Mr. Klein, you have now launched an SPE partner network with six other partners. Why is such an association necessary

Ralf Klein: Standardized and uniform solutions are the key to enabling many manufacturers to work together to develop an SPE-EcoSystem and provide users with suitable automation solutions. A total of seven technology leaders are pooling their expertise for a strong and coordinated Ethernet on a single-pair basis. Digitalization, I4.0 and IIoT are not just around the corner, they are happening now! As a connectivity specialist, Harting offers standards and the right infrastructure for SPE, making it the enabler for IIoT.

Under the leadership of Phoenix Contact, there is also a group of companies that favors an alternative IEC standard for the mating face. What is the difference between the two mating faces?

Ralf Klein: The Harting mating face was designed from the ground up to meet the increased requirements of SPE transmission. Reliable shielding is at least as important as the ability to integrate the mating face into established housings such as M8 or M12. The T1 industrial mating face is therefore designed to be absolutely symmetrical in order to avoid interference or runtime differences on one of the contacts. Other providers rely on existing solutions and trim them for SPE use.

We started developing our interface back in 2016 and are therefore years ahead of other solutions in terms of development and standardization.

To what extent has the standard already been adopted?

Ralf Klein: The IEC standard 63171-6 for the definition of the mating face is one of several important cornerstones for SPE technology. While all standardization attempts for industrial applications driven by competitors could only really become a standard for a mating face in one to two years, IEC 63171-6 for the Harting T1 Industrial will be published this year.

In addition to the standardization of the mating face, both the international and the American standardization committee*) have already defined the T1 Industrial style as the SPE mating face for industry and industry-related applications in an international selection process in 2018. This decision is also supported by the important Ethernet standardization committee IEEE802.3. This means that there is broad consensus in all important standardization committees: ISO/IEC, TIA and IEEE. The future SPE interface for industrial applications is called: T1 Industrial.

The SPE partner network

The foundation stone of the network was actually laid at this year's Hannover Messe: Harting, TE Connectivity and Hirose had presented an SPE cooperation there. This cooperation is now being expanded with the establishment of the 'Single Pair Ethernet Industrial Partner Network'. With the addition of Würth Elektronik, Leoni, Murrelektronik and Softing IT Networks, seven companies are now promoting the mating face for Single Pair Ethernet submitted by Harting for standardization. The 'SPE Industrial Partner Network' is based in Rahden, Westphalia, and is an equal association of companies.