Name: Westermo Industrial Data Communications
Brand: Westermo

Westermo, a trailblazer in industrial data communications since 1975, delivering robust switches, routers, and wireless solutions for mission-critical networks. Uncover their industry impact, innovative strengths, and leadership in IDC in this detailed supplier profile. Throughput are the sole Westermo Distributors for southern Africa.

Westermo - Robust and Secure Industrial Networking Solutions

Powering Industrial Data Communications with Unmatched Reliability

In the demanding world of industrial automation, where connectivity underpins operational success, Westermo delivers robust, mission-critical networking solutions that thrive in the toughest conditions. As a key supplier partner to Throughput, Westermo provides industrial Ethernet switches, routers, and wireless devices that ensure seamless data communications across diverse applications.

Building Robust Industrial Data Communications

Westermo specializes in industrial data communications (IDC), crafting solutions that enable reliable, high-performance data exchange in environments where downtime is unacceptable. Their portfolio, powered by the proprietary WeOS operating system, transforms fragmented systems into cohesive networks, supporting real-time control and monitoring. Designed for harsh conditions, their products prioritize longevity and security, ensuring uninterrupted data flow.

Key offerings include:

Industrial Ethernet Switches: The RedFox 5500 series delivers layer 3 rackmount switches for high-bandwidth applications, offering advanced routing and low-latency performance. Compact Lynx switches, designed for DIN-rail mounting, minimize power consumption in space-constrained setups like control cabinets.
Routers and Extenders: The Ibex series provides rugged LTE routers and WLAN access points for wireless IDC in remote or mobile scenarios. Wolverine Ethernet extenders leverage SHDSL to extend networks up to 15 km, supporting speeds up to 100 Mbit/s.
Wireless and Serial Solutions: Acquired Neratec WLAN technology enhances rail communications, with Viper series devices meeting EN 50155 standards for onboard and trackside applications. Serial-to-Ethernet converters bridge legacy systems to modern IP-based IDC networks.

Westermo’s solutions support bandwidth-intensive Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) applications, such as predictive maintenance and remote diagnostics. Their proprietary FRNT (Fast Reconfiguration of Networks in Time) protocol ensures network recovery in milliseconds, while devices are built for 10+ year lifecycles, reducing total cost of ownership.

Enabling Connectivity Across Critical Sectors

Westermo’s industrial data communication solutions provide unmatched reliability and environmental resilience for critical operations in South Africa. Backed by a network of over 50 international partners and 14 sales offices worldwide, they ensure tailored connectivity and expert support both locally and globally.

Key sectors include:

Transportation and Rail: A rail networking leader, Westermo’s Viper and CyBox solutions enable train-to-ground and trackside IDC, integrating GNSS and camera systems. EN 50155-compliant devices ensure redundant networks for safety-critical functions like signaling.
Energy and Utilities: In substations and remote grids, B72 series routers support secure SCADA communications, as seen in connecting 6,000 Austrian Alpine substations via 450 MHz radio.
Factory Automation and Manufacturing: Switches handle Profinet and Modbus TCP/IP traffic, enabling synchronized robotics and real-time IIoT analytics in harsh factory environments.
Water and Process Industries: Extenders and routers provide reliable IDC for remote sensors in wastewater treatment or mining, minimizing maintenance through secure remote access.
Marine and Infrastructure: Wireless solutions connect offshore platforms and smart city grids, withstanding extreme temperatures (-40°C to +75°C), vibrations, and EMI.

Westermo’s sector-specific expertise ensures IDC solutions meet stringent standards, driving efficiency and safety in digital transformation initiatives.

Engineered for Resilience, Poised for Growth

Westermo’s strengths lie in their engineering rigor and customer-focused innovation. Their hardware endures extreme conditions, validated by WeOS’s exhaustive testing, which includes millions of protocol stability checks, achieving 99.999% uptime in deployments like rail networks. Intuitive tools like WeConfig streamline provisioning, cutting setup time by up to 50%, while lifetime support and 10-year product lifecycles ensure long-term reliability.

