wiredinUSA January 2013

wiredInUSA - January 2013

INDEX

With virtualization, cloud computing and

high-bandwidth services like video-on-

demand driving the need for increased

access speeds across networks, CAT 6

cabling and above has become the

base-line for today’s video standards.

For new deployments, CAT 5e should

never be considered by any enterprise

hoping tomaintain a facility longer than five

years. Such forward-looking infrastructure

deployments are more critical than ever for

enterprises. Over time, they may have to

physically rip up and replace their network

cabling – often with a very negative impact

on the bottom line.

By selecting cabling that opens the door

to 10GbE, enterprises can ensure they

are ready when the rest of their active

infrastructure in the switching environment

moves up to this level.

To infinity and beyond

The argument over the perceived benefits

of shielded cabling versus unshielded

cabling often creates confusion in the

enterprise market. What’s more, the part of

the world your network is located in is more

likely to dictate what kind of cable is used,

rather than any tangible benefits of one

over the other.

Enterprises looking at global expansion

will encounter this debate as they look to

build new networks in unfamiliar territories.

Whether an organization expands from an

area where unshielded cabling is prevalent

to an area where shielded is more com-

mon – or vice versa – it is essential to have

a team of experts or suppliers that can take

the same strategy and roll it out wherever

they are.

Regardless of the decision, the enterprise

must look for quality components.

Rolling out a solution that does not meet

the highest standards, either on shielded or

unshielded cabling, will never achieve the

same level of performance of a network

that does. Therefore network managers

will only have the quality assurances they

need if their suppliers can guarantee the

end-to-end performance of a particular

network. Companies should focus on the

performance they need, not the underlying

technologies.

Copper vs fiber

For many companies, fiber is the industry

standard, which is used as the “backbone”

of the main infrastructure and for conference

suites; while copper is used primarily for

the horizontal cabling. Yet, fiber-to-the-

desk can be a better choice in very high

performance end points, such as research

and development facilities and high-end

computing environments, but this usually

accounts for a low percentage of installed

ports in the overall LAN environment.

Copper holds a dominant position from an

installation point of view and in terms of

cost, with copper-based interfaces being

the most affordable technology compared

to any alternative, including wireless and

optical. This makes copper very dominant

in LANs up to 100 meters supporting up to

10GbE.

Onward!

At some level, it is not possible to predict

what technologies will be available in the

future and the demands they will place

on the network. For this reason, enterprises

should make sure they give themselves

the best chance of being able to roll out

game-changing technologies as soon as

they are introduced and steal a march on

their competitors. They can accomplish this

by selecting the best infrastructure they can

realistically afford, given the strategic goals

for the business.

Sorting for recycling

A provider of sensor-based sorting equipment,

TOMRA Sorting, has launchedanew solution

for copper wire and cable recyclers.

The new TITECH combisense [chute] was

launched at Ecomondo trade fair in

November.

Copper granulate, recovered by the

recycling process of copper wires and

cables, can be a high value resource.

However, even after the removal of

impurities, polymers and ferrous from the

granulate, it can still contain small amounts

of lead, brass or aluminum – often up to

three percent. By upgrading the copper

fraction to a purity of 99.9 percent, the

value of the material can be increased by

30 percent.

Jörg Schunicht, TITECH business development

manager for metal recycling, explained:

“Common sorting technologies, such as

eddy current sorter or densimetric tables,

do not remove all impurities. We have

therefore developed a sorting solution

which removes the granulate’s remaining

pollutants efficiently and automatically,

and is particularly effective at extracting

lead. Our machine uses optical free fall

detection and high speed air jets to separate

materials.”

TITECH combisense [chute] has been

developed to offer flexible operation; dry

sorting, as no water is needed; ease of

operation, maintenance and handling;

and easy integration with customers’

existing equipment.

TITECH combisense [chute] at Ecomondo 2012