CONNECTIONS_65-e

CONNECTIONS 65 

Specialist magazine Reichle & De-Massari AG | October 2023 

Time Travel 

through the Data Center 

Groupe ADP 

Smart Airports in Paris 

BladeShelter – 

a Full Composition 

More Production Capacities 

for Fiber Optic Cables 

041.0724

Editorial 

The Vision 

that has Connected Us 

for Almost 60 Years 

050.7360 

Dear Business Partners 

Enabling communication through optimal 

network infrastructures – that was already 

the aim of Hans Reichle and Renato De-Massari 

when they developed a revolutionary 

telephone outlet almost 60 years ago. Our 

mission is still the same, but when it comes to 

technology everything has changed. 

Today, we are amazed that artificial intelligence 

(AI) can, for example, paint pictures, 

write essays and diagnose medical conditions. 

Machines now perform the brainwork that 

was previously considered a human domain. 

However, these high-performance computers 

only run if their network infrastructures can 

be relied upon. No AI without connectivity. 

Megatrends such as AI are also driving the 

boom in data centers. If you want to hold 

your own in this market, you have to be able 

to move at a fast pace: Latencies and data 

transfer rates are constantly accelerating. 

At the same time, data centers should be 

improving their energy efficiency and working 

trouble-free at all times. In our FOCUS story, 

we take you on a journey through time in the 

data center and show you how we can help 

you plan and operate. 

With our complete portfolio for data center 

infrastructures, we have also specialized 

in continuously improving efficiency and 

security. With the BladeShelter T7 PLUS 

rack system, for example, which has a static 

load-bearing capacity of 1,800 kg and separates 

the flow of hot and cold air, power 

consumption is noticeably reduced. And the 

smart ActiPower 4.0 Power Distribution Unit 

(PDU) can monitor environmental parameters 

such as energy consumption, temperature, 

humidity and access security. 

Staying on the ball 

The further modernization of our product 

range and our own infrastructures has traditionally 

been a very high priority at R&M. This 

is why, whenever possible, we report at an 

early stage on the innovations of tomorrow, 

their implementation in our solutions and 

our modernization efforts. You will also find 

relevant articles in this latest issue of our 

specialist magazine CONNECTIONS. 

As a full-range provider as well as a provider 

of individual, custom-made solutions and 

with many market organizations and plants 

around the world, we are always close to 

our valued customers – in order to optimize 

network infrastructures together. 

We wish you an inspiring read. 

Robert Merki, CTO 

«We provide network infrastructure 

for unlimited communication.» 

2 | CONNECTIONS 10|2023–65

Contents 

Focus 

Success 

Corporate 

Time Travel 


4 

Shields USA 

Sustainable in Every Respect 8 

Provider of 

Custom-Made Solutions 23 

News 

Groupe ADP 

Smart Airports in Paris 16 

Crédit Agricole, Lyon 

Secure Cabling 21 


for Fiber Optic Cables 24 

For the Environment: 

Changes in Packaging 26 

R&M Takes SPE Forward 9 

This is Where 

HEC-BR and HEC-QR Work 10 

Vital Signs 

under Control 11 

Bespoke Compilation – 

Ready for Installation 14 

Trends 

Liquid Cooling: 

Worth Considering 12 

Cat. 8.1 Applications 

in the LAN 18 


a Full Composition 15 

R&M HD Connectors: 

for 400G and More 17 

Resistance Unbalanced: 

Hidden Faults in the LAN 19 

Setting up 

Customized LAN Racks 20 

Predestined for 

Harsh Environments 22 

More Space for 

Splice Trays 25 

Publication details: 

CONNECTIONS 65 | October 2023 

Cover picture: 

R&M supports planning processes for 

data center infrastructures as a trusted advisor 

with a holistic approach. 

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, 

Bernward Damm, Robert Merki, 

Andreas Rüsseler, Ines Stotz 

Layout: KplusH, CHE-Amden, Markus Kuhn 

Printing: Ostschweiz Druck AG, CHE-Wittenbach 

Print run: 6, 000 copies 

CONNECTIONS is printed twice a year and can be 

ordered from the publisher. Reproduction allowed 

with permission from the editorial team. 

SC2021042104 

10|2023–65 CONNECTIONS | 3

Focus 

Time Travel 


050.7361 

Take a trip to the future through your data center! You will be starting out in 2023 

and will see how the computer room will change over the next ten years. You are likely to 

meet a few surprises on the way. Read on to find out what is already on the cards today 

and what you need to take with you for a secure future. 

Aside from growing data traffic and ever 

faster machines: Who can even guess at 

what the data center will have to take care 

of in the future? A journey through time could 

provide creative support for planning the 

future. There will be new insights along the 

way. This would be a fantastic way of getting 

to know the needs of the market and new 

customer projects ahead of time. 

Many a migration and scaling project 

becomes a cost pit along the way. Plug & 

Play, fast-moving servers and high-speed 

switches are clearly not enough to master 

the future. The capacity offered by the IT 

infrastructure (non-compute layer) must be 

able to «breathe» in future. 

Megatrend of digitalization 

Back to the present. What can operators 

already expect today? Experience shows that 

the market does not allow data centers to take 

a break. Today, heavy duty is the order of the 

day: Cloud, edge, hybridization, «everything 

as a service», gaming, streaming, blockchain, 

5G and the AI revolution – digitalization has 

many drivers, some of which support or even 

reinforce each other. This certainly gives you 

a rough idea of the trip to the future. 

Every day, unstoppable digitalization demands 

new and more powerful IT equipment, 

shorter latencies and higher transmission 

rates. Over the past three years, the workload 

has in some cases approached the physical 

limit. At the same time, data centers should 

be resilient and available at all times without 

interruption, which requires expensive redundancy. 

In addition, they should be increasingly 

efficient in their production, with ever better 

PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) and higher 

ROI (Return on Investment). 

These laws and requirements have been in 

place for a long time and will accompany data 

centers into the future. 

There is a new aspect that will occupy data 

center providers even more intensively in 

the future: They urgently need to address 

BladeShelter containment 

041.0727 


Forecasts about the development of the Data Center market 

the issues of carbon footprint, decarbonization 

and power supply. These questions 

have to be asked at all levels, from premises 

and buildings to computer rooms and even 

high-performance chips. In particular, data 

center operators will be faced with new underlying 

conditions in the form of extended 

state norms and adapted industry standards 

for data centers, the call for the recycling of 

used raw materials, waste heat utilization 

concepts for the surrounding buildings and 

residents, and also increasingly the use of 

renewable energy sources. 

Spontaneous, fast, complex 

Data center customers are having to act faster 

and faster. Business models are adapted 

or scaled. Digitalization gives companies the 

opportunity to implement many things in a 

short space of time. For security or competitive 

reasons, they often release services, apps 

and updates at short notice. Applications for 

masses of end users, or complex applications 

with a high workload for the servers are on 

the agenda. 

Data centers must therefore be responsive. 

And they have to be able to provide scalable 

infrastructures tailored to the customer 

and project at short notice. Together with 

customers, operators are making complex 

decisions more often than ever before. 

Understanding new customer applications 

leads to an adapted conversion into new IT 

equipment (such as servers and storage) and 

its networking with corresponding switches. 

If this equipment is to be integrated into an 

efficient environment and perhaps even into 

a partially existing infrastructure, there is more 

to be done than just filling up free spaces in 

existing IT cabinets. The increasing demand 

for efficiency in the data center requires the 

coordination of all sections of the infrastructure 

in order to optimize the critical interaction 

between compute and non-compute layers. 

Would anyone have thought of this recently 

with conventional planning focused on individual 

sections? All plans have to be adjusted 

to one another, and stand-alone solutions will 

no longer meet the targets set in the future. 

What that means for cooling 

The challenges associated with cooling are 

impressive. When the computer room was 

first set up, all the amenities were perfectly 

adjusted to each other: Cold aisles and hot 

50 % 

increase in the electrical footprint 

of all data centers by 2025 

500 % 

growth of globally generated 

data by 2025 

Source: Schneider Electric 

aisles, air flow, fans and cooling systems, 

operating temperature of IT equipment, etc. 

Servers with larger computing capacity are 

now entering the computer room because 

customers want to launch new, powerful digital 

products. Suddenly something changes 

as regards cooling. Fans are operating at full 

speed on a permanent basis and consuming 

more power. The cause has to be investigated, 

and that no doubt means maintenance work, 

in the worst case operational interruptions 

and subsequent renovation work. Cable 

bundles have to be laid differently so that 

the air can flow optimally again. 