Opportunities abound as IIoT and 5G reshape IDC. Westermo’s secure-by-design solutions position them to lead in smart grids, autonomous transport, and remote monitoring. Their eSIM/eUICC-enabled devices support scalable, global deployments, while low-power designs align with sustainability trends, reducing energy use and e-waste. The rise of remote access solutions, accelerated by post-pandemic needs, projects 20-30% growth in utilities and rail IDC applications. Westermo’s agile R&D, evident in NextGen switches, ensures readiness for AI-driven analytics and high-bandwidth demands.

Setting the Standard for IDC Reliability

Westermo stands out in the IDC market through its commitment to mission-critical performance and seamless interoperability. Unlike off-the-shelf IT solutions, their products are purpose-built for industrial challenges, offering unmatched durability and security.

Key differentiators include:

FRNT Protocol: Delivers sub-20ms ring recovery, surpassing IEEE 802.1w RSTP, ensuring cost-effective redundancy for time-sensitive IDC networks.
WeOS Platform: A unified operating system simplifies management across 100+ protocols, reducing errors with one-click updates.
Legacy-to-Modern Bridging: Serial converters and extenders enable phased migrations, preserving investments in Modbus RTU or DNP3 systems.
Eco-Conscious Design: Energy-efficient, recyclable products align with ESG goals, appealing to sustainability-driven procurement.

These strengths make Westermo a strategic partner in building resilient IDC networks, minimizing risks and maximizing operational continuity.

A Versatile IDC Ecosystem

Westermo’s portfolio integrates with leading automation platforms, ensuring vendor-agnostic connectivity. Core brands include Westermo (switches, routers), Neratec (rail WLAN), and legacy Viking solutions for marine IDC.

Their protocol support, powered by WeOS, is comprehensive:

Category	Protocols Supported	Applications
Industrial Ethernet	Profinet, EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP/IP, DNP3-IP, IEC 61850 (GOOSE, MMS), HART-IP	Factory automation, substation IDC
Serial/Legacy	Modbus RTU, DNP3 Serial, IEC 60870-5-101/104, PROFIBUS	Legacy integration, telemetry
Security & Mgmt	SNMPv3, RADIUS, TACACS+, SSH, HTTPS; FRNT, RSTP, OSPF, BGP	Network security, redundancy
Wireless/Specialty	EN 50155, LTE/5G, WLAN (802.11), eSIM/eUICC	Rail IDC, remote IIoT gateways

This range supports seamless protocol conversions, enabling interoperability with Siemens, Rockwell, and Schneider systems. Westermo’s whitepapers provide detailed mappings, ensuring precise IDC deployments.

A Legacy of IDC Innovation Since 1975

Founded in 1975 in Stora Sundby, Sweden, Westermo began with Tore Andersson’s isolated line driver, extending serial communications to 18 km - a breakthrough in early IDC. Evolving from Westermo Teleindustri, they pioneered industrial modems, introduced the ED-10 Ethernet converter in 2000, and became a rail IDC leader with Viper solutions. The 2019 Neratec acquisition bolstered their wireless portfolio, while NNN Group’s 2016 ownership fueled R&D. With 200+ employees and millions of ports deployed, Westermo’s 50-year legacy, endorsed by IEC and EN standards, cements their IDC leadership.

Positioning in the Industrial Data Communications Field

In the IDC field, Westermo is a cornerstone, enabling secure, high-speed data communications across distributed industrial networks. Their switches and routers facilitate real-time data aggregation, supporting protocols like IEC 61850 for energy applications and Profinet for manufacturing. WeOS’s cybersecurity features - network segregation, IEC 62443 compliance - protect against threats, while eSIM/eUICC routers enable dynamic, global connectivity.

Westermo positions itself as the “IDC backbone,” bridging legacy and modern systems for OT-IT convergence. In rail, their solutions power train-to-ground IDC, reducing latency to microseconds. In utilities, they enable remote SCADA, cutting maintenance costs. As IDC evolves with AI and 5G, Westermo’s rugged, protocol-agnostic solutions drive adoption, ensuring data integrity across industries.

Westermo – The Heart of Industrial Connectivity

Westermo transforms industrial data communications, delivering unbreakable networks that empower Throughput’s partners. With robust hardware, innovative WeOS, and global expertise, they turn connectivity challenges into opportunities. From rail to remote grids, Westermo ensures data flows without fail. Partner with Throughput to leverage Westermo’s IDC expertise - because in industry, connectivity is the key to progress.