Industrial or Rugged PoE switches are a special type of PoE device designed to survive ambient temperatures and harsh environments. They are built to exceed the specifications of commercial switches with industrial safety. What is an Industrial Power-over-Ethernet switch (PoE switch)? A PoE switch is an Ethernet switch that transmits electrical power over the same cable that carries data. Factories, warehouses, and outdoor CCTV sites often face extreme heat, dust, vibration, and unstable power. Energy facilities and transport systems deal with similar tough conditions. Customers want flexible, customizable and. What is PoE? It has been 20 years since the first Power over Ethernet (PoE) standard was ratified by IEEE. 3af, this first standard provides up to 15.