If installations are equipped at maximum 

capacity at the beginning of expansion, this 

can lead to inefficiencies and even damage 

to the system. Here, a simple example: A rack 

was initially equipped with two blades, which 

together had an output of 2 kW. But the cooling 

system has already been configured for 20 

kW or for fully equipped rack rows. Excessive 

cooling changes the dew point. Moisture 

accumulates. Certain systems stop when 

there is too much cold or the cooling system 

runs at a level that is too low, resulting in a 

constant switching on and off. This can lead to 

complete cooling system failure prematurely. 

Some data centers take precautions by 

proactively planning in headroom. In doing 

so, they have to remember that cooling and 

power supply must be adjusted to both the 

reduced and the full IT load. 

One possible solution for this would be 

decentralized, modular inline and side cooling 

units such as the BladeCooling units from 

R&M Tecnosteel. They can be dimensioned 

according to the respective computing 

performance. 

24 % 

of Executives report that over 50 % 

of their data centers will configure 

themselves by 2025 

75 % 

of data will be processed in 

edge data centers 

Here, too, an interdependency would have 

to be considered: The energy and space 

requirements of the inline and side cooling 

units must be taken into account when planning 

the expansion. Once again, IT equipment 

and operating temperatures, ventilators, 

cooling system, containment and air routing 

have to be coordinated with one another. 

Blade cooling for heat loads from 4 to 42 kW 

In-row cooling 

030.7913 

050.7363 

030.7914 


Focus 

The journey to 800 Gigabit 

The new digital applications will also generate 

higher data volume in the future. In order to 

be able to serve these applications under the 

additional constraint of latency requirements 

in the data center, the migration to 400 

Gigabit, 800 Gigabit and 1.6 Tb Ethernet is 

necessary. Are those responsible aware of all 

the interdependencies? It’s about more than 

just highly scaled connectivity in a spine-leaf 

architecture. 

The space provided for cabling in a rack is 

limited and is difficult to expand after initial 

installation. Cabling with MPO connectivity 

and the HD connectors (e.g. SN) could make 

maximum use of the space thanks to high 

connection density. 

Three steps 

Despite the many unknowns, the increasing 

multidimensional correlations in the data 

center can be controlled. When a customer 

project is pending, three main steps are 

recommended: 

1. First of all, the client’s objectives and business 

case must be understood. Specify 

precisely which applications and services 

are planned. 

2. Analyze which computing and transmission 

services, technologies, functions are 

required. 

3. This information is essential for designing 

or adapting the non-compute infrastructure 

needed to keep the IT systems 

running. 

As a trusted advisor, R&M supports such 

processes with a holistic approach and a 

view from a non-compute perspective. 

At the beginning of the project, R&M can 

describe interdependencies, gaps, time 

requirements, migration and scaling options. 

Suitable power supply, cooling, cabling, and 

suitable racks, panels and enclosures can be 

reliably determined as can the underlying 

conditions for installation, operation, maintenance 

and quality assurance. 

As a provider of integrated infrastructure 

solutions, R&M provides a future-oriented 

portfolio for data centers. It ranges from 

connectivity to DCIM software. This enables 

R&M to supply individual modules and complete 

infrastructures for computer rooms 

which are ready for installation from a single 

source, as well as retrofit and scale them. 

R&M supports data centers from analyzing 

and planning to implementing and managing 

infrastructures. 

050.7290 

Customer-specific data center planning, visual 

representations, renderings, simulations of data 

center rooms 

Integrated data center solution 

Partners 

PDU – cooling – UPS 

Electronic layer 

Access and rack monitoring 

Software layer 

Infrastructure and asset management 

Racks and enclosures 

Panels and housings 

(Passive) hardware layer 

FO cables 

Pre-terminated cabling systems 

Components 

050.7366 

R&M offers its customers integrated DC solutions from A to Z. | Graphic: R&M 


more sophisticated the integration, the more 

successfully data centers will be able to serve 

the market in the future. 

Insight into data center infrastructures with 

the DCIM software inteliPhy net 

The cabling must be planned for the new 

architecture in detail and with foresight. For 

the journey to 800 Gigabit and beyond, data 

centers need a detailed scaling and migration 

strategy. And that strategy has to be about 

more than just high density. The interdependencies 

between racks, cabling density, 

weight, cable pathways, cable management 

and airflow also need to be investigated. 

The new PDU affects everyone 

A current example which will also influence 

future planning: Where conventional connector 

strips were previously sufficient, remotely 

Smart Power Distribution Units: 

a cost-saving solution 

050.6975 050.7137 

The DCIM software inteliPhy net from R&M 

enables asset management of IT hardware. 

controllable, hydraulically-magnetically 

protected PDUs with network modules will 

soon be used. They are intended to make 

the electrical infrastructure safer and more 

intelligent. Once again, it becomes apparent 

that a single advance entails a number of 

interdependencies. 

The infrastructure planners have to accommodate 

additional bus cabling and sensors 

in the rack. For network planners, it is a 

matter of how many ports and IP addresses 

the intelligent PDUs take up. Operators and 

customer care want to know if changes and 

maintenance require expensive interruptions 

of operation. The sustainability manager 

needs information about power consumption. 

The provision of detailed information 

for each connected IT device helps to determine 

the current, contemporary PUE and 

to plan the data center’s energy balance in 

the future. 

Homework: Digitizing 

One prerequisite is that data centers also 

digitize their own operations. 

They will understand the correlations more 

easily if they can fully map operation in 

superordinate, multifunctional management 

software. This requires deep insight into 

the facilities and infrastructures on the 

basis of digitized data. In this way, operation 

managers can be relieved of their two main 

tasks: Planning the status of the installations 

of all sections and documenting their current 

status as well as ensuring efficient operation. 

The software should be able to simulate how 

new, additional or changed IT, applications 

and services affect operations. It should make 

it possible to develop scenarios for spaces, 

racks, cabling, power supply, cooling, sensors, 

and other gray space elements. 

With such a solution, those responsible 

could take a «virtual» future journey through 

their data center. They could avoid surprises, 

gain planning certainty, avoid oversized 

investments and bottlenecks, and efficiently 

implement customer requests. 

070.5066 

The ActiPower 4.0 Power Distribution Unit 

from R&M is intended to bring about cost- and 

energy-saving data center operation. 

The smart Power Distribution Unit 

ActiPower 4.0 from R&M aims to save 

costs and reduce power consumption in 

data center operation. The switching relays 

of the ActiPower 4.0 consume 70 % less 

energy than comparable products. The 

PDUs can withstand environmental temperatures 

of up to 60° Celsius. They can be 

managed remotely via Ethernet ports and 

the DCIM program inteliPhy net. They can 

communicate with sensors for temperature, 

humidity, water, smoke, vibration and 

door contacts. 

Thinking multidimensionally 

All this means that it’s increasingly about more 

than just «plug & play» or about uploading 

new software. Today, and in the near future, 

digitalization projects are deeply affecting 

data center processes and infrastructures. The 

details and deadlines of individual projects can 

often only be determined at short notice. 

There is growing recognition that data 

centers are increasingly dealing with multidimensional 

correlations. Today, it is particularly 

important to pay attention to the integration 

of non-computing areas. This is crucial in 

order to keep the computer room running 

efficiently whatever the load. 

That’s why it’s important to take a holistic 

approach. The better the IT hardware, power 

supply, connectivity, cooling and security 

solutions interact, the more cost-efficient, 

secure and sustainable the overall performance 

will be. The more comprehensively 

the correlations are understood and the 

www.rdm.com/solutions/ 

data-center/ 

www.rdm.com/ 

bladeshelter/ 

www.rdm.com/actipower- 

4-0-smart-pdus-for-your-dc/ 

050.7091 

Carsten Ludwig 

Market Manager Data Center 

carsten.ludwig@rdm.com 


Success 

«R&M means quality and partnership.» 

Louis Cruchett, Sr. VP Services, Shields Environmental 

Sustainable 

in Every Respect 

050.7368 

Whether in the environmental field or in a business relationship, 

sustainability is not always easy to achieve and implement. It requires a 

direct approach with constant attention. R&M and Shields Environmental 

have established a sustainable partnership based on these principles. 

050.7369 

Shields Environmental is a global company, 

established in 1979, that takes sustainability 

seriously, extending the service life of telecom 

network equipment. The company offers 

repairs, refurbishment, and recycling. Two 

years ago, Shields launched their MarketPlace 

platform which enables network providers 

across the globe to buy and sell network 

equipment. It’s an easy way for operators to 

join the circular economy, create savings as 

well as reach the NetZero targets being set 

across the globe. Due to the huge demand 

MarketPlace has created, Shields have recently 

launched their Vendor Portal platform which 

focuses on building sustainable partnerships 

to standardize high quality and fast lead times 

across the circular economy supply chain. 

