Industrial Networking Technologies
We deploy a comprehensive range of industrial networking technologies to connect, secure, and unify your OT environment.
Industrial Ethernet
Ruggedised Ethernet networks using Moxa, Siemens Scalance, and Cisco IE switches with ring redundancy (MRP, DLR, RSTP) for deterministic control network connectivity in harsh environments.
Protocols
Profinet, EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP, OPC UA
Brands
Fibre Optic Infrastructure
Single-mode and multi-mode fibre optic cabling for long-distance, high-bandwidth, EMI-immune communication between plant areas, remote sites, and control rooms.
Protocols
Any IP-based protocol
Brands
OT Network Security
Defence-in-depth security per Purdue model: industrial firewalls, DMZ architecture, VPN remote access, port security, and network monitoring for industrial control system protection.
Protocols
IEC 62443, NIST SP 800-82
Brands
Wireless & Telemetry
Industrial wireless access points, client bridges, and long-range telemetry radios for remote asset monitoring, mobile equipment connectivity, and hard-to-wire locations.
Protocols
WiFi, LoRa, 4G/5G, Serial radio
Brands
Protocol Gateways & Converters
Protocol translation between Modbus RTU, Modbus TCP, Profibus, Profinet, EtherNet/IP, and OPC UA to unify multi-vendor automation networks under a single control architecture.
Protocols
Modbus, Profibus, Profinet, EtherNet/IP
Brands
Serial & Legacy Connectivity
RS-232/422/485 serial device servers and converters for connecting legacy equipment, flow meters, VFDs, and sensors to modern industrial Ethernet networks.
Protocols
RS-232, RS-422, RS-485, Modbus RTU
Brands
Network Engineering Services
End-to-end industrial networking services — from greenfield design and brownfield upgrades to security assessments and ongoing support.
OT Network Design & Architecture
Complete industrial network topology design following the Purdue model. Network segmentation, VLAN mapping, IP addressing schemes, redundancy planning, and bandwidth analysis for greenfield and brownfield projects.
Industrial Switch Configuration & Deployment
Configuration and commissioning of Moxa, Siemens Scalance, and Cisco IE switches. Ring redundancy setup, QoS for real-time protocols, SNMP monitoring, and port security for control networks.
Industrial Fibre Optic Installation
Fibre optic cabling, termination, splicing, and testing for industrial environments. Armoured and outdoor-rated fibre for inter-building and remote site connectivity with guaranteed loss budgets.
OT Cyber Security Assessments
OT network security audits, vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and remediation planning per IEC 62443 standards. Industrial firewall rule audits and DMZ architecture reviews.
Remote Site Connectivity
VPN-based site-to-site connectivity, LTE/4G backup links, SD-WAN for distributed operations, and secure remote access solutions for off-site engineers and control room operators.
Industrial WiFi & Wireless Deployments
Site surveys, access point placement, channel planning, and commissioning of industrial wireless networks for mobile HMIs, AGV communication, and equipment monitoring across plants and warehouses.
Industrial Network Applications
Our industrial networking solutions support critical operations across South African industry sectors.
Plant Floor Control Networks
Ring-redundant Profinet and EtherNet/IP networks connecting PLCs, drives, HMIs, and I/O blocks with deterministic performance for high-speed manufacturing lines.
Mine Site Communication Backbones
Fibre optic backbones connecting surface and underground operations with VoIP, CCTV, telemetry, and control traffic over redundant ring topologies with break-fibre protection.
SCADA & RTU Network Infrastructure
WAN and LAN networks connecting remote RTUs, PLCs, and pump stations to central SCADA servers over MPLS, 4G LTE, or dedicated fibre links with SD-WAN failover.
Data Centre & Server Room Cabling
Structured fibre and copper cabling for industrial data centres, control rooms, and server cabinets with proper cable management, labelling, and testing documentation.
Secure Remote Operations Centres
DMZ-secured remote access networks enabling off-site engineers and operators to monitor and control plant equipment via thin clients or VPN-connected workstations.
Warehouse & Logistics Wireless
Industrial WiFi networks for warehouse management systems, barcode scanners, AGV communication, and voice picking terminals in high-racking and metal-rich environments.
Why Cretek for Industrial Networking in South Africa?
Cretek delivers industrial networking solutions that form the backbone of reliable, secure, and high-performance OT environments. We work with leading industrial networking brands — Moxa, Siemens Scalance, Cisco IE — to design networks that meet the unique demands of control systems: deterministic timing, high availability, environmental ruggedness, and cyber security.
Our OT network engineering covers the full Purdue model from Level 1 (field devices) through Level 4 (site business systems). We deploy industrial Ethernet switches with ring redundancy (MRP, DLR, RSTP), fibre optic backbones for EMI-immune long-distance connectivity, industrial firewalls with deep packet inspection, and secure remote access solutions that protect your control network from cyber threats.
We serve clients across Gauteng, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Boksburg, Mpumalanga mining regions, and nationwide — from single-plant Ethernet upgrades to multi-site OT WAN deployments. All network deployments include full documentation (rack elevations, cable schedules, IP plans, device configurations) and as-built handover.
Industrial Networking — Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my plant network needs an upgrade?▼
Symptoms include intermittent PLC communication faults, slow SCADA screen updates, frequent switch port errors, unplanned downtime attributed to network issues, or inability to add new devices. If your network is running on daisy-chained unmanaged switches or has no redundancy, it is likely due for an upgrade.
What is ring redundancy and why does it matter?▼
Ring redundancy connects industrial switches in a loop so that if any single cable or switch fails, traffic automatically reroutes within milliseconds (typical recovery: 20-50ms for MRP, 200ms for RSTP). This prevents a single cable break from taking down an entire production line or plant.
Can I use regular office switches on my plant floor?▼
No. Office switches lack the environmental ratings (temperature, vibration, dust), power input flexibility (24V DC), and industrial protocol support (Profinet, EtherNet/IP prioritisation) required for plant floor environments. They also typically lack ring redundancy protocols. Always use industrial-rated switches in OT environments.
How much does an industrial network deployment cost?▼
Costs vary significantly based on switch count, fibre distance, complexity, and security requirements. A small plant network upgrade with 5-10 switches and fibre backbone typically ranges from R80,000-R200,000. A full multi-site OT network with security appliances and DMZ architecture can range from R300,000-R800,000+. Contact us for a site-specific quotation.
Do you provide network documentation?▼
Yes. Every network deployment includes a complete documentation package: network topology diagrams, IP addressing schedules, device configuration backups, cable schedules with test results, VLAN maps, firewall rule matrices, and an as-built report. We use industry-standard documentation practices for long-term maintainability.
How do you secure OT networks from cyber threats?▼
We implement defence-in-depth per the Purdue model: DMZ separation between IT and OT, industrial firewalls with application-layer inspection, network access control (802.1X), port security, SNMPv3 monitoring, and regular vulnerability assessments. We also provide OT-specific security awareness training for control system engineers and operators.
Discuss Your Network Requirements
Tell us about your industrial network project — whether it is a new greenfield installation, a brownfield upgrade, or a security assessment. Our network engineers will respond with a tailored proposal within 48 hours.