Profibus installed nodes pass 10 million

Profibus nodes pass 10 million: a similar Ethernet-based automation solution comes on stream, providing a highly versatile and scalable migration path to the world of Industrial Ethernet

Profibus International (PI), representing more than 1,200 member companies worldwide, has announced that at the end of 2003 Profibus devices installed in factory and process automation applications had passed the 10 million benchmark -- a total that is substantially higher than any other fieldbus solution.

Profibus International is now scaling up the introduction of PROFInet, an Ethernet-based automation solution that provides a highly versatile and scalable migration path to the world of Industrial Ethernet.

PROFInet is a significant development, as it provides Ethernet migration not only for Profibus, but other fieldbus systems as well.

Citing the sale of ten million Profibus ASICs as the basis for the installation claim, Profibus International Chairman, Edgar Kuester said: "It's a remarkable achievement that's due mainly to the technical excellence of Profibus which can meet a very wide range of needs across the automation spectrum".

Kuester paid tribute to the support and innovation of the organization's member companies who make up the largest fieldbus community in the world, and alluded to examples of how Profibus is now driving fieldbus developments, such as networked Machine Safety using PROFIsafe technology and advanced Motion Control.

From its inception, Profibus was developed as an open standard, anchored today in IEC 61158 and IEC 61784.

Approximately 1.3 million Profibus devices are installed in process plants, of which at least 290,000 are Profibus PA devices with the MBP (Manchester-Encoded Bus Powered) interface conforming to IEC 61158-2 required for process plant use.

This figure comes from research undertaken by the top-seven Profibus PA vendors representing about 90% of the market, which therefore suggests that the real total in process is 320,000.

The remainder are Profibus DP devices which are used in upstream (materials handling etc) and downstream (bottling, packaging, etc) applications.

Profibus DP, which shares a common communications protocol with Profibus PA, is the only fieldbus that can provide compatible networking technology for all parts of the process plant.

"The contribution made by Profibus towards the automation of process and discrete manufacturing plants is substantial, dwarfing that of competitive technologies," said Kuester.

"Furthermore, the market's enthusiasm for Profibus shows no sign of decreasing in the near future.

We believe that we will double the number of installed devices to 20 million by 2008.

This offers significant opportunities for member companies who by now have most of their development costs behind them".

Currently, Profibus International is continuing to leverage its 15 years of technological leadership by anticipating future automation trends.

It is in the throes of introducing PROFInet, a next-generation automation solution based on Ethernet communications.

PROFInet satisfies the need for decentralised control and the trend towards distributed automation.

It also offers full TCP/IP compatibility and can provide realtime performance down to 250microseconds cycle times using a unique embedded ASIC switch-based approach.

"PROFInet brings together a rich combination of standards-based functionality and combines it with innovative hardware in a flexible package," said Kuester.

"For members, it promises a new source of high value revenue in the future.

For users, it will make engineering, commissioning, operation and maintenance simpler and more effective, and it promises improved ROI across the enterprise.

PROFInet is also unique in that it can integrate current Profibus networks - and other fieldbus networks too if required, providing an easy migration path for all fieldbus users that fully protects current investments for vendors and end users".

Profibus International has a network of Regional Associations in 24 countries plus Profibus Competence Centres and Test Labs in 16 countries.

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