payments. 

The provider strives for a comprehensive and 

personalized range of payment solutions of all 

types. «We will drive forward the transition to 

a cashless Europe and make every payment 

digital, as it is easier, faster and safer for 

everyone,» states the Milan-based company 

of its goals. 

Demand for digital banking services is growing 

considerably. Regulatory and compliance 

requirements are evolving. Nexi is responding 

by scaling computer power, modernizing 

technology, and making digital payments 

increasingly secure. 

As part of its business strategy, Nexi is 

converting its own technology platform into 

a hybrid cloud architecture. Every year, the 

company invests more than 800 million euros 

in IT and innovations. In addition to technology, 

the expertise and energy of the employees 

contribute to Nexi’s leading position. 

Saved from high costs 

The infrastructure in the computer halls is 

also growing. Rack rows need to be expanded 

or adapted on an ongoing basis. When eight 

racks were to be replaced in 2018 due to 

design disadvantages, the team at Tecnosteel 

recommended deepening the installed racks 

during operation and thus preventing an 

interruption to business. That was 16 times 

more economical than having them replaced. 

This success has led to the development of 

a trusting, long-term business relationship. 

Nexi ordered a total of 80 racks and 160 

monitored PDUs in three consecutive rounds 

The racks are manufactured at R&M Tecnosteel 

in Brunello, the BladeShelter team 

manages the project and configures the racks, 

and a distributor takes care of storage and 

logistics. 

Why R&M? 

– Infrastructure solution (cabinet, PDU) 

and configuration from a single source 

– Cost-saving design solution 

– Product quality 

– Personal trust 

– Expertise, planning, service 

Nexi is Europe's PayTech, present in 

high-growth European markets and 

technologically advanced countries. The 

company has the scale, geographic reach 

and capabilities to lead the transition to 

a cashless Europe. With its portfolio of 

innovative products, ecommerce expertise 

and industry-specific solutions, Nexi 

is able to provide flexible support for 

the digital economy and the entire global 

payments ecosystem across a wide range 

of different payment channels and methods. 

Nexi constantly invests in technology 

and innovation. 

«The success factor for our trusting cooperation 

is not the price, but the expertise, experience and 

credibility of the R&M Tecnosteel team.» 

Michele Gallo, Core Infrastructures & Platforms Data Center 

Operations Manager, Nexi 

Stefano Marini | R&M Tecnosteel 

stefano.marini@rdm.com 

050.7322 



Trends 

050.7323 

Saving Energy 

with Fiber Optics? 

Although fiber optic networks cannot transfer power, they do offer a number of advantages 

for switching to renewable energies. They form the framework that facilitates smart power 

saving for countries, cities, municipal utilities and industries. 

The aim is to replace fossil fuels with sustainable 

and renewable energy production. This 

is a key objective of global initiatives that aim 

to protect the climate. For example, EU states 

want to increase the share of renewable 

energies in their total consumption to at least 

32% by 2030. This can only be achieved if 

the power supply infrastructure is expanded, 

adapted and equipped with intelligence. 

In the future, the electricity network will connect 

more decentralized energy producers, 

such as hydro and wind power plants, solar 

fields and local photovoltaic systems. Utilities 

need to know in real time how much these 

energy sources can feed into their grid. They 

need to be able to intelligently regulate the 

flow of electricity over long distances just as 

quickly so that the grid remains stable. 

«Fiber optic networks can help speed up the transition 

to renewable energies.» 

Extensive 5G and fiber optic networks can 

provide the necessary data traffic. However, 

fail-safe, weather-resistant FO connections 

must be installed at the many power plants. 

Aiming for the smart grid 

Energy consumption and stationary energy 

storage systems on customer premises must 

also be managed intelligently and in real time. 

In this way, energy-saving potential can be 

exploited, a stable power supply ensured and 

price advantages put to good use. For this 

purpose, municipal utilities need many monitoring 

systems, sensors and remote control 

directly on electricity consumers’ premises. 


What R&M has to offer for 

smart grids 

– Complete cabling solutions for harsh 

ambient conditions 

– Outdoor connectivity for power plants, 

buildings, antennas, edge data centers 

– Resistant fiber optic cables (resistant 

to oil, grease, chemicals, rodents, frost, 

wind, sun) 

– Services: consulting for network planning, 

pre-termination of distributors, 

pre-terminated cable systems, measurements, 

quality assurance 

– Competencies: access networks, Fiber 

to the Home, Fiber to the Antenna, data 

center infrastructures 

Infrastructure for smart grids 

Smart 

operator 

Intelligent 

electricity meter 

Household 

appliances 

Photovoltaics 

Home energy 

controller 

Heat pump 

Battery storage 

When fiber optics is available everywhere – 

as is the case with FTTH, for example – these 

many devices can be easily networked. They 

can be integrated into clouds, data centers 

and virtual electricity exchanges. This is how 

the connection between power supply, fiber 

optic broadband supply and the Internet of 

Things results in the smart grid – the Internet 

of Energy, which ranges from wind power 

Electricity network 

Fiber optic network 

plants to washing machines and electric cars. 

