Belden to Show Connected Mass Transit Solutions at Inno Trans 2022

Belden Inc., a leading global supplier of specialty networking solutions, will be showing an extensive portfolio of products and systems for the rail industry at InnoTrans 2022 in Berlin. The company’s exhibit will focus on smart mass transit environments for optimized infrastructure efficiency, enhanced passenger experience and maximized safety. Featured products will also include solutions from OTN Systems and Net Module, two recently acquired businesses specializing in networking solutions.

While the digital transformation is still grounded in enabling technology, Belden is helping railway operators build a future enabled by connectivity, networks, systems and software that bring data to life. In the rail industry, digitalization requires solutions to communicate and automate, predict and protect, driving information deeper into systems and processes so that human insights become business outcomes. The rail infrastructure of the future will be simpler, smarter and secure – all powered by people who think and work.

In the spotlight at InnoTrans, Belden will highlight its products and systems for robust network solutions all around four key elements of smart mass transit:

• Connected Trackside Network: Train-to-ground connection, trackside control and trackside operation systems designed to provide smart connectivity for trackside equipment
• Connected Backbone & OCC Network: Area of Operation (AO) and Operations Control Center (OCC) for creating a smart backbone for the Operation Technology (OT) network
• Connected Train Network: Train control, train operation and onboard experience systems providing smart connections for onboard rolling stock assets
• Connected Station Network: Station control, station operation and in-station experience systems enabling smart in-station communication

OTN Systems solutions will be showcased in a live demonstration together with Hirschmann Greyhound GRS switches, BAT wireless devices and Greyhound GRS switch equipment and include the entire XTran portfolio with XTD and XTR nodes, which make MPLS for Operational Telecom easy. Examples:

• The XTD MPLS access node is the most compact member of the successful XTran product line. It combines MPLS-TP transport at 1Gpbs or 10Gbps with the possibility of wire speed encryption as well as Layer 2 and Layer 3 features on the Ethernet access ports in an integrated industrial housing. The XTD-2110-A provides a total of 10 Ethernet ports, 2 serial ports plus Digital I/O. The node is redundantly powered, passively cooled and can easily be mounted on a DIN rail in compact shelters with limited space.
• The XTR MPLS access node XTR-2124-A combines MPLS-TP transport at 1Gpbs or 10Gbps with Layer 2 and Layer 3 features on the Ethernet access ports. The XTR-2124-A enables wire speed encryption to secure all communications. The node is designed for fanless operation in a compact industrial housing that can be mounted in a 19″ rack. The XTR-2124-AF version provides the option of forced cooling.

NetModule products presented at InnoTrans 2022 support 5G onboard connectivity for assets such as stationary ticket vending machines and display boards on trains – all from a single source. The modular solutions span from routers, switches and access points to the Connectivity Suite management platform. Applications also include passenger WiFi, infotainment, condition monitoring, operational data transmission, video surveillance and in-vehicle ticket vending devices. Examples:

• The new, powerful AP3400 access point is targeted at applications such as passenger WiFi for customers and railway staff and infotainment in trains and trams. It is equipped with a dual radio WiFi 6 for more than 300 clients, thus addressing the requirements of increasingly longer trains due to constantly growing passenger numbers. In combination with the NB3800 5G railway router and the ES3300 switch, the PoE (Power-over-Ethernet) enabled AP3400 permits the creation of a redundant Gigabit IP backbone in ring topology to reduce the efforts for cabling and installation mobile technology prepared for the future.
• The NB3800 series rail router is now offered with a 5G-NR expansion, making applications even more versatile with higher data rates and shorter latency times compared to 4G LTE. Beyond the transmission of high-resolution video recordings from the vehicle and video streaming for passengers, it also enables fast and secure transmission of operational data from the vehicle to the cloud via VPN.

