Introduction to Serial Hub
A serial hub, also known as a serial port expander or serial multiplexer, is a device that allows multiple serial devices to be connected to a single host computer or other central device. It plays a crucial role in various industries where multiple serial - connected devices need to communicate with a central system. For example, in industrial automation, it can connect multiple sensors, actuators, and control units; in the field of data acquisition, it helps gather data from a large number of serial - based data sources. Serial hubs can support different serial communication protocols such as RS - 232, RS - 422, and RS - 485, and they come in different port configurations (e.g., 4 - port, 8 - port, 16 - port) to meet various application requirements.
10 Leading Serial Hub Suppliers in China
1. PCM Cable Co., Ltd.
PCM Cable Co., Ltd. is a well - established company specializing in the production of high - quality cables and related communication products, including serial hubs. The company has been in the industry for a long time and has built a solid reputation for its reliable products and excellent customer service.
Features in Serial Hub:
- High - Quality Materials: PCM Cable uses top - grade materials in the manufacturing of its serial hubs. This ensures excellent electrical performance, low signal interference, and long - term reliability. For example, the printed circuit boards (PCBs) used in their hubs are made with high - quality copper traces and proper insulation materials, which help in maintaining stable signal transmission even in harsh electrical environments.
- Wide Compatibility: Their serial hubs are designed to be compatible with a wide range of serial devices and operating systems. Whether it is an industrial sensor running on a custom - made embedded system or a desktop computer using Windows, PCM Cable's serial hubs can seamlessly integrate.
- Customization Options: PCM Cable understands that different customers may have unique requirements. Thus, they offer customization services for serial hubs. Customers can specify the number of ports, the type of serial interfaces (RS - 232, RS - 422, or RS - 485), and even the physical form factor according to their application needs.
Advantages:
- Technical Expertise: The company has a team of experienced engineers who are well - versed in serial communication technologies. They can provide in - depth technical support to customers, helping them solve complex problems during installation and operation.
- Quality Assurance: PCM Cable has a strict quality control system in place. Each serial hub undergoes a series of rigorous tests, including electrical performance tests, signal integrity tests, and environmental stress tests, before leaving the factory.
- Global Reach: With a wide distribution network, PCM Cable's products are sold not only in China but also in many other countries around the world. This global presence allows them to better understand the diverse needs of customers in different regions.
Website: https://www.pcm-cable.com/
2. Advantech Co., Ltd.
Advantech is a leading global provider of industrial computing solutions, and its serial hub products are highly regarded in the industry. The company was founded in 1983 and has since grown to become a major player in the field of industrial automation and embedded systems.
Features in Serial Hub:
- Industrial - Grade Design: Advantech's serial hubs are built with an industrial - grade design, which means they can withstand harsh environmental conditions such as extreme temperatures, high humidity, and strong vibrations. This makes them suitable for use in industrial factories, transportation systems, and outdoor applications.
- High - Speed Data Transmission: Their serial hubs support high - speed data transfer rates, enabling efficient communication between multiple serial devices. For applications that require real - time data collection and processing, such as in automated production lines, Advantech's serial hubs can ensure that data is transmitted quickly and accurately.
- Advanced Management Features: These hubs come with advanced management features, including remote management capabilities. Users can monitor and configure the serial hub settings remotely, which is very convenient for large - scale industrial installations where the hubs may be located in hard - to - reach places.
Advantages:
- R & D Strength: Advantech invests heavily in research and development. Their R & D team is constantly working on improving the performance and functionality of their serial hub products. They are at the forefront of adopting new technologies, such as the latest serial communication protocols and power - saving techniques.
- Comprehensive Product Line: In addition to serial hubs, Advantech offers a wide range of related products, such as industrial motherboards, data acquisition cards, and industrial computers. This allows customers to source all their industrial computing needs from a single supplier, which simplifies the procurement process and ensures better compatibility between different components.
- Industry Experience: With decades of experience in the industrial market, Advantech has a deep understanding of the specific requirements of various industries. They can provide tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of different customers, whether it is in the automotive, aerospace, or energy sector.
3. Moxa Technologies Inc.
Moxa is a world - renowned provider of industrial networking, computing, and automation solutions. The company has a long - standing reputation for its reliable and high - performance serial hub products.