«The smart grid has considerably greater 

demands in terms of quality and availability, 

and this is where fiber optic networks 

The electricity network and fiber optic 

network provide the infrastructure for 

smart grids. 

050.7350 Source: CleanThinking 

come into play,» confirm the experts from 

*Flabb-Planung in Solingen. They expect 

the introduction of smart grids to give more 

impetus to the expansion of broadband 

infrastructure. 

Today 

Transport 

Electricity networks 

In the future 

Utilities could even use their infrastructures 

such as masts, shafts, pipes and distribution 

stations for the expansion of their own 

fiber optic networks. At the same time, they 

could offer consumers other useful Internet 

services or rent out their fiber optic cables. 

And that means fiber optic networks can 

help speed up the transition to renewable 

energies. 

ICT 

*Source: Flabb-Planung Solingen 

Water management 

ICT 

cloud 

Sector coupling interfaces 

050.7353 Quelle: Source: Springer, 2018 

Diagram for the connection of electricity networks and fiber optic networks to create smart grids 

Andreas Rüsseler | CMO 

andreas.ruesseler@rdm.com 

050.7086 


News 

Configuring 

Racks Appropriately 

R&M is launching its own range of LAN 

and server cabinets under the brand name 

R&Mfreenet. The benefit for customers: 

The all-in-one solution comes from a single 

source. The racks can also be delivered 

disassembled because they are not welded 

but screwed together. 

030.8347 

The 19" cabinets from R&M can be used as 

building and floor distributors for LAN cabling 

in office buildings and server rooms at small 

and medium-sized industrial companies. 

R&M develops and manufactures the complete 

rack range with accessories in its own 

competence center in Brunello, Italy. 

The standard range consists of over 100 

items. In order to accommodate not only 

current but also future server generations 

and network components in the 19" rack, it 

can be configured with single parts as desired 

and thus adapted to individual requirements. 

Customers receive a five-year product 

warranty. 

19" R&Mfreenet Classic Line (CL) 

cabling rack 

– Payload weight: 800 kg 

– 42U 

– Width: 800 mm, depths: 800 mm 

and 1,000 mm 

– Color: gray 

– Two racks pre-configured: available 

mounted or as a flat pack; with glass 

door, sheet metal rear panel, side 

panels, roof with cable entry, floor on 

adjustable feet 

– Two base frames with 4x19" profiles 

and cover with the possibility of additional 

attachments such as perforated 

doors and bases; can be ordered as 

single parts on request 

19" R&Mfreenet Expert Line (EL) 

server rack 

– Payload weight: 1,200 kg 

– 42U 

– Width: 800 mm, depths: 800 mm, 

1,000 mm and 1,200 mm 

– Colors: gray and black 

– Four basic frame variants: available 

mounted or as a flat pack with 4x19" 

profiles and cover with the possibility of 

additional attachments such as perforated 

doors and bases; can be ordered as 

single parts on request 

Accessories 

– Vertical cable manager for high density 

cabling, cable trough, etc. 

– 19" blind panels clicked, cable leadthrough 

plates, cable manager, 

– 19" shelves, drawers, 

– Document holder, cable brackets, 

mounting material 

Andreas Klauser | Product Manager 

andreas.klauser@rdm.com 

050.7244 


News 

A Space-Saving Miracle 

in the Netscale Portfolio 

030.8218 

The flexible mixed media patch panel Netscale 48 

from R&M with cable management system 

offers all cabling on a single height unit in the rack. 

The panel is now also available in two and four 

height units. 

030.8364 

Greater performance at a lower cost – this 

is the challenge faced by every infrastructure 

manager today. Whether for LAN office 

cabling in industry or in edge and colocation 

data centers. This is precisely why R&M 

has equipped its fiber optic platform with a 

new system solution. The multi-height unit 

panels for two and four height units can be 

installed faster and thus reduce assembly and 

expenditure. 

As with Netscale 48, the full range of 

functions is available in one height unit, 

which simplifies all installation activities. An 

additional plus is the familiar intuitive handling. 