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Sabic’s New IR-transparent, Solderable Exte Resin Supports Upcoming Shift From Pluggable to Co-Packaged Optics to Help Boost Data Center Speed and Scale

Sabic, a global leader in the chemical industry, is launching here today at the ECOC Exhibition 2022, in booth #584, Extem RH1016UCL resin, a new ultra-high-heat, near-infrared (IR)-transparent grade well-suited for injection-molded lenses used in co-packaged optical transceivers and other optical connectors. Extem RH1016UCL resin is one of the first IR-transparent thermoplastics that can robustly withstand the 260°C peak temperature of printed circuit board (PCB) reflow soldering while maintaining dimensional stability of the molded part. This capability helps enable optical connectors to be mounted with other components in one step, avoiding the separate assembly and alignment processes that are required for lower-temperature lens materials. The new Extem resin also provides high-throughput, precision micro-molding capability for enhanced productivity. Together with optical design freedom and breakthrough high-temperature performance, this new resin can help customers transition from pluggable optics to co-packaged optics that support increased data center speed, scale and energy efficiency. Extem RH1016UCL resin has been validated by a major technology OEM in the United States.

The new Extem RH1016UCL resin will be featured in a presentation by SABIC’s Chief Scientist, Gabrie Hoogland, at the International Symposium for Optical Interconnect in Data Centres, part of ECOC 2022. His presentation, titled “Novel Thermoplastic Resins Well-Suited for Optical Interconnects,” will take place on September 21 at 1:30 p.m. CET in the Congress Center (Room Delhi).

“Co-packaged optics are a next-generation technology that can help increase data center reliability and reduce power usage and costs by bringing the optics much closer to the main switching ASIC,” said Florian Jung, global business manager, Ultem and Extem, Sabic’s Specialties Business. “Producing complex, miniaturized lenses and arrays for co-packaged optics calls for new materials that can overcome the design, manufacturing scalability and system cost drawbacks of glass. Sabic’s new extem RH1016UCL resin addresses these needs while helping to advance this emerging technology and opening new opportunities to help improve PCB integration density and energy efficiency.”

Moving Optics onto the Board
As data centers strive to accommodate demands for more bandwidth and faster transmission rates, network packet switching is experiencing higher power usage and greater latency. Co-packaged optics offer a means of reducing both. Co-packaging optical connectors with application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) used for Ethernet switching, and relocating them to the PCB, can reduce the power required to drive the interface between these components.

In contrast to pluggable optics, co-packaged optics place higher demands on materials. They must be able to retain their shape during the stresses of the PCB assembly process, which includes very high reflow soldering temperatures of up to 260°C. While glass can withstand this heat, it is difficult to produce complex lenses and arrays using glass, and the parts typically require time-consuming secondary grinding and polishing. Molding glass components is possible, but it is expensive and difficult to scale.

Debuting a Breakthrough, Ultra-high-heat Thermoplastic
Extem RH1016UCL resin delivers multiple advantages for co-packaged optics. As a thermoplastic, it helps enable designers to create complicated geometries and leverage part integration. Good flow properties support thin-wall designs and efficient, multi-cavity molding. During PCB assembly, Extem RH1016UCL resin demonstrates excellent dimensional and optical stability to avoid part deformation and retain signal integrity. On top of this, the material’s high refractive index and near IR transparency help elevate lens performance. The availability of optical constants for Extem RH1016UCL resin in the materials database of Zemax OpticStudio helps optical designers create new and innovative interconnects.

“Using a special chemistry, we developed a new extem resin with very high heat resistance that now supports the placement of optical interconnects with thermoplastic lenses close to the Asic chip prior to PCB assembly,” said Gabrie Hoogland. “Co-packaging helps make the electronic signal path as short and seamless as possible to facilitate very high data transmission rates. To assist customers in adopting Extem RH1016UCL resin, Sabic’s global technology centers provide micro-molding capabilities, including state-of-the-art equipment to test optical properties and constants, metrology, reflow soldering stability and application (hydro)aging.”

