Industrial switches are network switches built for factories, warehouses, substations, outdoor cabinets and other places where an ordinary office switch would not last. Our range has more than 300 models, unmanaged and managed, with PoE or SFP slots, from SIEMENS, PLANET, TRENDNET, DIGITUS, CISCO and other manufacturers.
Most of them mount on a DIN rail inside a control cabinet and run on DC power.
How to choose an industrial switch
Managed or unmanaged. An unmanaged switch works as soon as it is plugged in and suits a simple link between a few devices, such as a machine controller and a camera. A managed model adds VLANs, port monitoring, ring redundancy and remote configuration, which matters when control traffic runs over the network or faults must be traced without visiting the site.
Ports and speed. Count every device you need to connect and leave a few spare ports. Fast Ethernet is enough for many sensors and PLCs, but cameras and links between cabinets usually call for Gigabit. SFP slots allow fibre connections over long distances or through areas with heavy electrical interference.
PoE power. If the switch has to power IP cameras, wireless access points or similar devices, check the PoE standard (802.3af, 802.3at or 802.3bt) and the total PoE power budget, not just the number of PoE ports. The budget must cover all connected devices running at the same time.
Environment and power supply. Check the permitted operating temperature, the mounting method (DIN rail, wall or rack) and the supply voltage. Many industrial switches run on 12-48 V DC, and some have two power inputs so that one failed supply does not stop the network. Most of these models are fanless, so dust does less harm.
Brands we carry
- SIEMENS: an industrial automation manufacturer whose SCALANCE switches are designed to work with PROFINET networks and SIMATIC controllers.
- PLANET: a Taiwanese networking manufacturer with many DIN-rail and PoE industrial switches.
- TRENDNET: a networking vendor that also makes hardened DIN-rail switches for smaller installations.
- DIGITUS: known for network cabling and accessories, so its switches are easy to match with cables and patch leads.
- CISCO: the best-known enterprise networking vendor, with a dedicated industrial Ethernet line called Catalyst IE.
- TELTONIKA: the Lithuanian company Teltonika Networks, best known for industrial cellular routers.
Also in our range: ALLNET, LevelOne, EXSYS, D-Link, ROLINE and Ruijie.
Frequently asked questions about industrial switches
How is an industrial switch different from a normal one?
An industrial switch is built for harsher conditions: a wider temperature range, vibration, dust and electrical interference. It usually has a sturdy metal housing, mounts on a DIN rail and runs on DC power. An office switch may fail quickly in such places.
Do I need a managed industrial switch?
You need a managed switch when the network carries control equipment, when you want to separate traffic with VLANs or when you want to build redundant rings. For a small system with a few devices, an unmanaged model is often enough. A managed switch also shows port status and helps you find faults faster.
Can an industrial switch power IP cameras?
Yes, if the model has PoE. Choose by the camera's PoE standard and the switch's total PoE power budget, not just the number of PoE ports. Our range includes industrial switches with PoE.
How many ports should I choose?
Choose as many ports as you have devices and add at least a few spare. If you are linking cabinets in different buildings or far apart, look for SFP slots for fibre. Expanding a network later often costs more than a few extra ports at the start.