Service for telecoms 

In the U.S., Shields is well known for its EF&I 

Services business unit, which supports the 

largest telecommunications providers in North 

America with a portfolio of services for their 

projects. This includes engineering, infrastructure, 

primary and secondary power, equipment 

installation and connectivity, and test and 

turn-up services in the in-building environment 

(Central Offices, Hubs, and Cell Sites). 

Customers appreciate the high measure of 

experience and the industry-leading quality. 

As a result, Shields’ Services Division has 

experienced tremendous growth since the 

division was opened on the West Coast 

in October 2016, now providing services 

across the U.S. incl. Alaska and Hawaii. The 

installation team is one of the most highly 

qualified in the industry and has the necessary 

infrastructure to be able to continue 

this performance at any time. Apart from 

identifying new business opportunities, the 

most significant obstacle faced by Shields is 

the scarcity of skilled technicians and experienced 

managers familiar with the quality 

standards they require. 

have been supported. These include the 

first 4G, 5G/Fixed Network, and MEC trial 

deployments, as well as on-site Command 

Center networks necessary for hosting a 

Super Bowl for Tier 1 Service Providers. 

Market need identified 

The partnership resulted in an intense 

sales relationship. Shields and R&M jointly 

developed new products, including the 

1.2 mm patch cord. Both companies had 

listened carefully to customers and realized 

that there was a demand for thinner patch 

cords. There is only a limited supply available 

on the market. As part of the distribution 

partnership, the R&M production network 

has been supplying thin patch cords since 

2021. Shields introduced it to the market 

with immense success. Further new developments 

are currently being planned. 

Shields’ delivery and installation program 

includes fiber optic cabling and connectivity. 

The components are each part of a project. 

That’s why they must fit perfectly with the 

company’s quality standards. 

050.7370 

Shields used cabling solutions from R&M to 

build data networks for hosting the Super Bowl. 

R&M is the preferred cabling supplier across 

the U.S. Shields and R&M support construction 

projects such as campus networks and 

PoP stations. In the mobile/WiFi market, for 

example, projects in the areas of Central 

Offices, iEN (C-RAN, 5G, MEC), and DAS 

Tony Rislov | R&M USA 

tony.rislov@rdm.com 

050.7405 


News 

100 m zone 

300 m zone 

600 m zone 

050.7372 

Applications in buildings 

and on a campus. Graphic: R&M 

030.8205 

R&M 

Takes SPE Forward 

R&M is the first manufacturer to offer a complete SPE 

cabling system in accordance with IEC 63171-1. 

The market launch started at the end of 2022. Now we are 

continuing with the launch of the first SPE transmission 

system. Its range: at least 600 meters. 

Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) still needs a little 

boost. R&M has teamed up with the active 

device manufacturer Zemfyre from Canada 

to bring momentum to the wide SPE application 

market. 

Together, the two companies have specified 

an initial SPE transmission system with active 

equipment. With a switch and media converter, 

it enables data transmission of up to 

10 Mbit/s over at least 600 meters. The idea 

is to go beyond the traditional LAN distance 

of 100 meters with SPE. This makes the SPE 

transmission system suitable for networking 

remote applications and locations. 

RJ45 connection, with the media converters 

requiring a local power supply. 

The new approach is to connect the applications 

using Single Pair Ethernet. In this way, 

the applications can be used directly with 

the LAN and the cloud. The R&M solution 

assumes that the applications do not require 

any particularly high data rates. 

As long as no SPE terminal equipment is 

installed on site, this concept also works with 

media converters. They mediate between 

SPE and the RJ45 connections of conventional 

terminal equipment. 

over Ethernet (SPoE). This solution requires 

less space on site than the FO model and is 

more reliable because the power is supplied 

centrally. Once SPE terminal equipment is 

available in the future, the media converters 

will no longer be necessary. The devices can 

be connected directly to the SPE outlet. 

Initial feedback from the market confirmed 

that there is demand for the «LAN with 

extended transmission distance» with SPE 

in building automation. It will be available 

later this year. This will allow customers to 

test SPE niche applications without having to 

wait for manufacturers to provide an entire 

SPE ecosystem. 

www.rdm.com/ 

single-pair-ethernet-spe/ 

SPE components for partners 

For manufacturers of active devices, such 

as network switches or IoT end devices, 

R&M provides an SPE printed circuit board 

jack with solder pins. It complies with 

standard IEC 63171-1. It is available with 

and without optical waveguides for the LED 

status display. R&M also offers connectors 

compliant with IEC 63171-1. This allows 

manufacturers to manufacture their own 

SPE patch cords. 

For long distances 

Until now, such remote applications have 

been made possible with fiber optics. On site, 

media converters have to convert the signal 

between the fiber optic and the electrical 

In this case, however, the media converters 

do not require a separate power supply. 

They can be supplied with current via the 

SPE data cable and remote powering: Power 

over Data Line (PoDL) or Single Pair Power 

050.7067 

Matthias Gerber 

Market Manager LAN Cabling 

matthias.gerber@rdm.com 


News 

050.7374 050.7375 050.7376 

The R&M HEC connectors work reliably in any extreme environment, for example in freeway tunnels, satellite dishes or wind turbines. 

This is Where 

HEC-BR and HEC-QR Work 

The new outdoor connectors from R&M won’t have to look hard to find a place to work. 

They will be in demand in all kinds of places – for example at the next corner end. 

Telecom companies are currently connecting 

entire cities, countries, transport routes and 

locations with 5G small cells. 5G antennas 

are installed every few hundred meters. They 

need connections to fiber optic networks. 

The fiber optic connections on masts and on 

The strengths of HEC-BR 

and HEC-QR: 

– Telcordia GR 3120 and IEC 61753-1 

are met 

– Protection class IP68 

– Temperature stable -40 °C to +85 °C 

– Tensile load up to 450 N 

– HEC-QR is the smallest connector 

of its kind 

030.8319 

buildings have to withstand all weathers. At 

the same time, they also have to be easy to 

operate in any situation. 

This is why R&M has designed the robust 

HEC pair in such a way that the housing 

can be mated by someone without a direct 

view who is wearing gloves and working 

one-handed. The end faces of the fibers 

cannot be soiled or scratched. 

HEC stands for Harsh Environment Connector. 

The two connector variants from R&M 

will work reliably in any extreme environment. 

Areas of application include wind and solar 

parks, which are constantly subjected to the 

weather. The alternative power plants require 

stable fiber optic connections to data networks 

so that information about the available 

power can be accessed in real time. 

Wide range of applications 

Operators of roads, tunnels and railway lines 

are also making increasing use of fiber optic 

cabling. Their infrastructures are perfect for 

expanding data lines. The cables, enclosures 

and connectors are also exposed to significant 

environmental impacts: moisture, salt 

mist, dust, vibrations. This is exactly where 

HEC-BR and HEC-QR come into their own. 

At events, large volumes of data and 

high-resolution live streams are produced 

for the Internet. Fiber optic cables are the 

ideal transport medium. When setting up and 

dismantling events, cables and connectors 

are exposed to considerable mechanical 

loads. No problem for HEC-BR and HEC-QR! 

Other similar areas where they can be put to 

good use include mining, oil fields, industrial 

facilities, container ports, as well as research 

and satellite stations. 

When laying above-ground cables for the 

FTTH supply, it is often a matter of also being 

able to install unusual connections as simply 

and cost-effectively as possible. Aerial solutions 

from R&M can be used here – including 

HEC-BR and HEC-QR. 

050.7310 

HEC-BR (Bayonet Release) and HEC-QR (Quick 

Release) are easy to install, even in harsh 

environments. 

Daniel Eigenmann | Product Manager 

daniel.eigenmann@rdm.com 

050.6984 050.7311 

Hermann Christen 

Market Development Manager 

hermann.christen@rdm.com 


News 

Vital Signs 

under Control 

050.7377 

Data centers are a prerequisite for digitalization and have a major impact on 

economic development. To ensure that they always function smoothly, it is 

essential to measure the ambient conditions correctly with the right sensors. 

A key component is the intelligent PDU. 

The sensors make it possible to monitor various 

parameters, such as energy consumption, 

temperature, humidity and access security. 

