In recent years, Industrial Ethernet has experienced a rapid development and plays a crucial role in automation and control technology. In this blog post, we would like to give you a short overview of the most important Industrial Ethernet standards (EtherCAT, PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, Modbus, TCP/IP and, POWERLINK) as well as their specific highlights.
When choosing the right standard, in addition to technical differences, the target region for the products also plays a decisive role. For example, PROFINET is widespread in Europe, while EtherNet/IP is preferred in North America. Selecting a standard that is already widespread in the region can make integration easier. The availability of hardware components and technical support may vary by region.
Furthermore, the costs for hardware, licenses, and support differ depending on the selected standard. So it is important to perform a cost-benefit analysis taking the specific technical requirements into consideration.
The most important Industrial Ethernet standards in a comparison:
EtherCAT
- Developer company: Beckhoff Automation
- Typical applications: High-speed machine control, robotics, automotive production
- Technical characteristics: Offers extremely fast cycle times (down to microseconds) and precise synchronization; particularly well-suited for demanding and time-dependent applications; deterministic behavior; high data transmission rates
- Strong presence in Europe, Asia, and North America.
PROFINET
- Developer company: Siemens
- Typical applications: Process automation, production, building automation
- Technical characteristics: Real-time capability and high data transmission rates; uses standard Ethernet networks for communication; support of deterministic and non-deterministic data communication; high level of flexibility
- Particularly widespread in Europe and especially in Germany, but also increasingly in Asia and North America.
EtherNet/IP
- Developer company: Rockwell Automation
- Typical applications: System automation, packaging machines, energy monitoring
- Technical characteristics: Supports real-time and also non-real-time communication; achieves high data transmission rates; uses standard Ethernet networks for communication; based on the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP)
- Particularly widespread in North America, but is also used in Asia and Europe.
Modbus TCP
- Developer company: Schneider Electric
- Typical applications: Building automation, HVAC systems, water treatment
- Technical characteristics: Uses standard Ethernet networks for communication; simple implementation; for real-time and non-real-time communication; lower data rates compared to other Industrial Ethernet systems
- Widespread globally, without specific regional concentration.
POWERLINK
- Developer company: B&R
- Typical applications: Machine tools, robotics, CNC
- Technical characteristics: Offers real-time capabilities similar to those of EtherCAT, with precise time control for critical applications; deterministic data transmission; support of redundancies; robust
- Widespread mainly in Europe and Asia.
- Market share of different fieldbuses, Industrial Ethernet and wireless communication standards
Market share of different fieldbuses, Industrial Ethernet and wireless communication standards
Summary
The world of Industrial Ethernet standards offers a wide range of options for meeting automation and control technology requirements. EtherCAT stands out with lightning-fast communication, PROFINET impresses with flexibility, and Modbus TCP is a cost-effective solution. How widespread the protocols are depends on different factors, such as the presence of certain equipment manufacturers in the region, historical development, industrial requirements, and support by industry consortia.