Beckhoff Future-Proofs Hybrid Connectors in Industrial Cable Offering

Beckhoff’s proven hybrid connectors, part of the company’s One Cable Automation (OCA) solution, are receiving a major update to better support distributed automation well into the future. Beyond the design advantages of consistent modularization with a uniform data core, these connectors now comply with the upcoming IEC 61076-2-118 standard, enabling a seamless transition in advance of the rollout.

Roughly 100,000 OCA connectors from Beckhoff have already been proven in the field, predominantly in EtherCAT applications. Now, Beckhoff hybrid connectors are among the first products to comply with the IEC 61076-2-118 standard, which should be published by the end of 2024. Early adoption of this standard safeguards users in two key ways:

Hybrid connectors transmit power and data via a single line to reduce cable and connector expense, not to mention assembly time and cost. The OCA solution, which Beckhoff developed with a partner, offers the additional advantage of high modularity, permitting a wide range of cable and connector variants for numerous applications while providing mechanical coding to minimize connection errors.

The uniform data module remains standard in all four sizes: B12, B17, B23, and B40. This modularity greatly simplifies installation rather than creating additional work. In addition, the clear color markings on the contact carrier match the wire color of the cable, which eliminates outdated requirements for complex documentation that details each individual pin assignment.

Beckhoff’s streamlined hybrid connector portfolio comprises just 10 individual components – significantly fewer than comparable third-party products. The intuitive process prevents incorrect assembly by design because the individual parts can only be assembled in one direction. In combination with the data module, this typically reduces assembly time by two-thirds.