This enables administrators to identify potential 

problems and take appropriate corrective 

measures at an early stage. The intelligent 

ActiPower 4.0 Power Distribution Unit (PDU) 

Intelligent ActiPower 4.0 PDU from R&M 

050.7378 

from R&M offers efficient integration. The 

connection to the network means that all 

sensor data can be displayed and monitored 

on the web interface. 

Real-time monitoring of energy consumption 

is of fundamental importance when it comes 

to planning how the racks are to be equipped 

with servers. This is because overloading the 

power line can lead to significant problems 

and, for example, cause failures or safety 

risks. This is why measuring the energy consumption 

in each rack using smart PDUs has 

become established in the industry. Critical 

threshold values can be detected and alarms 

triggered if need be. This may be the case, for 

example, when a rack is expanded to include 

additional active servers. 

Indispensable for safe operation 

Servers not only need sufficient power but 

also an optimum operating temperature and 

humidity to be able to work efficiently. This 

is where temperature sensors such as the 

EMD31 come into play. These sensors record 

environmental temperature and humidity at 

specific points and are connected to the 

sensor socket of the ActiPower 4.0 PDU via 

an RJ45 cable. 

For added security and control, the EMD31 

sensor allows the connection of two additional 

digital sensors. For example, a moisture 

sensor cable can be laid in the floor/raised 

floor in order to detect water leaks from cooling 

units in good time and prevent potential 

damage to the infrastructure. 

The security of the data center also plays 

a prominent role and access to sensitive 

areas must be strictly controlled. Among 

other things, door contact sensors are used 

to ensure that the lockable rack doors are 

properly closed after access. 

www.rdm.com/actipower- 

4-0-smart-pdus-for-your-dc/ 

Andreas Klauser | Product Manager 

andreas.klauser@rdm.com 

050.7244 


Trends 

Liquid Cooling: 

Worth Considering 

050.7379 

Can liquids cool data centers a thousand times more efficiently than air? Or is this 

just an exaggerated, general advertising statement from innovative manufacturers? 

The range is probably between 50 and 1,000 times more efficient. This article 

focuses on what data center providers should consider before investing. 

Data centers are increasingly compacting 

performance in computer rooms. Servers, 

switches and microelectronics are becoming 

ever more tightly packed. As processing 

power increases, so does the operating 

temperature in the racks. 

This is why heat dissipation management is 

given top priority. Cooling with liquids is basically 

much more efficient than conventional 

cooling with air. Due to their heat capacity 

and density, liquids dissipate heat around 

1,000 times more efficiently than air. 

Smaller PUE value feasible 

Air cooling is established and widespread. 

In a conventional computer room layout, 

cool air from the cold aisle is blown through 

the racks into the hot aisle where the air is 

collected. Ventilation ducts and blowers lead 

it to cooling units or other heat dissipation 

systems. 

This classic configuration is no longer 

sufficient today. In addition, it is becoming 

practically impossible to achieve a PUE (Power 

Usage Efficiency) value that meets climate 

targets. Operators must find new ways to 

make «green data centers» a reality. What is 

more, energy costs and legal regulations are 

also necessitating action. 

The challenge, then, is to operate systems 

with a high and continuous workload in an 

even more efficient and cost-effective manner. 

Air cooling generally achieves a PUE of 

1.35 to 1.69. According to a study by the U.S. 

Air Force, that figure can be reduced to 1.03 

with liquid cooling systems. 

In immersion cooling, individual servers or entire systems are immersed in a dielectric coolant. 

050.7380 

Types of liquid cooling 

Liquid cooling is a generic term for the way 

in which heat is dissipated. There are very 

different liquid cooling systems, although 

there are generally three main types: rear- 


Cooling with rear door heat exchangers 

Chilled water 

Graphic: R&M 

CDU 

(cooling disribution unit) 

RDHE 

(rear door heat exchanger) 

050.7382 

More efficiency to be expected 

Further advances in microelectronics are 

to be expected, with energy efficiency 

increasing all the time. Innovations such as 

co-packaged optics (CPO) aim to minimize 

electrical transmission between chips and 

fibers and reduce transmission losses. At the 

same time, they can increase the number of 

transmission channels. There is no need for 

conventional connectors. This means that the 

front panels of the devices can be designed 

more openly in spite of a higher power density 

in order to allow more ventilation. 

Pros and cons 

There are several factors to consider when 

choosing a type of cooling, including the 

density of the power to dissipate (power/ 

rack), computer workloads and packing 

density, reconfiguration and patching needs, 

infrastructures for heat dissipation. 

Conclusion: Greater performance and higher 

density in the racks do not necessarily mean 

that investments and the effort involved in 

heat dissipation increase proportionally. But 

the demand for heat dissipation tends to 

increase. Liquid-based cooling systems are 

therefore worth considering in view of their 

improved efficiency. 

050.7384 

In direct chip cooling, small channels take the 

coolant into the active electronic equipment. 

side heat exchangers, direct chip cooling and 

immersion cooling. 

– In the case of heat exchangers on the rear 

of the racks (rear door heat exchangers), fans 

blow the warm air through a grid of pipes 

containing coolant. The liquid absorbs the 

heat, is pumped to an external cooling mechanism 

and returned to the heat exchanger. 

– In direct chip cooling, small channels take 

the coolant into the active electronic 

equipment. The channels and heat sinks are 

arranged above or below the heat-generating 

chips. This approach requires additional 

air circulation to dissipate the residual heat. 

– In immersion cooling, individual servers or 

entire systems are immersed in a dielectric 

coolant. The liquid circulates and transports 

heat away. This is the most efficient form of 

cooling. 

Of course, every approach has advantages 

and disadvantages. As yet, there is no onesize-fits-all 

solution. 

The total cost of ownership (TCO) of liquid-cooled 

systems is likely to be significantly 

lower. However, the initial investment is 

likely to be higher. The layout and premises 

of the data center must be evaluated. Heat 

exchangers on the racks are easy to install. 

Chip cooling and immersion cooling require 

specially configured equipment. 

Conventional air cooling is sufficient if the 

total power to dissipate is below 20 kW per 

rack. If it exceeds this threshold value, R&M 

believes that a strategy for liquid cooling 

should be taken into consideration. 

Cold aisle 

Hot aisle 

050.7385 

Classic DC cooling management comes under 

pressure. Data center operators must find new 

ways to make «green data centers» a reality. 

Energy costs and legal regulations are also 

necessitating action. 

www.rdm.com/bladeshelter/ 

BladeCooling Plus from R&M Tecnosteel 

Robert Merki | CTO 

robert.merki@rdm.com 

050.7148 

030.7914 


News 

Bespoke Compilation – 

Ready for Installation 

IT and infrastructure managers need to be increasingly 

flexible and achieve higher performance at lower costs – 

while also paying attention to sustainable solutions. R&M 

has responded by offering a simplified and environmentfriendly 

logistics process for the fiber optic distribution 

platform Netscale 48. 

Selecting the right copper and fiber optic 

patch panel is crucial for office and data 

center cabling in order to establish an efficient 

and reliable communications network. 

Another decisive factor is the simplification 

of the logistics process. With the Netscale 

packaging configurator – Visio or intelPhy – 

the finished panel can be ordered directly. 

This eliminates the need to select and order 

trays, modules or rear-cabling managers 

(Netscale) separately, reducing ordering time 

and minimizing possible errors. 

Efficiently packaged and 

quickly installed 

The cost and effort involved in packaging are 

also significantly reduced. The panel is put 

together to suit individual requirements and 

packaged as a unit, resulting in a considerably 

decreased volume of waste. Instead of using 

five to ten boxes for individual components, 

only one box is needed for the assembled 

panel. This saves costs, protects the environment 

and reduces transport volumes. The 

effort involved in installation is significantly 

simplified and reduced. When the box is 

opened, the panel is already fully equipped 

and can be installed directly without any additional 

components having to be assembled. 

No special tools are required to install the 

robust Netscale 48 panels, which are delivered 

in 1U. A further advantage: Customers 

benefit from comprehensive warranties, 

offering added security and trust. 

050.7387 

25 % 

Reducing CO 2 

emissions 

(25 % per order) in the 

complete value chain 

30 % 

Reducing installation 

work by 30 % 

25 % 

Reducing waste by 25 % 

With this R&M system solution, companies 

are taking a further step towards sustainability. 

They will not only be simplifying their logistics 

process and reducing the effort per panel, both 

in terms of transport (25 % less weight) and 

installation (-40 %). Through the efficient use 

of resources and the minimization of waste, 

they will be making a valuable contribution to 

environmental protection and concurrently 

relying on an innovative and powerful solution 

for their network requirements. 

