It carries a 38 A rated operational current (Ie) across three poles, which means it handles the interlocking and power wiring between two contactors in a reversing motor starter — no need to run separate jumpers or worry about mechanical interlocks. The set is a connection accessory, not a standalone contactor; it mounts between the two contactors in the panel.
What the 38 A rating means in practice
The 38 A rated operational current is the continuous current the connection set can carry in a reversing duty cycle. For a motor load, that typically translates to a 15–18.5 kW motor at 400 V three-phase, depending on the duty class. The set itself is rated for the full thermal current of the LC1E38 contactor it pairs with, so the limiting factor in the assembly is the contactor, not the connection kit.