Features in Serial Hub:
- Redundant Power Supply: Moxa's serial hubs are equipped with redundant power supply options. This means that in case of a power failure in one power source, the hub can still operate normally using the backup power supply. This feature is crucial for applications where continuous operation is required, such as in power plants and transportation control systems.
- Isolation Technology: To protect the connected serial devices from electrical interference and damage, Moxa's serial hubs use advanced isolation technology. This isolation helps in preventing electrical surges and noise from spreading between different ports, ensuring the stability and reliability of the entire communication system.
- Hot - Swappable Design: Some of Moxa's serial hubs feature a hot - swappable design. This allows users to add or remove serial devices without having to power off the hub. This is very useful in applications where downtime needs to be minimized, such as in data centers.
Advantages:
- Global Support Network: Moxa has a global support network with offices and service centers in many countries. This ensures that customers can get timely technical support and after - sales service wherever they are located.
- Certifications and Standards Compliance: Moxa's products comply with a wide range of international certifications and standards, such as UL, CE, and FCC. This indicates that their serial hubs meet the highest quality and safety requirements, which is especially important for customers in regulated industries.
- Long - Term Product Availability: Moxa is committed to providing long - term product availability for its customers. This means that customers can rely on Moxa to supply spare parts and support for their serial hub products for an extended period, reducing the risk of system obsolescence.
4. Kontron AG (with Chinese operations)
Kontron is a leading global provider of embedded computing technology, and its serial hub products are known for their high - end performance and reliability.
Features in Serial Hub:
- High - Density Port Configuration: Kontron offers serial hubs with high - density port configurations. For example, they have hubs with up to 32 ports, which are suitable for applications that require connecting a large number of serial devices, such as in large - scale data acquisition systems or complex industrial control networks.
- Low - Power Consumption: With the increasing focus on energy efficiency, Kontron's serial hubs are designed to have low - power consumption. This not only helps in reducing operating costs but also makes the hubs more suitable for use in battery - powered or power - constrained applications.
- Advanced Error Detection and Correction: Their serial hubs are equipped with advanced error detection and correction mechanisms. This helps in ensuring the accuracy of data transmission by detecting and correcting errors in real - time, which is crucial in applications where data integrity is of utmost importance, such as in medical equipment and financial transaction systems.
Advantages:
- Cutting - Edge Technology: Kontron is at the forefront of using cutting - edge technologies in its product development. They are constantly exploring new materials, circuit designs, and communication protocols to improve the performance of their serial hubs.
- Customized Solutions for High - End Markets: The company has the ability to provide customized serial hub solutions for high - end markets, such as aerospace, defense, and medical industries. These customized solutions are tailored to meet the specific requirements and strict regulations of these industries.
- Strong Partnerships: Kontron has established strong partnerships with leading semiconductor manufacturers and other technology companies. This allows them to access the latest components and technologies, which in turn helps in enhancing the quality and performance of their serial hub products.
5. ICP DAS Co., Ltd.
ICP DAS is a well - known company in the field of industrial automation and data acquisition. Their serial hub products are popular for their cost - effectiveness and reliability.
Features in Serial Hub:
- Simple and Easy - to - Use Design: ICP DAS's serial hubs are designed with simplicity in mind. They have a user - friendly interface that makes it easy for users to install, configure, and operate the hubs. This is especially beneficial for small - and medium - sized enterprises (SMEs) or users who do not have extensive technical expertise.
- Cost - Effective Pricing: The company offers its serial hubs at a competitive price point without compromising on quality. This makes them an attractive option for cost - sensitive customers, such as start - up companies or those in emerging markets.
- Flexible Expansion Options: ICP DAS's serial hubs support flexible expansion options. Users can easily add more ports or connect multiple hubs together to meet the growing needs of their applications over time.
Advantages:
- Local Support in China: As a company with a significant presence in China, ICP DAS can provide local support to its Chinese customers. This includes fast delivery, local technical support, and after - sales service, which can greatly improve the customer experience.
- Proven Track Record in the Industry: ICP DAS has a long - standing history in the industrial automation and data acquisition industry. Their serial hub products have been widely used in various applications, which gives customers confidence in the reliability and performance of their products.