1 2 3 4 4 

Plan and place an 

order 

050.7390 

Panel is fully assembled 

and production code is sent 

Receive shipments 

Your pre-assembled panel 

is ready for installation 

Easy installation 

according to 

instructions 

www.rdm.com/capaascustomized-assembledpackaging-as-a-service 

030.8624 030.8626 

050.7094 

Beat Koch | Product Manager 

beat.koch@rdm.com 


News 

060.2157 030.8524 


a Full Composition 

Vertical cable manager 

Integrated data center solutions improve data center 

efficiency, scalability and security, optimize costs, and are 

easier to manage. R&M has now brought together the 

BladeShelter infrastructure from R&M Tecnosteel with its 

cabling solutions. 

BladeShelter is a product line from R&M 

Tecnosteel, R&M’s latest acquisition, which 

was developed for data centers with low 

power consumption and high thermal stress. 

The modular, scalable racks are based on 

the T7 PLUS rack system. It now has a static 

load-bearing capacity of 1,800 kg and offers 

cold/hot separation. The doors are perforated 

and provide 82 % air permeability and 

concurrent high mechanical security against 

access. To minimize power consumption, the 

BladeShelter Cube modular enclosure system 

is part of the product family. The scalable 

system separates hot air flow from cold air, 

thus ensuring maximum energy efficiency. 

Perfectly cooled and always in view 

BladeShelter Cooling provides modular, scalable 

cooling units for cooling the infrastructure. 

They are in line with the racks, dissipate heat 

at the point of origin and thus achieve optimum 

efficiency. Another important element 

is the smart ActiPower 4.0 multi-plug, with 

which the operator can keep an eye on their 

energy consumption and prevent failure due 

to line overload. 

Perfect cable organization 

One of the most important details is the cable 

routing. The BladeShelter Runner cabling 

solution mounted on the roof of the racks 

guides the fiber optic, copper and power cables 

into physically separated areas in order to 

minimize transmission or mechanical interference. 

Last but not least, well-organized cable 

management is one of the key factors for the 

efficient operation of a data center. To this 

end, the latest development R&M has come 

up with is vertical cable management for the 

rack. The vertical channels are attached to the 

horizontal profiles. This leads to efficient use 

of space and good air circulation, prevents 

tangled cables, enables flexible scalability, 

and makes troubleshooting simpler. A solid 

basis for further technological developments 

in this area. 

www.rdm.com/ 

bladeshelter/ 

Cube Data Center with cabling 



050.7244 

041.0725 


Success 

GROUPE ADP_Bloc marque 

COLOR_CMYK 

29/11/2018 

C100 M95 Y0 K10 

K75 

050.7392 030.7508 

Smart Airports 

in Paris 

The digital transformation of Parisian airports is moving 

forward. Based on the concept of the smart city, the operator 

Groupe ADP is developing the Paris-Charles de Gaulle and 

Paris-Orly premises into smart airports. In doing so, ADP 

relies on Netscale 48 from R&M as part of the solution. 

Groupe ADP’s (Aéroports de Paris) long-term 

investment program aims to design mobility 

hubs of the future. Innovations for Advanced 

Air Mobility (AAM) are constantly being developed 

and implemented at the two premises 

in Paris-Orly and Paris-Charles de Gaulle. 

Terminals and connecting buildings were 

recently modernized as part of the framework 

of the infrastructure development. 

Among other things, Groupe ADP started to 

expand its auto bag drop systems last year. 

Thanks to digitalization, passengers can check 

in their luggage themselves at a total of 460 

machines in an average of just 37 seconds. 

copper and fiber optic connections in equal 

measure. 

With Netscale 48, R&M was able to offer the 

compelling solution, something confirmed 

by Jean-Michel Arondel, Facility and Cabling 

Manager, IT technician Arnaud Bonsigne, 

and Armando Grilo, Head of the Roissy 

Data Center. The project managers from 

installation partner BTB Elec. emphasize 

the installation convenience of the R&M 

products. For BTB Elec., it was important to 

be able to carry out the assembly work as 

quickly and easily as possible. 

The solution for Groupe ADP 

For the construction of the data center infrastructures 

with more than 180 racks, R&M supplied: 

– Patch panels: Netscale 48 for mixed media 

distribution 

– Connectivity: pre-terminated Cat. 6 A 

EL 

modules, shielded and LC Duplex 

– Patch and trunk cabling: R&M ThinLine 

Cat. 6 A 

S/FTP, Uniboot LC Duplex and MTP 

with OM4 and OS2 

- Racks: R&M Tecnosteel cabinets 

Netscale 48 meets the expectations of the IT 

department for optimized administration of patch 

connections for the IT systems. The new network 

distributors will support Groupe ADP in rapidly 

rolling out additional digital applications for airport 

operations. 

Netscale 48 integrates copper and fiber optic 

connectivity in a single height unit. Despite 

the density of the mixed media platform, the 

patch cords are easy to operate. Technicians 

can unplug and plug in the trunks in just a 

few simple steps and thus quickly carry 

out changes or maintenance work on the 

network. 

Vision 2025 Pioneers, 

Groupe ADP 

www.youtube.com/ 

watch?v=hW-xVBXbUgg 

Recent subprojects included the phased 

installation of two data centers. This saw 

Paris-Charles de Gaulle get a computer room 

with 150 racks. The data center in Paris-Orly 

has a capacity of 30 racks. 

www.rdm.com/netscale-48/ 

Optimal use of racks 

A key concern of the planners was to 

compress the passive side of the network 

infrastructure and make optimal use of the 

valuable racks. The patch panels should occupy 

as few height units as possible in order 

to free up space for the active hardware. The 

patch panels were to support the patching of 

050.7393 

Jean-Michel Arondel, Facility and Cabling 

Manager, Groupe ADP 

Xavier Auvert | R&M France 

xavier.auvert@rdm.com 

050.6901 


News 

Connectors for 

400G and More 

Increasing bandwidth requirements, space problems, the demand for lower 

latency as well as availability requirements are just some of the factors driving the 

development of the next generation of transmission technology for data centers 

forward. The HD connectors from R&M meet these requirements. 

050.7317 

The name of this next generation of transmission 

technologies is: «400G and more». 

These technologies enable transmission rates 

of 400 Gigabits per second (400G), 800G 

and higher – up to 1.6 Terabit Ethernet (1.6T) 

networks. The small, multi-fiber connectors 

enable higher connection density and more 

efficient, space-saving cabling. 

Connectors for 400G and more 

CS (Contiguous Singlemode by Senko) 

is suitable for transmission over longer 

distances between data centers. Type 

QSFP-400G-2FR4 for example, which is 

configured for 400 Gigabit Ethernet, is 

used as a transceiver. 

MDC (Miniature Duplex Connector) is a 

two-fiber connector similar to the SN from 

USConnec with the same small form factor 

for transmission in the data center (single 

and multimode). 

New plug faces 

In order to get the number of fibers into ever 

tighter spaces, new plug faces were standardized 

and are now ready for integration. 

R&M offers the right connectors for these 

requirements with future-proof transmission 

rates to suit demand. And all in line with 

one-stop shopping, as a patch cord, prefabricated 

trunk solution or as an all-in-one 

solution including cabinet, panel, trunk and 

patch cord. Further advantage: R&M issues a 

5-year product warranty and 25-year system 

warranty. 

www.rdm.com/netscalefiber-cabling/ 

030.8083 

SN (Small Nano by Senko) is an optical 

Duplex connector with a very small 

form factor and is suitable for single and 

multimode applications in the data center. 

There are transceivers for the standards 

800G-DR4 (4x200G PAM4), 800G-DR8 

(4x200G PAM4) and 800G-SR8 (4x200G 

PAM4). 

030.8003 

MTO16 (Multifiber Termination Push-On): 

The MTO connector also meets the requirements 

of high fiber density. It is particularly 

suitable for all fiber applications in the 

data center. The types QSFP-400G-SR8 

and 800G-PSM8 are used as transceivers. 

030.7655 

050.7094 

Beat Koch | Product Manager 

beat.koch@rdm.com 


Trends 

030.7622 

Cat. 8.1 Applications 

in the LAN 

Category 8.1 was originally the fastest short-distance runner. With 40 Gbit/s over the 

24-meter range, it represented cost-effective hope for data centers. But it also delivers 

real peak performance over the middle distance in buildings. 

