The Swiss cabling specialist R&M is joining the list of ship’s chandlers. The company now offers solutions for communication and data networks on luxury liners, yachts, ferries and cargo ships. R&M has already delivered the entire cabling and distribution technology for a number of international ship-building projects.
The modular cabling systems for maritime applications, which have recently been approved by Germanischer Lloyd (GL), are based on the range of products for industry and offshore networks.
The GL-certificate confirms that the specified R&M products are suitable for the harsh conditions often found at sea. In particular, R&M’s Cat. 5e and Cat. 6 connector systems with corrosion- and vibration-resistant IDC copper wires are able to meet the challenges of the mechanical, climatic, chemical and electromagnetic stresses typically found on ships. R&M’s solutions support innovative integration concepts such as the Multi Service Board Network (MSB). Similarly they support the introduction of Industrial Ethernet, Profinet and digital information technology on vessels.
With this commitment, R&M is responding to a steadily increasing demand. Similar to the recent development in industrial automation and manufacturing, the booming ship-building industry and their system suppliers are now increasingly taking advantage of the benefits of Ethernet-IP networks (IP = Internet Protocol). In the past, it was usual to install separate bus cabling for each system on board. Navigation, control and regulation, monitoring, communication, information and alerting systems were stand-alone solutions and, as a rule, were not able to exchange data between one another. With the help of state-of-the-art IT, the cost-effective standardized interfaces, open standards and universal protocols, a single network can now integrate a plethora of functions.
This considerably simplifies the planning, construction and maintenance of a ship. Where large cruise liners are involved, hundreds of kilometers of wiring can be saved with the resultant reduction in cost, weight and installation time. Rapid assembly techniques and pre-assembled cabling make installation even speedier. In addition, R&M has suitable connection solutions in its program that can be assembled on site without tools and with a few flicks of the wrist. If the need arises, the members of a ship’s crew are thus in a position to repair the on-board network themselves.
The modular principle surrounding R&M’s cabling systems provides ship owners with greater flexibility. They are able to expand the data network at any time or add fiber optic infrastructure to the same platform.
Modern data and communication networks based on the Ethernet and Internet Protocol also simplify the management of a ship and information flows faster. Information can be merged on monitors on the bridge in a way that is clear and easy to interpret. The on-board systems can be controlled, regulated and even maintained by remote control over the Internet with a significant reduction in personnel. Using R&M’s termination technology, the latest security technology such as video surveillance can be integrated reliably in an Ethernet-IP network and is protected from manipulation.
In addition, passengers are offered more in the way of comfort and service, including broadband Internet access, online conferencing, multimedia entertainment or intelligent cabins that store their occupants’ favor music or their temperature and lighting requirements. In equipping cabins to meet the highest demands, R&M can contribute a wealth of experience in residential multimedia cabling.
About Reichle & De-Massari
As an independent Swiss family business, Reichle & De-Massari AG (R&M), Wetzikon (ZH), have now chalked up more than 40 years' experience in the information and communication technology market. The firm concentrates on the development and manufacture of future-oriented passive structured cabling solutions for communications networks (Layer 1). Outstanding products in the copper and fiber optics domain have won R&M a reputation as leaders in quality who always provide added value. R&M solutions set standards for modularity as well as convenience of installation and maintenance.
R&M have won market leadership in Switzerland, and are present in 16 further countries with their own subsidiaries and agencies so called MOs (marketing organisations). In many other countries around the world, customers are looked after by well qualified marketing partners.