- Continuous Product Improvement: The company is committed to continuous product improvement. They regularly collect feedback from customers and use it to enhance the features and performance of their serial hubs.
6. Lanner Electronics Inc. (with Chinese operations)
Lanner is a global leader in the design, development, and manufacturing of industrial - grade network appliances and embedded systems. Their serial hub products are an important part of their product portfolio.
Features in Serial Hub:
- Scalability: Lanner's serial hubs are highly scalable. They can be easily integrated into existing network infrastructure and can support the addition of more serial devices as the application requirements grow. This scalability is very useful in large - scale industrial projects or data centers where the number of connected devices may change over time.
- Enhanced Security Features: In today's digital age, security is a major concern. Lanner's serial hubs come with enhanced security features, such as access control, encryption, and intrusion detection. These features help in protecting the serial communication network from unauthorized access and cyber - attacks.
- High - Performance Chipsets: The company uses high - performance chipsets in its serial hubs to ensure fast and reliable data transmission. These chipsets are optimized for serial communication and can handle high - volume data traffic efficiently.
Advantages:
- Strong R & D in Network Technology: Lanner has a strong R & D team focused on network technology. This allows them to develop serial hub products that are not only reliable but also at the forefront of network - related technologies, such as the latest network protocols and security standards.
- Industry - Specific Solutions: Lanner can provide industry - specific serial hub solutions. For example, they have solutions tailored for the transportation industry, which need to meet the specific requirements of on - vehicle communication and control.
- Global Brand Recognition: As a globally recognized brand, Lanner's serial hub products are trusted by customers around the world. Their brand reputation gives customers confidence in the quality and performance of their products.
7. Portwell, Inc. (with Chinese operations)
Portwell is a leading provider of industrial computer solutions, and its serial hub products are known for their high - quality and advanced features.
Features in Serial Hub:
- Integrated Design: Portwell's serial hubs often feature an integrated design with other components, such as industrial motherboards or data acquisition modules. This integrated design reduces the overall footprint of the system, simplifies the wiring, and improves the overall reliability of the system.
- Advanced Firmware: The serial hubs are equipped with advanced firmware that provides additional functionality, such as self - diagnosis, remote monitoring, and configuration management. This firmware can be easily updated to add new features or improve the performance of the hub.
- Wide Temperature Range Operation: Portwell's serial hubs are designed to operate in a wide temperature range. This makes them suitable for use in both indoor and outdoor applications, including in cold - climate regions or high - temperature industrial environments.
Advantages:
- System - Level Expertise: Portwell has system - level expertise in industrial computer solutions. This allows them to design serial hub products that are well - integrated with other components of the system, ensuring better overall performance and compatibility.
- Customization for System Integrators: The company offers extensive customization options for system integrators. They can work closely with system integrators to develop serial hub solutions that meet the specific requirements of their end - user applications.
- Quality Manufacturing Processes: Portwell follows strict quality manufacturing processes. Their serial hubs are manufactured in state - of - the - art facilities with high - precision equipment, ensuring consistent quality and performance.
8. Aaeon Technology Inc. (with Chinese operations)
Aaeon is a global provider of industrial IoT solutions, and its serial hub products play an important role in enabling serial - based communication in IoT applications.
Features in Serial Hub:
- IoT - Ready Design: Aaeon's serial hubs are designed with IoT in mind. They support IoT - related technologies such as cloud connectivity, data analytics, and remote management. This allows users to easily integrate their serial devices into the IoT ecosystem and leverage the benefits of IoT, such as real - time data monitoring and predictive maintenance.
- Wireless Connectivity Options: In addition to traditional serial interfaces, some of Aaeon's serial hubs offer wireless connectivity options, such as Wi - Fi or Bluetooth. This provides more flexibility in device connection and communication, especially in applications where wired connections are not feasible or convenient.
- Edge Computing Capabilities: The serial hubs are equipped with edge computing capabilities. This means that they can perform data processing and analysis at the edge of the network, reducing the amount of data that needs to be transmitted to the cloud and improving the response time of the system.
Advantages:
- Focus on IoT Innovation: Aaeon is at the forefront of IoT innovation. Their R & D team is constantly exploring new technologies and applications in the IoT field, which allows them to develop serial hub products with the latest features and capabilities.