Expectations regarding the effectiveness of 

LAN cabling are increasing. The underlying 

conditions in buildings have changed to 

some extent in recent years. For example, in 

connection with the digital ceiling, the LAN 

is increasingly being used for expanded and 

new applications. These applications demand 

unusual peak performance from traditional 

LAN cabling. Until now, it has been configured 

for 10 Gbit/s over 100 meters. 

Above all, it is about networking WLAN 

access points (WAP) and distributed antenna 

systems for 5G DAS. These are sporty, bandwidth-hungry 

applications. WiFi 6 WAVE2 

and WiFi 7 require bandwidths above 10 

Gbit/s. But there are also computing-intensive 

applications in research and multimedia 

that can benefit from higher bandwidths. 

Standard offers a way out 

This could be solved elegantly with Cat. 8.1 

if it weren’t for the length limit of 24 meters. 

However, standardization offers a way out. 

The TR11801-9909 defines how Cat. 8.1 

cabling can also transfer 25 Gbit/s up to 50 

meters. Overall, three length-dependent performance 

levels can be presented for a Cat. 

8.1 installation: 40 Gbit/s up to 24 meters, 

25 Gbit/s up to 50 meters and the classic 10 

Gbit/s up to 95 meters (graphic). 

What does this mean for practice? Based 

on the typical distribution of link lengths, 

Cat. 8.1 cabling could make a significant 

contribution to increasing the performance 

of the LAN. In a typical office infrastructure 

with a floor distributor, Cat. 8.1 cabling could 

supply around 20 % of workstations with 40 

Gbit/s and around 60 % of workstations with 

25 Gbit/s within the 24-meter range. 

Complete Cat. 8.1 solution 

With the Cat. 8.1 system, the R&Mfreenet 

program offers an RJ45-compatible solution 

for bandwidths of up to 40 Gbit/s. 

The complete system comprises connection 

modules, patch cords and installation 

cables. It passed the GHMT test. The 

channel is certified for 40 Gbit/s up to 

30 meters, 25 Gbit/s up to 50 meters. 

cabling in the LAN can cover the requirements 

for future data cabling with maximum 

bandwidth and full backward compatibility. 

www.rdm.com/cat-8-1/ 

030.6289 

Variable speed zones in the LAN with Cat. 8.1 

(Graphic: R&M) 

In modern buildings, redundant floor distributors 

are often installed, with correspondingly 

shorter transmission lengths. Under this 

concept, the Cat. 8.1 infrastructure could 

serve more than 50 % of workstations with 

40 Gbit/s and all others with 25 Gbit/s. 

This is true excellence as it is expected today 

and tomorrow. With suitable planning, Cat. 8.1 

050.7067 





News 

Resistance Unbalanced: 

Hidden Faults 

in the LAN 

No signal 

Magnetic 

flux 

Unbalanced 

Data pair 

Balanced 

Ethernet transceiver 

power 

sourcing 

equipment 

050.7395 

041.0515 

No saturation signal "OK" 

Sales of PoE devices are increasing by 20 % per year. These devices are inevitably 

connected to the existing LAN cabling. Users rarely install new PoE-compatible cabling. 

This gives rise to significant risks. 

Unrecognized weaknesses are often hidden 

in low-quality LAN environments. However, 

they are relentless when users deploy more 

PoE-powered devices. The background is 

easy to understand: Thanks to Ethernet, data 

signals usually find their way to their destination. 

In the event of transmission problems, 

the system simply switches back to a slower, 

less demanding transmission. The sources 

Security through IDC 

R&M recommends the use of patch cords 

with IDC wiring (insulation displacement 

contact) especially for PoE applications. 

With IDC, insulation displacement contacts 

ensure consistently stable and lowresistance 

contacting of the conductor. As 

a rule, no resistance unbalance occurs over 

the lifespan of the patch cord. No one has 

to look for hidden causes of transmission 

interference years after installation. 

All R&M patch cords with the PowerSafe 

quality seal are wired using IDC and are 

suitable for Power over Ethernet. When 

PowerSafe components are used, R&M 

provides a lifetime application warranty 

for PoE. 

www.rdm.com/ 

overcoming-resistanceunbalance/ 

of interference – e.g. excessive resistance in 

contacts – remain hidden at first. 

A little-noticed parameter can quickly reveal 

problems with PoE support: resistance 

unbalance within wire pairs (DC Resistance 

Unbalance, DCRU). With the same currents 

on both conductors, the magnetic flux in 

the ferrite core of the input transformers of 

the transmitter/receiver unit of the active 

devices cancels out with PoE. The data is 

transferred without hindrance. 

If the two conductors have different resistances, 

the current is distributed unevenly 

between them. The magnetic flux in the 

transformer core will then no longer cancel 

out. The DC current can lead to a magnetic 

saturation of the transformer, which interrupts 

the data transmission. According to 

IEEE, even DCRU values of 3 % can lead to 

problems with data transmission. 

Piercing as a risk factor 

Patch cords with piercing wiring often 

exhibit this resistance unbalance, something 

demonstrated by research carried out by 

R&M. The reason is that piercing contacts 

age rapidly due to environmental factors or 

mechanical loads. The contact resistance of 

the two conductors increases over time and 

usually increases differently. 

This is how the resistance unbalance develops 

and grows. It can lead to seemingly 

mysterious interruptions in the LAN – a 

nightmare for service technicians when it 

comes to fault tracking. 

Depending on the quality of the piercing 

contacts, DCRU values which prevent PoE 

transmission may also occur with new patch 

cords. That’s why it’s always worth measuring 

the entire channel, including the patch cords 

used. 

In a new white paper, R&M explains more 

background on the problem of resistance 

unbalance. It is available free of charge on 

the website. 

050.7067 





News 

Setting up 

Customized LAN Racks 

030.8522 

Whether in small offices or large data centers, LAN racks are an ideal solution for 

mounting and organizing network devices. Their modularity makes it easy to adapt to 

changing requirements and ensures that the available space is used efficiently. 

The new, modular R&Mfreenet rack system 

consists of the three modules Classic Line 

(CL), Expert Line (EL) and Superior Line (SL). 

The basis is a newly developed rack base 

frame. Floor and roof elements are inserted 

into the four vertical profiles and screwed together, 

resulting in an extremely stable frame 

construction. The benefit for the customer: 

The distributor frame and rack are available 

as flat packs that are assembled on site. The 

base frame is provided with four 19" galvanized 

conductive profiles with height ratings, 

and an earthing pin and earthing points for 

each cover piece in the floor plate. Roof and 

floor are prepared to accommodate 2U cable 

entries with brush strips left, right and rear. 

Accurate ventilation is also ensured: A further 

three openings in the middle can be equipped 

with 2- or 4-way fans. 

Three product lines available 

Freenet Classic Line (CL): The CL cabling rack 

is configured for 800 kg payload weight, in 

the sizes 800 x 800 mm or 800 x 1,000 mm 

(W x D). In addition to the standard height 

of 42U, 48U is also available. A predefined 

cabling rack is also available. It consists of the 

complete base frame and is delivered with 

the rear wall, two side panels and a glass door 

for the front – assembled as desired or as 

a flat pack. All covers can be locked using 

the included key. The rack is available in RAL 

7035 light grey or RAL 9005 jet black. 

The Freenet Expert Line (EL) for server 

rooms uses the base frame and supplements 

it with a multifunctional strut that connects 

the outer profile with the 19" profiles at half 

height. Thanks to this expansion, a payload 

weight of up to 1,200 kg is possible. 

The third line, Freenet Superior Line (SL), is 

suitable for small data center applications. To 

this end, the base frame of the Classic Line is 

supplemented by two additional multifunctional 

struts and a hot/cold separation. 

All add-on elements such as side panels or 

doors, for example a perforated door with 

75 % air outlet or glass door, can be used 

for the three lines. The same applies to 

accessories such as vertical cable managers 

and vertical cable troughs. 

Modularity by R&M. 

www.rdm.com/ 

freenet-rack-systems/ 

030.8518 030.8519 030.8523 



050.7244 


Success 

030.8503 

050.7397 

Secure Cabling 

for Crédit Agricole 

Crédit Agricole Centre-est chose an unusual solution for the 

renovation of its regional headquarters. The bank refrained 

from a relocation or demolition of the building and subsequent 

reconstruction, and instead carried out a comprehensive 

renovation of the building in Champagne-au-Mont-d’Or, 

which it moved into in 1987, demonstrating its commitment 

to sustainability and the preservation of architecturally 

valuable buildings. Between September 2020 and June 

2023, the 67,000 m 2 site was modernized in line with its 

historical character. 