Everyone benefits in some way from 

these advantages: The planner gets along 

with less construction work, the purchasing 

department requires fewer quantities, and 

the logistics department fewer packages. 

Installers need fewer screws, which means 

they are faster and have less packing waste. 

And finally, the operator benefits from less 

expensive purchasing. 

Best maneuverability as usual 

The robust panels, which are available as a 

straight version, are available with all fiber 

optic and copper trays and modules, including 

a single splice solution. The new single 

splice tray, which enables classic termination 

in the rack, offers a single termination for 

twelve fibers. 

The multi-height unit panel also cleverly 

combines two technologies in one system: 

copper and glass connections. They can 

be mounted in the same height unit in a 

space-saving manner and thus enable stepby-step 

expansion: simply cost-effective. 

For perfect order in the rack, the cables are 

routed away in a space-saving and tidy way, 

both at the front and at the back. Wiring is 

not necessary. Pre-terminated trunk cables 

ensure quick commissioning and maximum 

ease of handling. Thanks to their snap lock, 

the pre-terminated modules can be installed 

safely in seconds in just a few steps without 

any special tools. Despite the snap function, 

ground bonding is guaranteed at all times. 

The 25-year system and 5-year product warranty 

also applies to the new 2U 4U housing. 

www.rdm.com/ 

netscale-48/ 

050.7094 

XXXX 

Beat Koch | Product Manager 

beat.koch@rdm.com 


News 

PREANNOUNCEMENT 

The New FM45 EL – 

Stable and Ingeniously Simple 

030.8275 

With the intuitive FM45 connectors from R&M, installers can 

quickly and flexibly change, replace or install cabling in the field. 

Now there’s a new family member in metal housing. 

Whether for traditional premises wiring 

in office buildings, for residential cabling, 

in data centers or in industry: The range 

of FM45s has been tried and tested for 

almost 20 years. The connectors serve as 

practical helpers for the construction of LAN 

infrastructures, for service, maintenance and 

repairs. The FM45 range offers universal 

connection solutions for all requirements – 

both indoors and out. And now the FM45 

family is growing again: The completely newly 

developed FM45 EL Cat. 6 A 

in a robust 

design with die-cast zinc housing is suitable 

not only for traditional LAN cabling, but also 

for industrial environments and the IoT. It 

ensures stable data transmission, even under 

the most adverse circumstances. Thanks to 

the extended temperature range of -40 to 

85°C, it can withstand many influences. The 

connector can be rewired. With its insulation 

displacement connections (IDC), it is also 

ideally suited for PoE applications. It bears 

the R&M PowerSafe quality seal. 

Effortless wiring 

Depending on the installation environment, 

two straight and two angled versions are 

available, each in Cat. 6 A 

, for cable diameters 

of 5—7 mm or alternatively 7—9 mm. Smart: 

The wiring method is the same – and child’s 

play. Regardless of whether the connector is 

used for new buildings or conversions, the 

wiring is always successful, even without 

special tools. It can be taken care of with 

stranded or straight wire from AWG22 to 

AWG26, regardless of whether shielded 

or unshielded cables are used. Easy-to-read 

color markings provide additional support. 

A handle guard is helpful when removing 

the connector in hard-to-reach areas. It can 

be shortened or removed completely. Two 

differently colored clamping rings in the 

nut ensure reliable strain relief and the 

selection of the correct diameter. The 

connector is only 46 mm long and therefore 

also ideal for applications in confined spaces. 

It is also backwards compatible and guar- 

anteed to be reliable: R&M offers a 5-year 

product warranty and a 25-year system 

warranty. 

The new FM45 EL from R&M will be available 

in summer 2023. 

Paul Bankwitz | Product Manager 

paul.bankwitz@rdm.com 

050.7324 


Corporate 

Sustainable Investment in 

Global Value Creation 

R&M is consistently developing into a global provider of complete and 

integrated infrastructure solutions with an international supply chain and its 

own competence centers. 

Comprehensive support for customers when 

it comes to planning, building and managing 

networks – this is part of R&M’s mission. The 

momentum of the digital era calls for holistic 

approaches. This is why R&M is continuously 

transforming itself from a component 

manufacturer to a provider of complete 

and integrated infrastructure solutions for 

data and communications networks. Today, 

R&M is a global consultant and supplier for 

data center infrastructures, local networks, 

smart buildings and the telecommunications 

industry. 

By continuously investing in its 14 plants, 

R&M is reinforcing its strategy and is increasingly 

relying on dedicated competence 

centers, such as the new rack and cabinet 

plants in Italy for the EMEA region and in 

China for the APAC region, as well as FO 

cable production in the Czech Republic. In 

recent months, their machinery has been 

significantly expanded and modernized. 

