PROFINET is the open, vendor-neutral Industrial Ethernet standard for all applications in industrial automation.

PROFINET is the open, vendor-neutral Industrial Ethernet standard for all applications in industrial automation. PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International) is pushing the standardization of PROFINET technology at high speed while offering comprehensive support through its member companies, ranging from consulting to hardware and firmware integration and to certification. In order for any company to implement PROFINET in the simplest and most cost- and time-efficient way possible, a comprehensive offer from a wide range of providers is available: firmware based on Standard Ethernet interface, PROFINET ASICs, and ready-to-install modules. The brochure “The Easy Way to PROFINET Technology” published by PI and available for download on the Internet at the following link provides an overview of all providers: www.profinet.com/downloads. With the release of the new TPS1 (TIGER ASIC) by Phoenix Contact, another PROFINET ASIC is now available, which has been designed especially for compact devices, e.g. compact IOs or drives. Based on this single chip solution, device manufacturers can implement PROFINET into their devices quickly and easily.

Panel Discussion on FDI (Field Device Integration)

A highlight on the joint PI booth on the Hanover Fair evidently was the panel discussion on FDI (Field Device Integration) on April 20, 2010. Chaired by Dr. Thomas Tauchnitz well-known representatives of companies active within the FDI Corporation discussed about the future requirements of a uniform and efficient device integration as well as the chances and further developments of FDI. Due to the flight ban not all scheduled participants were able to manage to come to Germany. The following participants attended the panel discussion: Kimikazu Takahashi (Yokogawa), Daniel Huber (ABB), Hans-Georg Kumpfmüller (Siemens), Dr. Raimund Sommer (E+H) and Hartmut Wallraf (Invensys).

PROFINET now with 2.1 million devices in the market

PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International) is pleased about the growth of its PROFIBUS and PROFINET technologies in 2009. Especially in light of the difficult global economic situation during the last 18 months, the market numbers, which were gathered by notary statistics as always, underline the importance of PROFIBUS and PROFINET in the automation industry.

PROFINET, the Industrial Ethernet solution of PI, was able to continue its growth during the difficult year of 2009 with 500,000 newly purchased devices – compared to 460,000 devices in 2008. As a result, the installed basis has now climbed to 2.1 million devices. The trend shows that the sales of PROFINET has not been adversely affected by the recession; on the contrary, the trend is in the opposite direction. PI views this as a great success. Jörg Freitag, PI Chairman, also sees a large growth potential in the future: “In this difficult economic climate, to achieve almost 10 % greater sales compared to 2008 is a sign of the overwhelming acceptance of PROFINET. Our Ethernet-based solution offers the user a significant added value that is increased even further by the new energy savings profile “PROFIenergy”. There is no doubt that PROFINET has a strong future.”

 The number of PROFIBUS devices sold worldwide rose by 3.1 million to a current total of 31.4 million. Jörg Freitag explained: “The automation industry has been hit hard by the 2009 recession. Nevertheless, the installed base of PROFIBUS devices has increased by 11 % compared to the previous year of 2008. This is another major success for PI and its established fieldbus technology.” Of the total 31.4 million devices, 5.4 million are being used in process automation plants. As a result, PROFIBUS is taking on an important role in this industry as well. The PA Profile V3.02 will significantly accelerate the dissemination of PROFIBUS in the process automation industry, since it contains a set of important features called for by end users.

The 220,000 purchased PROFIsafe devices in 2009 equals the number purchased the previous year. With its current installed base of 850,000 devices, PROFIsafe has posted striking evidence of its leading role in fieldbus-based safe communication systems

What is Profibus? / Why Profibus?

PROFIBUS is the world-wide leading industrial Fieldbus standard. More than 10 million PROFIBUS devices are installed in plants around the world with this number expected to double by 2008. Designed and maintained by the combined efforts of the world’s top industrial solutions providers, PROFIBUS provides a stable environment for rapid real-time communication between devices from numerous manufacturers, a requirement in many industrial applications.

PROFIBUS offers significant value to enterprises over conventionally wired control systems in the form of a reduction in initial installation and engineering costs. What is more, according to a recent evaluation by the ARC Advisory Group “…the greatest [savings] are realized in the areas of maintenance and operations long after a plant has been commissioned.” “[The fieldbus acts as] an enabler to a new level of asset management and effectiveness that can significantly reduce operating costs and help manufacturers achieve operational excellence”