Proterial Cable America (PCA) recently introduced the Supra 10G-RD Category 6A cable, which has an outside diameter of 0.240 inches. The previous-generation Cat 6A cable from PCA was 0.270 inches in OD.
“This reduction allows for 26% more cables to be installed in the same amount of space—perfect in locations like data centers, universities, and hospitals, where space optimization is vital,” the company said.
PCA achieved the smaller OD primarily thanks to materials-science advancements, the company added. “Using the same noise-control barrier from the previous generation Cat 6A design optimized alien crosstalk performance and led to the opportunity for a smaller cable size,” according to PCA.
“This technology will make for more-sustainable cable while maintaining performance,” commented Joe Barry, chief operating officer of Proterial Cable America’s Performance Cable Division. “The Cat 6A-RD is a major accomplishment that we’re excited to share with our customers.”
“Years ago, we started with a diameter of 0.350 inches, and the idea of reaching 0.240 inches would have been unheard of,” added Eduardo Garza, director of product development and engineering at PCA. “From a process perspective, the ability to operate with tighter tolerances has opened the window to formulating a design this size.”
The cable is UL-verified, supports Power over Ethernet applications, and is industry standard-compliant.
“Customer responses and requests have always been a priority for PCA, and since the Cat 6A standard was released in 2009, the request for a smaller, more-efficient cable has been consistent,” the company pointed out. “In fact, a key objective for PCA over the next several years will be to minimize product size and weight while maintaining cable performance. The Cat 6A-RD is the first example of the goal being achieved.
“In addition to the smaller size, the Cat 6A-RD is also a more-sustainable option. Smaller cables mean less materials, in fact with Cat 6A-RD, 20 reels fit on each pallet, representing a 66.67% increase, which leads to a reduced carbon footprint. In addition to the increased shipping density, we now offer our Cat 6A-RD in a Reelex box as well.”