Bundled supply chain 

The R&M plants are part of a centrally 

controlled production network that has 

passed all the stress tests even in times of 

crisis and remained able to deliver. During 

the pandemic, a new fiber optic production 

facility in Pinghu, China, was set up remotely 

in accordance with Swiss quality standards, 

meeting all the required ISO certifications. 

At the beginning of 2023, the machinery for cabinet production at R&M Tecnosteel in Brunello 

was expanded to include a laser cutting machine with fully automatic loading and pallet changing for 

operator-free processing. 

With its supply chain, R&M achieves a depth 

of value creation and independence that 

stands out across the industry. For customers, 

especially providers of data centers, R&M can 

efficiently merge all necessary infrastructure 

components and offer them as an all-in-one 

solution. And that means: connectivity, 

equipment for cubes and computer halls, 

and DCIM solutions for asset, capacity and 

change management. The portfolio is rounded 

off with solutions for cooling and power 

supply. R&M also integrates complementary 

products from proven partners in the industry. 

This «all-inclusive» approach significantly 

reduces the burden on customers as they 

don’t have to worry as much about the details 

of communication infrastructure projects. 

The local R&M consulting and sales team 

accompanies and advises business partners 

from the start of the planning phase. 

070.5076 

quickly serve internationally active customers, 

such as cloud and network providers, on 

their own premises. 

During the pandemic, a new fiber optic production 

facility was set up remotely in accordance with 

Swiss quality standards in Pinghu, China. 

050.7326 

050.7325 

A sheathing extrusion line was added to the 

optical fiber manufacturing plant in Děčín, Czech 

Republic, in March 2023. 

In addition to the infrastructure solutions, 

R&M offers project management, engineering, 

training, regional production and 

logistics sites, and, on request, pre-assembled 

products. The plants are of critical size and 

are closely networked globally to be able to 

Markus Stieger-Bircher | COO 

markus.stieger@rdm.com 

050.7327 


Corporate 

More than 

Customer 

Orientation 

050.7328 

When R&M founded its first foreign subsidiary in Germany in 1982, the company was 

already demonstrating three compelling qualities: The ability to quickly familiarize itself 

with local conditions, direct involvement on site and high standing. 

These qualities represent a holistic understanding 

of customer orientation. R&M has 

always stuck to that, even in very challenging 

times. Local R&M organizations and key 

partners can supply goods anywhere in the 

world at any time. 

Following the initial expansion abroad, the 

company quickly entered other European 

countries, Asia, North and South America, 

as well as the Middle East. R&M experts 

are now working locally in 40 countries. In 

addition, there are 14 manufacturing facilities 

in leading economic zones. 

Accessible on site 

R&M consultants support project partners 

directly on site, often from the initial planning 

stage through to training sessions for 

installers. As residents, they know the local 

conditions. With their high level of expertise, 

they are able to respond optimally to 

customer needs and design specific system 

solutions. Short-term customization is also 

possible. Local product managers are available 

for this purpose. Spacious showrooms at 

the local R&M Representatives' showcase the 

potential solutions on site. 

With its regionally oriented, self-controlled 

production and distribution infrastructure, 

R&M works quickly, flexibly and independently. 

Products in daily demand are available 

close to the customer from the warehouse 

thanks to predictive distribution. 

The just-in-time deliveries of assembled, 

factory-tested, ready-to-install systems take 

place over comparatively short transport 

routes, which concurrently means less fuel 

consumption and fewer greenhouse gases. 

The company’s 14 own manufacturing facilities 

and their warehouses are strategically 

positioned, true to the principle: Production 

in the region for the region. They work in accordance 

with the demanding Swiss concept 

of quality. Our customers can rely on this. 

www.rdm.com/company/ 

about-rm/rm-branchesworldwide/ 

050.7214 

Michel Riva | CEO 

michel.riva@rdm.com 


News 

070.5066 

Distributing Power 

Intelligently 

Intelligent power distribution units from R&M offer decisive advantages 

when it comes to monitoring energy distribution and consumption, flexibility 

and response speed in data centers and server rooms. 

It all starts with the power supply. Suitable 

power distribution units are required to 

ensure power distribution and keep an 

eye on consumption. Ideally smart ones. 

These PDUs (Power Distribution Units) can 

be used to switch or administer slots individually. 

To this end, R&M has included 

the new ActiPower 4.0 rack power distribution 

units in its program as it meets the 

requirements of data centers and server 

rooms. Attractive: This is a complete PDU 

range with accessories, which is available as 

an all-in-one solution from a single source 

(«one-stop shop»). R&M presents three variants 

to ensure that the power distribution 

units suit the respective demand exactly. 

