11/10-07   -   Pressemeddelelse

IBM to Offer R&M Enterprise Cabling Solution to Customers in Europe

IBM in Europe will include the entire R&Mfreenet product range in recommended IBM distributor products.The decision revives a long-lasting partnership from the 1990s and offers backwards compatibility to the IBM ACS networking system.

Reichle & De-Massari AG (R&M), the specialist developer and manufacturer of components and cabling for enterprise networks, have announced a significant sales agreement with IBM Europe for R&M’s enterprise cabling solution range. R&M’s Freenet products will now appear in the official IBM product listings to all systems integrators, resale partners and corporate customers in Europe.

The agreement means more ways for corporate IBM users to implement efficient data networks with greater security and quality. It is also expected to lead to increased sales volumes at R&M.

"IBM customers across Europe are looking to introduce higher transmission speeds on their corporate networks, while retaining as much as possible of their existing cabling infrastructure. For many of these quality, reliability and operational stability are crucial. For these reasons we are very pleased to have reached agreement to include R&M as one of our recommended supplier across our distribution network in Europe," said Carel Frankemölle, Global Program Manager IBM Facilities Cabling Services.

The R&Mfreenet system is one of the most versatile and flexible cabling solutions available today. It is particularly suitable to enterprises and organisations looking to implement new and better performing data networks or – perhaps more importantly – expand existing infrastructures.

The R&Mfreenet cabling system ensures backwards product compatibility with the IBM ACS (Advanced Connectivity System) platform, which was manufactured by R&M and delivered by IBM during the 1990s in large quantities.

“R&Mfreenet opens up a path to 10Gb corporate Ethernets without forcing IT network managers to rip out everything they installed in the 1990’s. Not only do the R&M products offer superior quality and durability, they also offer a complete suite of today’s and tomorrow’s networking components while being backwardly compatible to products which IBM sold to its corporate customers in the 1990s" explained Martin Reichle, R&M CEO.

The R&M products recommended by IBM range from the simple office network through the professional LAN to computer center infrastructure and entire enterprise sites. It has performance levels up to 10 Gigabit Ethernet with tested and certified components.

R&Mfreenet offers integration of copper and fiber optic cabling on one and the same platform, and a modular design principle, allowing for quick and straightforward installation. R&M emphasizes the quality and reliability of its products with life-long guarantees and its commitment to quality and reliability is documented by comprehensive 100 percent checking of Cat. 6 connectivity. R&M is the only manufacturer worldwide to check its Cat. 6 connectors for all critical transmission values during the automated assembly process.

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About R&M
R&M’s products are in use in over 140 countries around the world in networks belonging to telecoms operators and large corporations, in heavy industrial facilities and in family homes. Founded in 1964, Reichle & De-Massari is a family-owned business with over 650 employees and headquartered in Wetzikon, Switzerland. The firm concentrates on the development and manufacture of future-oriented passive cabling solutions for communications networks (Layer 1). Outstanding products in the copper and fiber optics domain have won R&M a reputation as leaders in quality, setting standards for modularity as well as convenience of installation and maintenance. R&M has experienced a doubling of its turnover in the last 5 years, during which time its international sales rose significantly. R&M prides itself in providing the same high level of product quality across its solutions worldwide. More information on www.rdm.com