Since nature resources are limited and rarer than before, it is necessary for traditional mining industry to adopt high-tech IP network to increase the efficiency of exploitation as to monitor the rate of progress and to storage a large amount of row data. Furthermore, the mining cells are usually scattered widely, so it is very important to operate with a stable network system with a large bandwidth, and strong management capabilities.

Whether in the past or modern, mining environment, is undoubtedly one of the most dangerous work environments. In the system of aluminum, for example, there are high-temperature boilers combined with constant vibration of the conveyor belt and mining machinery. Most of mining operating environments are underground or in a cave, where is dusty and poorly ventilated. The producing process may be filled with toxic, acid etching, or flammable substances, such as a caustic soda. A serious mine disaster not only makes the company suffered loss of property, but also result in sacrifice precious lives of many people. Therefore, the IP network for mining industry, in addition to general requirements of management functionality, also needs to overcome these challenges.

Lantech industrial-grade Ethernet switches are designed to satisfy the requirements of the mining industry. With original IP-30 metal-enclosure, Lantech products are able to prevent the certain degree of dust generated from the machine during mining operation. However, Lantech also offers IP-67 grade, absolute-protection enclosure for dust-proof and water-resistant. As the latent temperature inside the smelting plants can be 55°C, this operating environment would quickly destroy most electronic devices or render them non functional, but Lantech –E models can be reliably operated at wide operating temperature range from -40°C to 75°C, maintaining network quality even in the extreme low/high temperature. At the same time, Lantech industrial-grade Ethernet switch products have passed a variety of testing and certification, including the three kinds of stability test (free-fall, vibration, shock), with a certain degree of resistance to shock, vibration-resistant properties. These tests and certifications ensure the normal functioning under mining environments. The, UL, FCC, CE, WEEE, and RoHS certification also provides a certain degree of environmental protection and quality assurance.

Operating environments of mining industry are dangerous since there may be full of explode-able or flammable materials. Network devices must have different standards to meet with this kind of hazardous condition. UL Class I Division II for Group A, B, C and D hazardous location, which is a safety certification especially suitable for mining industries, provides our clients another guarantee of safety. With UL Class I Division II approval, the Lantech products can be implemented in hazardous or explosive condition without accelerating the damage.

Besides redundant power supplies, Lantech products also are featured with Pro-Ring system, which is able to avoid network failure. Lantech Pro-Ring system covers X-Ring, Central Ring, Dual Ring, Couple Ring and Dual Homing, providing the quickest recovery time for the Ethernet network system. X-Ring is a self-healing ring protocol operating in less than 10ms for up to 250 switches. Dual Ring and Couple Ring ensure network recovery protection between two X-Ring groups while Dual homing is to back up the X-Ring groups when connect to upper layer or the core switch. With these protocols for ensuring the network quality, Lantech Industrial Ethernet switches provide a high degree of reliability network system required for mining applications.

A powerful management capability of network systems is also necessary for the mining industry. To face the rapid change that may occur from time to time, network systems must be able to respond quickly to real-time adjustments. Lantech industrial-grade Ethernet switches offers a variety of management methods, to give managers maximum flexibility, including the Web browser management, Telnet, SNMP, CLI, and Windows-based utility software Lantech-View. Lantech Industrial Ethernet Switches built-in all the management functions for large networks requirement, such as DHCP, Port Mirroring, IGMP Query / Snooping, LACP, LLDP and RSTP and so on.

The monitoring system in the pit is increasingly important and it can collect the latest information within the operating environment to avoid major accidents. Lantech's Power over Ethernet (PoE) series of products, directly via the Ethernet cable to transmit electricity to provide IP cameras, warning lights and other facilities required for electric power, without the need for additional construction of a power system. The PoE system significantly reduces the cost and maintenance time and the reduction of wires also lower the potential of risk.

Lantech Industrial Ethernet Switches series meets and exceeds the environmental and technical performance requirements for process controlling and monitoring in mining industry.