More than just distributing current 

1. The ActiPower 4.0 Basic in an ultralight 

aluminum housing offers various mounting 

options as well as low hydraulic-magnetic 

overcurrent fuses. The state-of-the-art IEX 

(C13/C19) combination connector socket 

with locking system for P-Lock and V-Lock 

connectors makes the PDU versatile and 

allows any combination of C14 and C20 

connectors to be connected. 

2. The ActiPower 4.0 Monitored also features 

a communication card with two Gigabit 

Ethernet connections for third-party access 

to the PDU as well as an SNMP interface. 

The card can be replaced during operation. 

In addition, the input power per phase (V, A, 

Hz, W, VA) is measured. 

3. The ActiPower 4.0 Managed is structured 

like the Monitored version, but can also 

measure and switch the connector sockets. 

All power distribution units consist of 

high-temperature components and are 

configured for reliable operation up to an 

ambient air temperature of 60°C. They 

can be mounted without tools 

in the R&M BladeShelter rack. 

Temperature and humidity sensors, 

door contact sensors and water 

detection sensors are available 

as accessories. Last but not least, 

the components are integrated 

into the inteliPhy net software for 

automated infrastructure, capacity 

and asset management. 

Andreas Klauser | Product Manager 

andreas.klauser@rdm.com 

050.7244 

030.8359 


Corporate 

Double Anniversary in 

Northeast Europe 

30 Years in Poland – 25 Years in Hungary 

Economic development in Eastern Europe since 1990 can be attributed primarily to the 

motivation of the people. And this is something R&M is feeling too. The R&M team in Poland 

has been writing an exemplary success story for 30 years; the team in Hungary for 25 years. 

050.7329 050.7330 

It began with the modernization and boom of 

public telephone networks in the 1990s. The 

Eastern European telecommunications sector 

launched an investment program of historic 

proportions once the countries had opened 

up to the free market. 

R&M got involved at an early stage and 

networked with open-minded, highly motivated 

specialists from the industry. Together 

with sales partners and system integrators, 

R&M quickly established itself as a provider 

of assembly-friendly distribution solutions. 

The quality and ease of handling of the VS 

modular main distributors are legendary. 

In 1993, R&M founded its first Eastern 

European sales office in a rented office in 

Warsaw – an office still run today by Managing 

Director Andrzej Zagólski. At the same time, 

R&M established itself as the market leader in 

the telecommunications industry in Hungary. 

Its success was based on its role as a pioneer 

in ADSL/VDSL broadband technology. Tamás 

Getta’s young team built up first-class customer 

relationships, resulting in the founding 

of R&M Hungary in November 1998. 

Success in the LAN market 

The second wave of success came with the 

entry into the LAN market around the turn of 

the millennium. R&M provided leading-edge 

Ethernet cabling solutions, the universal Cat. 

5 connector format and high-end fiber optic 

connectors. The accession of Eastern European 

countries to the EU boosted the market. 

R&M equipped the Nokia plant, which at the 

time manufactured 300,000 mobile phones 

a day, with structured cabling systems. R&M 

also supplied the network solution for a pioneering 

FTTH project in a luxury residential 

park near Budapest. 

Copper competence center 

The Polish subsidiary became a logistics 

center for the Northeast Europe region. 

From 2000 onwards, Reichle & De-Massari 

Polska Sp. z o.o. began manufacturing copper 

products for the R&M Group and became the 

R&M copper competence center. A further 

important step followed in 2013 with the 

division into two companies for sales and 

production. 

One of the most important reference projects 

was the network installation in Rondo1, a 

sensational office high-rise in downtown 

Warsaw. The office cabling with the extended 

office cabling system developed by R&M enabled 

completely flexible use of the premises. 

This was followed by orders from the state, 

Polish air safety and real estate investors, such 

as the majestic Europejski Hotel in Warsaw. 

050.7332 

050.7331 

Headquarters of R&M Northeast Europe 

in Warsaw 

In Hungary, the R&M team acquired major 

orders from Nokia, MOL and Bridgestone. 

Andrzej Zagólski | MD R&M NEE 

andrzej.zagolski@rdm.com 



Join us on 

social media! 

Further information on our blog portal: 

www.rdm.com/blog/ 

Headquarters 

Switzerland 

Reichle & De-Massari AG 

Binzstrasse 32 

CH-8620 Wetzikon 

Phone +41 (0)44 933 81 11 

www.rdm.com 

Contact 

R&M Corporate Communication Team 

corpcom@rdm.com

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