At the ECOC Exhibition, Sabic is displaying parts molded from Extem RH1016UCL resin, including aspherical test lens and a mountable lens array with multi-fiber push-on (MPO) connector pins, as well as a 12-lens tool used for material testing. In addition, the company is featuring aspherical test lens and lens array molded from Sabic’s recently launch Ultem 3310TD resin, which targets optical transceiver collimator lenses used in single-mode fiber optic systems. There is also on display a pluggable MPO connector made with Ultem 1010 resin, which has been a popular choice for thermoplastic lenses for decades.

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Sabic Announces the Upcoming Launch of LNP Elcres FST Copolymers for Rail Interior Wall Panels, Featuring EN 45545 Compliance and Custom Colorability

Sabic, a global leader in the chemical industry, today announced the upcoming launch of LNP Elcres FST2734E copolymer, a flame-smoke-toxicity extrusion grade that is well-suited for wall and ceiling panels in passenger trains, subways and trams. Customers can benefit from this new specialty material, which complies with the European railway standard for fire safety, EN 45545 R1-HL2, and meets key rail OEM requirements: high modulus for durability, molded-in custom color for paint elimination and branding, ultraviolet (UV) resistance to help minimize yellowing and chemical resistance to facilitate cleaning removal without causing environmental stress cracking (ESC). As a thermoplastic, LNP Elcres FST2734E copolymer offers customers distinct advantages over stamped metals and thermoset resins, such as expanded design freedom, system cost reduction, up to 20 percent less weight for easier maintenance and the potential for easier recyclability.

To help increase the sustainability of rail interiors, the new copolymer will also be supplied in a bio-based version with the same regulatory compliance, performance properties and processing parameters as the fossil-based grade. Bio-based LNP Elcres FST2734EB copolymer is formulated with approximately 55 percent renewable feedstock from waste materials such as crude tall oil. An Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) CO2 equivalent analysis showed this product reduced carbon emissions by approximately 28 percent vs. fossil-based counterparts. Both LNP Elcres FST grades will be previewed at InnoTrans 2022, September 20-23 in Berlin, Germany, in hall 5.1, booth #332.

“As travel rebounds, the rail industry is looking for ways to increase the number of passengers – and one promising approach is to upgrade the interior of the train to deliver a more satisfying customer experience and improve sustainability,” said Joshua Chiaw, Director, Business Management, LNP & Noryl, Specialties, Sabic. “We are addressing passenger rail trends by expanding our portfolio of specialty materials to help meet the latest requirements. By developing new grades that comply with stricter regulations, offer system cost advantages, and enhance aesthetics, durability and sustainability, we aim to support industry efforts to maximize the appeal of rail travel as a cost-effective, safe, reliable and convenient choice.”

Compliance with European Fire Safety Standard
The upcoming LNP Elcres FST2734E and LNP Elcres FST2734EB grades meet the strict fire safety requirements of EN 45545 R1-HL2 for horizontal / vertical interior surfaces, including ceilings and walls. The regulations are intended to minimize the effects of heat, smoke and toxic gases on passengers and staff. The new materials are among the few colorable thermoplastics capable of robust compliance with the European regulation, which is considered the global benchmark.

LNP Elcres FST2734E copolymer and its bio-based equivalent, which are developed for extrusion processes, produce sheets that can be thermoformed. The new grades are well suited to panel thicknesses between 2-5 mm.

Design and System Cost Advantages
Compared to metal and thermoset resins, LNP Elcres FST2734E copolymer and its bio-based version provide greater freedom to design new panel configurations and integrate aesthetics, parts and functions without the need for secondary operations. For instance, decorative film can be applied to thermoplastic panels during extrusion, whereas a thermoset part would require a separate application step. Brackets and fasteners can be integrated using laser welding instead of requiring adhesives. Likewise, the material’s molded-in color capability eliminates the cost, time and emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with painting, which is typically used for metal and thermoset panels.

The new materials’ excellent chemical resistance makes it easy to clean to help extend the useful life of the part. These grades are scheduled for commercial availability in late 2022 or early 2023.

