The migration from traditional fieldbus architecture industrial networks to industrial Ethernet (IE) technology is a growing trend in the industrial sector.
This is according to Inus Dreckmeyr, CEO of Netshield SA, who notes more and more manufacturers are realising the immediate as well as long-term financial benefits of opting for IE technology.
IE refers to the use of standard Ethernet protocols using rugged connectors and high temperature-resistant switches in an industrial environment, he explains. It can be used for both LAN and WAN connectivity. The environment inside industrial plants is harsh, with extremes of temperature, high humidity, and considerable vibration, he adds.
Dreckmeyr notes environmental conditions are the predominant reason IE products are gaining traction over their standard counterparts.
In contrast to the conditions typical of an office environment, industrial locations are frequently subject to high humidity, excessive dust or other particulate matter, extreme temperatures, and vibrations caused by whichever manufacturing processes take place in that location, he explains.
"While these conditions may be customary in the manufacturing world, in the context of standard networking equipment, they are what we would call extreme elements and environmental factors. In short, standard Ethernet connectors and switches are wholly unsuited to, and incapable of, operating under these conditions."
Market research firm Technavio, in a recent report, forecast the global IE market to grow at a CAGR of 9.52% over the period 2014-2019.
The key players in the IE space include Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco, D-Link, Hewlett-Packard, Huawei, Juniper Networks and Schneider Electric.
Technavio points out that over the past few decades, IE has made inroads into factories, refineries, mines and other highly demanding settings, as a robust and high-bandwidth network, capable of supporting automation and control systems in general and motion applications in particular.
The principal driver behind this growth, according to Technavio's research, is cost savings. It says Ethernet allows manufacturers in the machine tools, machinery, and robotics industries to address the pressing need to reduce capital and operations expenses. Additionally, almost all types of networking equipment already have Ethernet, making the Ethernet interface cost-efficient, it points out.
Beyond cost-efficiencies, other industrial Ethernet market drivers include scalability of Ethernet equipment, demand for faster Internet connectivity, need for enhanced network security and increasing network traffic.
In terms of deployment, Technavio says the EMEA region accounts for the largest number of deployments, representing 39% of the IE market; the Americas account for 35%; and Asia-Pacific 26%.
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