- Ecosystem Partnerships: The company has established partnerships with other IoT ecosystem players, such as cloud service providers and sensor manufacturers. This enables them to provide more comprehensive solutions to their customers, including seamless integration with other IoT components.
- Global Customer Base: Aaeon has a global customer base, which gives them a better understanding of the diverse needs of customers in different regions. They can use this knowledge to develop serial hub products that are suitable for a wide range of applications and markets.
9. Adlink Technology Inc.
Adlink is a leading provider of industrial computing solutions for embedded systems, and its serial hub products are highly regarded for their performance and reliability.
Features in Serial Hub:
- High - Precision Data Transmission: Adlink's serial hubs are designed to ensure high - precision data transmission. They use advanced signal processing techniques to minimize signal distortion and interference, which is crucial in applications where accurate data transfer is required, such as in scientific research and measurement systems.
- Modular Design: The serial hubs feature a modular design, which allows users to easily replace or upgrade individual modules. This modularity not only simplifies the maintenance process but also provides flexibility in system configuration according to the changing needs of the application.
- Support for Multiple Serial Protocols: These hubs support multiple serial protocols, including RS - 232, RS - 422, and RS - 485. This makes them suitable for use in a wide range of applications that may involve different types of serial devices.
Advantages:
- Strong R & D in Embedded Systems: Adlink has a strong R & D focus on embedded systems. Their expertise in this area allows them to develop serial hub products that are well - integrated with other embedded components, providing a more seamless and efficient solution for customers.
- Industry - Leading Quality Standards: The company adheres to industry - leading quality standards in its manufacturing processes. Their serial hubs undergo strict quality control tests to ensure that they meet the highest performance and reliability requirements.
- Customer - Centric Approach: Adlink takes a customer - centric approach. They work closely with customers to understand their specific needs and provide customized solutions. Their technical support team is always ready to assist customers in case of any issues.
10. Neousys Technology Inc.
Neousys is a provider of rugged embedded systems, and its serial hub products are designed to meet the demanding requirements of harsh environments.
Features in Serial Hub:
- Ruggedized Construction: Neousys' serial hubs have a ruggedized construction. They are housed in durable enclosures that can withstand shock, vibration, and dust. This makes them suitable for use in outdoor and industrial environments where the hubs may be exposed to harsh physical conditions.
- Wide Input Voltage Range: The serial hubs support a wide input voltage range, which provides more flexibility in powering the hubs. This is useful in applications where the power supply may be unstable or where different power sources need to be used.
- Long - Term Availability: Neousys is committed to providing long - term availability of its products. This is important for customers in industries such as transportation and energy, where the equipment needs to operate continuously for a long time and spare parts need to be available over an extended period.
Advantages:
- Expertise in Rugged Embedded Systems: The company has in - depth expertise in rugged embedded systems. This allows them to design serial hub products that are specifically tailored to the requirements of harsh environments, ensuring reliable operation even in the most challenging conditions.
- Customization for Harsh Environments: Neousys can provide customized serial hub solutions for customers in industries with harsh environmental requirements. They can modify the design and features of the hubs to meet the specific needs of applications such as mining, oil and gas, and military.
- Comprehensive Support for Rugged Applications: In addition to providing high - quality products, Neousys offers comprehensive support for rugged applications. This includes technical advice on installation, operation, and maintenance in harsh environments.
Conclusion
China has a vibrant and competitive market for serial hub suppliers. The 10 companies mentioned above represent a diverse range of strengths and capabilities in the serial hub industry. From established global players like Advantech and Moxa to more specialized companies such as ICP DAS, each company offers unique features and advantages. Some companies focus on high - end performance and advanced technology, suitable for critical applications in industries such as aerospace and defense. Others emphasize cost - effectiveness and user - friendliness, making them a good choice for small - and medium - sized enterprises.
The availability of a wide variety of serial hub suppliers in China provides customers with more options and the ability to find the most suitable product for their specific needs. Whether it is for industrial automation, data acquisition, IoT, or other applications, these companies are well - positioned to meet the demands of the market with their innovative and reliable serial hub solutions. As the demand for serial - based communication continues to grow in various industries, these suppliers are likely to play an even more important role in the future, driving further advancements in the technology and performance of serial hubs.