“Our LNP FST products for rail panels demonstrate the success of Sabic’s technical experts in solving major challenges around compliance, quality, durability, cost control and sustainability,” noted Luc Govaerts, Technology Director, Specialties, Sabic. “In developing these new grades, we worked closely with customers to understand their needs and preferences, including requests for bio-based, drop-in alternatives that strengthen environmental protection. These specialty copolymers represent a new generation of materials for panels and open up new possibilities for the industry.”

Growing Material Solutions for the Rail Industry
At the show, Sabic will also be featuring the company’s new LNP Thermocomp AM DC0041XA51 compound, a pellet-fed additive manufacturing (PFAM) grade that is well-suited for rail seating and other large parts, and four EN 45545-compliant LNP Elcres FST materials for extrusion and injection molding of rail seating components.

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Belden and Cylus Partner to Offer Enhanced Cybersecurity Protection for Railway Rolling Stock and Signaling Systems

Partnership between global leaders in rail cybersecurity and ruggedized networking solutions facilitates combination of next-gen firewall with first-to-market rail cybersecurity solution to bolster protection for onboard and wayside systems

Belden, a leading global supplier of network infrastructure solutions, today announced its partnership with Cylus, the global leader in rail cybersecurity, which will enable customers that use Belden’s Firewall to supplement it with an optimized version of CylusOne software available for license from Cylus. The combination of Belden and Cylus solutions that customers will be able to implement offers a tailored, enhanced cybersecurity platform for rail operators for both rolling stock and signaling systems.

As the rail industry continues to adopt automated, wireless, and connected technologies – both trackside and onboard – the attack surface of critical assets is greatly expanding, exposing them increasingly to malicious cyber-attacks. Rail operators must also contend with a shortage of physical space, legacy rail protocols without built-in security, and dynamic network topologies – all of which pose challenges to safeguarding onboard and wayside rail and metro systems. Without proper cybersecurity, hacks have the potential to threaten rail safety, disrupt service, and cause severe economic and reputational damage.

The combined Belden and Cylus cybersecurity solution is tailored specifically to signaling and rolling stock systems, combining Belden’s next-generation industrial firewall (NGFW), the Eagle40-6M, with Cylus One, the leading cybersecurity solution providing continuous monitoring and real-time protection for rolling stock and rail infrastructure. The combined solution leverages existing hardware to help ensure compliance with international rail safety and cybersecurity standards.

“At Cylus, our mission is to secure railways and metros throughout the world in order to protect them from increasingly complex cyber-threats,” said Miki Shifman, Co-Founder and CTO of Cylus. “We are excited to partner with Belden, the world leader in ruggedized networking solutions and firewalls for rolling stock, to create a best-of-breed solution tailor-made for rail by enabling customers to run our Cylus One software optimized for Belden’s NGFW. This solution will provide another robust layer of protection against cyberattacks, ensuring the safety and security of rail onboard and wayside systems.”

The added layer of Cylus One atop Belden’s NGFW provides automated and scalable security controls to enable compliance with the latest rail cybersecurity standards, including Cenelec TS-50701. The combined solutions include deep packet inspection (DPI) of rail onboard and wayside protocols and provides contextual analysis, delivering both comprehensive threat detection and visibility. The platform is easily deployable in both new and existing rail technology environments.

“We take the safety and security of our transportation customers with the utmost seriousness, and look forward to supporting Cylus in its effort to adapt the Cylus One software so that it runs on our NGFW providing them with increased protection via this dedicated firewall developed specifically for the rail transportation market,” said Dr. Oliver Kleineberg, CTO of Industrial Automation and Vice President of Technology at Belden. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Cylus to provide world-leading rail-specific threat detection and visibility solutions, creating a more secure future for rail by supporting Cylus’ adaptation of its Cylus One software to maximize its interoperability with Belden’s NGFW, and enabling our customers to supplement their Belden NGFW by licensing the Cylus One software from Cylus.”

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