Another step forward

Industry 4.0 could be defined as the combination of “cyber-physical systems” with the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). In practical terms, this means systems that combine mechanical and software based features communicating with each other via Internet based technologies. As a result, easy integration of networks becomes ever more important. To this end, at SPS, the CC-Link Partner Association (CLPA) and PI (Profibus and Profinet International) announced a collaboration.

Digital communication using a fieldbus or Industrial Ethernet is already widely used in modern production plants and is an important building block for increasing productivity. However, the landscape of Industrial Ethernet standards that has existed to date poses the problem that devices and machines of different communication systems are in themselves unable to exchange data.

Machine builders are therefore forced to equip their machines with different networks, or plant owners are limited in their selection of suitable machines. To overcome this, there have arisen manufacturer-specific transfer specifications and complicated bespoke converters.

One of the concepts running through Industry 4.0 is data – lots of data being generated by devices in real-time and being shared to provide a transparent view of processes. Bandwidth is a key requirement.

CC-Link IE is currently the only open industrial Ethernet protocol that operates at gigabit speeds. It is, therefore, de-facto, the industrial Ethernet technology with the widest bandwidth and hence offers the greatest potential for supporting the needs of Industry 4.0, now and in the future.

CLPA Europe General Manager, John Browett, told me at the show: “It is difficult to envisage Industry 4.0 without a communications technology such as CC-Link IE. Connectivity through the whole value chain is an admirable goal, but it does assume that vast quantities of data can be handled efficiently and accurately and that devices from many different manufacturers are able to communicate freely over a common network.”

With the new cooperation, CLPA and PI aim to enable transparent and easy bi-directional communication between CC-Link IE and Profinet devices through standardised interfaces.

A joint working group is being established to develop the necessary technical specifications to achieve this goal. When work on the specifications is complete, it will be available to members of both organisations for implementation. According to Browett, speaking just before publication, the working group's members currently include Hilscher, HMS, Molex and Renesas. It is possible that more companies may also join.