Advantages of using industrial communication networks

The advantage of using industrial communication networks, compared to previous cabling, is easy to analyze: technological advancement saves considerable amounts of money and reduces costs.

In addition, communication through industrial units has advantages for functionality. However, the means used in the field of «industrial communication» differ greatly depending on the location.

As such, internal office communication works primarily with systems based on the Ethernet TCP / IP standard, while automation technology uses many communication systems that are nonetheless compatible with each other.

However, in recent years there has been an increase in industrial networks being used, regardless of the particular field that requires fast and unhindered communication.

Due to the expansion of the automotive industry, Industrial Ethernet components show an upward trend. In fields controlled by highly efficient technology, industrial communication is found in sectors such as serial machine construction.

Despite all the modernizations and specifications, it is mainly the field bus that, in the field of industrial communication, represents an important link.

Based on information regarding trends in 2010, a growth of 50% was recorded (compared to the values ​​of the previous year). The development can also be seen in industrial Ethernet and field buses.

In the case of networks, it was mainly ModBus-TCP, EtherCat, EtherNet / IP, and PROFINET that showed notable growth.

For field buses, PROFIBUS, CC-Link and DeviceNet, they also showed growth in statistics. This trend has not stopped in the last two years, despite the fact that the transition from installed fieldbus nodes to Ethernet that was anticipated in the 1990s, is occurring at a much slower pace than initially expected.

As such, the range of applications related to the «industrial communication» medium has yet to go further and has a long way to go for full expansion in industry. After all, the modernization of networks brings with it additional functions.

These networks, which can be LAN (Local Area Network, used in a limited area) or WAN (Wide Area Network, used as a global system), allow large amounts of data to be communicated using a limited number of channels.

Industrial networks have also led to the implementation of various communication protocols between digital controllers, field devices, various automation related software tools, and also external systems.

As industrial automation systems become complex and large with more automation devices in the control zone, today, the trend is towards Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) standards that allow any pair of devices to be interconnected and communicated. automation reliably, regardless of manufacturer.

With advances in digital technology, fieldbus technology is now dominating the field of automation, providing cost-effective multi-point communication facility and saving communication cable.