ODVA has launched an "initiative for process automation" in cooperation with major suppliers to the process industry, including Cisco Systems, Endress+Hauser, Rockwell Automation and Schneider Electric, to further accelerate adoption of industrial Ethernet in process automation.
Based on ODVA's industrial EtherNet/IP technology, the results of this initiative will provide end users with more choices to deploy a complete Ethernet solution for process automation starting with connectivity down to the field level. In the long term, this will expand to include the full spectrum of process automation needs, including safety, explosion protection, long distances and extensive diagnostic coverage.
"Since EtherNet/IP is already successfully deployed in hybrid industries and some pure process industries, users are looking to ODVA for additional functionality to facilitate wider use of EtherNet/IP," says Katherine Voss, executive director of ODVA. "ODVA has decided to respond with an ‘initiative for process automation' focused on providing new opportunities for integration improvements, optimized network architecture and increased ROI."
In addition, through this initiative, ODVA plans to explore and adopt technology enhancements to ODVA's EtherNet/IP and Common Industrial Protocol (CIP) technologies to optimize them for the needs of process automation.