Crédit Agricole approached R&M via INEO 

RAA to set up the new local area network. 

The bank wanted a high-end solution in line 

with the extensive structural and technological 

renovation of its headquarters. Due 

to its sensitive business operations, it had 

special requirements that R&M was able to 

meet quickly. 

A high-end solution for a permanently 

smooth operation of the local area network 

(LAN) was required for the technical redevelopment. 

The company does not tolerate any 

LAN or WLAN outages. The infrastructure 

with a commercial office network and wireless 

coverage was to guarantee incomparable 

service. 

With regard to the investment opportunities, 

a cabling solution from R&M in the category 

Cat. 6 A 

/Class EA was chosen. A backbone 

with fiber optic OS2 and OM4 cabling as 

well as three distribution nodes strengthen 

the infrastructure. 

Options for the future 

The first design study also targeted a solution 

compatible with an intelligent automated 

infrastructure management system (AIM). It 

had to be ensured that the network would 

support both current and future applications. 

The cabling system from R&M offers the 

advantage that an automated infrastructure 

management system can be added later at 

any time. Racks and patch panels are prepared 

for the installation of the inteliPhy monitor 

components. The AIM software inteliPhy net 

can monitor the entire network. 

Tried-and-tested cooperation 

With this project, R&M and its French partners 

once again demonstrated their smooth collaboration. 

Sales partner Exertis Azenn evaluated 

and delivered the network components and 

pre-terminated the copper links. 

R&M-certified installation partner Sterlan 

and installation company INEO Rhône-Alpes 

Solution for Crédit Agricole 

In cooperation with its French partners, 

R&M supplied the following for the new LAN 

infrastructure at Crédit Agricole’s headquarters 

in Lyon: 

– 3,200 network connections 

– 7,700 Cat. 6 A 

EL modules 

– 230 patch panels with 24 ports 

– 140 Unirack2 inserts 

– 3,500 Cat. 6 A 

EL Powersafe SFTP cables 

– 110 km Cat. 7 F/FTP Dca cable 

– 15 km OS2 and OM4 fiber optic cable 

Auvergne, a company in the Bouygues Group, 

ensured perfect cabling, which fully met the 

requirements of Crédit Agricole. 

This collaboration underscores the importance 

of data security and confidentiality in 

this project. By choosing an R&M solution, 

Crédit Agricole can rest assured that it has 

a reliable and secure data network for its 

banking operations. 

www.credit-agricole.fr/ 

ca-centrest/particulier.html 

050.7398 

Dominique Barek | R&M France 

dominique.barek@rdm.com 


News 

Predestined for 

Harsh Environments 

041.0642 

Ethernet has long since left the office building and is being 

used successfully in applications that place higher demands on 

the products in a transmission channel due to the operating 

environment. Despite harsher influences, the stability should 

be as reliable as in an office environment. 

The R&M portfolio contains various 

products, which are resistant to 

splashing water and dust, and are 

UV-protected. 

041.0651 

Copper cabling guarantees the best data 

transmission, even outdoors and in harsh 

environments. The demand is particularly 

high in growing sectors such as the food and 

packaging industries, as well as in robotics 

and medical technology. 

even the harshest industrial environments. 

They are oil-repellent and resistant to high 

temperatures, fire and chemicals. They are 

resistant to splashing water and dust, and are 

UV-protected. This makes them perfect for 

machines and plants in all industries. 

friendly and error-free way, ensuring long-term 

operation in any manufacturing area. 

In addition to all of this, R&M experts also 

offer advice and services – and develop new 

product variants if demand arises. 

Developers and manufacturers who offer 

relevant products have the task of making 

them suitable for this purpose. This means 

the products have to withstand ambient 

conditions such as extreme temperatures, 

salt mist, dirt, humidity and/or vibrations. It 

is important that the connecting technology 

not only withstands these influences, but 

can also be installed in these environments 

without any errors. 

Manufacturing advantages 

Based on decades of expertise on the 

right material and practical experience, 

R&M products are designed to withstand 

R&M developers take higher requirements or 

additional services such as PoE into account 

from the very beginning of the product 

design concept. In addition, the products are 

continuously improved and manufactured in 

our own factories. And that’s not all: In order 

to guarantee the high quality standards at 

all times, we also develop all the necessary 

technologies ourselves. 

Simple installation 

Network reliability is not only determined by 

the quality of the components, but also by 

the state of the installation. That’s why the 

components can be installed easily, in a user- 

Link 

Angelo Auer | Product Manager 

angelo.auer@rdm.com 

050.7268 


Corporate 

Provider of 

Custom-Made Solutions 

R&M is known for its custom-made offers and its willingness to develop new 

solutions together with its customers. Some of these solutions even end up being 

included in the standard range. One example of this is the range of Point of Presence 

(PoP) stations, which are being used at an increasing number of premises. 

Municipalities, public organizations and telecom 

operators often expect spontaneous and 

adaptable solutions for their FTTH projects. 

Almost all premises have different conditions 

for the expansion of the broadband 

infrastructure. This is where R&M helps with 

in-depth advice and turnkey, specific Point of 

Presence cabinets. 

The concept of the Point of Presence cabinets 

from R&M is popular in many countries. The 

initiative was launched in Germany, where 

the solution is now well established. Recently, 

R&M has started offering to pre-equip entire 

PoP stations in line with customer requirements 

in Belgium, too. 

Achieving goals fast 

A multi-stage process quickly leads to the 

goal. As a first step, R&M experts discuss 

the infrastructure requirements and the construction 

site situation with the customer. It 

is important to plan appointments in advance 

and to co-ordinate them closely with logistics. 

In most cases, custom-made solutions are 

required. R&M implements these internally. 

To this end, the various departments, market 

organizations, international manufacturing 

facilities and the company’s own supply 

chain work closely together. Consultants 

work at the R&M headquarters. Product 

managers plan the individual configurations 

and, if necessary, construct a prototype. 

Specially trained specialists install the passive 

technology for network transition, the main 

distributor, etc. in the cabin at a central plant. 

The portfolio covers almost the entire range 

of components used in such an installation. 

Ultimately, R&M delivers the containers to 

the construction site just-in-time. 

Close cooperation 

Local R&M contacts and technical consultants 

are in permanent contact with the project 

promoters and exchange detailed information 

with the supply chain. Experience shows that 

the best possible solution can only be found 

and implemented through close cooperation 

and constant exchange during the design 

stage. 

In the past three years, R&M has delivered 

more than 100 turnkey PoP cabinets, mainly 

in Germany. The FTTH project promoters 

primarily expected a distribution solution 

designed specifically for them, a reasonable 

price, good quality and professional support 

throughout the entire project stage, including 

on-site support. 

Equipment 

R&M can integrate all required passive 

and active technology in the turnkey PoP 

stations: Tubes for cable inlets and outlets, 

underground distribution chambers, 

raceway cable guides, 19" racks, ODF from 

the R&Mfoxs or PRIME program, electric 

installation, illumination, UPS, air conditioning, 

fire protection, burglar alarms, access 

control. 

The PoP stations are available in three standard 

sizes from 3 x 3 to 6 x 3 meters. The 

interiors provide space for the installation 

of 4,608 to 32,256 fibers or ports. The size 

depends on the customer’s ODF concept. 

030.7192 

050.7399 

Another important aspect is training the 

installers involved. This ensures that the PoP 

stations work perfectly from the outset. And 

customers can put their FTTH network into 

operation with ease. 

050.7400 

Damian Looser | Consultant Public Networks 

damian.looser@rdm.com 


Corporate 

030.8070 


for Fiber Optic Cables 

Focused on growth: R&M is further expanding its fiber optic cable production plant 

in Děčín, Czech Republic. The investments open up new opportunities for developers 

to implement innovative cable designs – and already present the first ones. 

R&M is continuously modernizing its existing 

systems with the aim of expanding production 

capacity for fiber optic cables. Two new 

extrusion lines have been installed at the 

plant in recent months. One of the new lines 

is a sheathing system for stranded cable 

050.7401 

050.7402 

R&M is expanding its machinery at the cable plant 

in the Czech Republic to continuously increase 

the production capacity for fiber optic cables. 

assemblies. It makes it possible to develop 

further designs in addition to the existing 

cable constructions. For example, cables with 

colored longitudinal stripes, aerial drop and 

feeder cables in single or double jackets for 

span lengths of up to 200 m as well as micro 

cables with optimized surface structures for 

improved blowability. 

Another extrusion line produces the semi-finished 

«loose tubes», which can be designed in 

a more versatile way. In particular, the diameter 

modularity is expanded and the wires can 

be produced with or without gel filling. 

Fiber optic range growing 

The R&M cable developers tackled the new 

possibilities early on and are now presenting 

some interesting new cable constructions. 

This includes the InHome Drop Cord, which 

was designed for Fiber in the Home or Fiber 

to the Office applications. Its simplex design 

is similar to that of a patch cord and meets 

the DCA classification as listed by the CPR. 

Suitable for direct connector mounting, it can 

also be mounted in the field and fits perfectly 

with FO Field connectors. In addition, the 

cable construction features a unique, densely 

buffered fiber construction that allows for 

peelability of up to 150 mm. 

Manufacturers can look forward to the wider 

range of Simplex patch cords. The range 

includes diameters of 1.7, 2.0, 2.4, 2.7 and 

3.0 mm. The MiniCore breakout cables for 

terminating MPO connectors are another 

highlight. Up to six individual cables (Mini- 

Core) are combined under a common jacket. 

Each MiniCore can be equipped with up to 

12 fibers, with aramid yarn providing strain 

relief. The cables are suitable for the direct 

termination of multi-fiber connectors (MPO) 

as well as for use with corresponding mini 

dividers for the production of data cables in 

distribution networks or for horizontal and 

collapsed backbone cabling. 

www.rdm.com/ 

fiber-optic-cable/ 

Lars Züllig | Product Manager 

lars.zuellig@rdm.com 

050.6544 050.7206 


News 

More Space 

for Splice Trays 

From family homes to building complexes – 

the Polaris box family from R&M ensures flexible 

optical termination both indoors and out. Now the 

terminal boxes are getting a new interior. This means 

even more space for additional splice trays. 

Buildings, data centers and industrial environments 

require ever-increasing capacity 

in fiber optic networks. This also requires 

a higher density of optical fibers and splice 

connections in the termination enclosures. To 

increase the capacity of the splice trays, R&M 

has designed new fiber inserts for the entire 

Polaris box family. With the space gained, 

even more subscribers can now be separated 

and splice capacity increased. 

Five family additions 

The Polaris boxes SCM 24 and 36 are the 

spearhead of the family. They hold up to 24 

or 36 FMTS 30 splice trays. The following 

cassettes are available: 1TPU splice trays 

with four or 12 HS or ANT and the 2TPU 

splitter tray for additional P2MP applications. 

When using the 12-fiber splice trays, up to a 

maximum of 288 pure splice connections can 

be terminated in the Polaris box 24 SCM, up 

to 432 with the P36. An adapter panel for 12 

or 18 SC, LC-D adapters can be retrofitted. 

The Polaris box SCM 12 is a medium-sized 

housing, in which the new fiber divider and 

three carrier trays are available for up to 12 

FMTS compact splice trays. They are suitable 

for 4 x HS or ANT splice protection holders 

per tray. This means that up to 12 participants 

can be separated or up to 48 splice connections 

can be realized. On demand, an adapter 

panel for up to 6 SC, LC-D connectors can 

be retrofitted. 

The small Polaris boxes SCM 4 and 6 even fit 

into tiny niches where space is tight. The fiber 

insert supports up to 12 crimp (ANT) or shrink 

(HS) splice connections. These boxes offer 

space for quick splitter integration as well as 

the first twelve splice connections without 

additional FMTS trays. In addition, up to 

four or six splice trays can be retrofitted. The 

adapter panel supplied supports up to four/ 

six SC, LC Duplex connectors. This means 

that up to twelve LC patch connections can 

be terminated. 

With the P6 SCM, the FMTS-30 splice tray 

can also be used for pure splicing applications. 

This increases the splice capacity to up 

to 84 splice connections. 

021.6385 

Polaris box 24 SCM 

The plus for overlengths 

For additional overlength storage, a modular 

set is available for the SCM P12, P24 and 

P36. The fiber trays can be retrofitted either 

to the left or right next to the splice trays, 

free of tools. These allow optimum storage 

of loose tubes (multifiber) during loop 

installations or additional fiber storage of 

drop cables. The cable entry concept enables 

simple installation of cables and microtubes 

with diameters from 2.0 to 16.0 mm. 

In addition to the standard box range, R&M 

offers custom-made boxes for individual 

customer projects that are pre-equipped with 

splitters, plug connectors, pigtails, splice trays 

and the right cable sealing elements. 

www.rdm.com/ 

polaris-box-family/ 

Polaris box 4 SCM 

030.7959 

Patrick Schilter | Product Manager 

patrick.schilter@rdm.com 

050.6759 050.6970 


Corporate 

050.7403 

For the Environment: 

Changes in Packaging 

R&M puts sustainability into practice on a daily basis. Customers can be confident 

that environment-friendly, resource-saving solutions are being developed. A current 

example: the packaging for the new FM45 Cat. 6 A 

EL. 

Plastic bags and films have been used as universal 

packaging material for decades. They 

are easy to handle, available everywhere, 

inexpensive and offer good protection. 

However, a considerable amount of waste 

is generated if they are not disposed of in 

the correct way. The films are also based on 

crude oil, which is far too valuable to be used 

to make disposable packaging. This is why 

R&M has resolved to gradually introduce 

an environment-friendly packaging strategy 

that goes easy on raw materials within the 

framework of the Group-wide sustainability 

strategy. 

The goals: 

– Elimination of disposable plastic packaging 

by 2027 

– Optimal use of cardboard boxes to reduce 

waste 

– Optimization of cardboard specifications to 

reduce resource requirements 

– Use of digital media to save on manuals and 

labels made of paper 

A cross-divisional working group is coordinating 

the activities. Their targets for 2024: 

– Consumption of 14 tons less new material 

for films thanks to the use of recycled 

material 

– Reduction of cardboard consumption by 

60 tons 

– Reduction of paper requirements for installation 

instructions by 11 tons 

– Process development for a new packaging 

concept 


Pilot project FM45 Cat.6 A 

EL 

The new field-mountable FM45 Cat. 6 A 

EL 

RJ45 connector is being used as a pilot 

for plastic-free packaging. First, R&M will 

evaluate how customers accept the packaging 

concept. In addition, experience with 

automated production and processing must 

be gained. As a result, R&M is expected to 

be able to save around 1,000 kg of plastic 

packaging and 90 kg of paper for installation 

instructions a year with this product. 

Various aspects need to be taken into account. 

A few examples: 

– The bag made of recycled paper must be 

printed directly. This means no sticker is 

needed for the label. 

– The darker paper reduces color contrast. 

This had to be taken into account in the 

layout. 

– The paper bag is opaque. For this reason, 

a product picture is printed on the bag so 

users can see what’s inside. 

– On the back, you can see a quick guide in 

the form of graphics. If you require more 

detailed instructions, you can find them 

online using the printed QR code. 

Presentation in wooden boxes 

To date, representative presentation boxes 

have often been used to launch new products, 

usually cardboard boxes with foam inserts. 

Overall, R&M does not actually use many of 

these presentation boxes. Nevertheless, with 

the market launch of the FM45 Cat. 6 A 

EL, 

the team also wanted to break new ground 

in terms of product marketing. The aim was 

to keep the presentation box completely free 

of foam and to consistently implement the 

«Reduce, Reuse, Recycle» concept. 

This was achieved with two concepts: 

A solution based on a sustainably usable 

wooden box was developed to be used when 

the focus is on representative properties. 

The box is not assembled from single parts, 

but milled from two boards of ash wood. A 

layered cardboard insert to accommodate 

single parts completes the solution. 

050.7404 

If the wooden box is no longer needed for 

product presentation, the cardboard insert 

can be recycled and the box reused for 

decorative purposes. 

When it comes to the convenient handing 

over of products for testing purposes, R&M 

does without a solid box. The products are 

packed between two layered cardboard 

inserts. A paper band holds the two halves 

together. 

All materials in this solution can be recycled 

after use. 

www.rdm.com/company/ 

about-rm/corporate-socialresponsibility/ 

030.8604 

041.0813 

R&M supplies the new field-terminable RJ45 connector FM45 Cat. 6 A 

EL in packaging 

made of recycled paper. 

050.7067 





Join us on 

social media! 

Further information on our blog portal: 

www.rdm.com/blog/ 

Headquarters 

Switzerland 

Reichle & De-Massari AG 

Binzstrasse 32 

CHE-8620 Wetzikon 

Phone +41 (0)44 933 81 11 

www.rdm.com 

Contact 

R&M Corporate Communication Team 

corpcom@rdm.com

CONNECTIONS_65-e

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?