FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTROLNET ADOPTED AS CHINESE STANDARD
Announcement expands adoption of CIP Networks in new markets and applications
Ann Arbor, Michigan USA -- November 16, 2006 - ControlNet International announced today that ControlNet has been adopted by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of the People's Republic of China as part of a machinery industry standard for the People's Republic of China. This adoption, by one of the world's leading technology countries, extends nearly the entire family of CIP Networks to China's manufacturing industry
"This expansion of CIP Networks exemplifies the confidence that both industry and governments have placed in this future-proof, open network technology," said Katherine Voss, executive director of ControlNet International.
The Chinese economy is world's fourth largest in terms of gross domestic product, and is growing at more than 9 percent per year. Nearly every major industry has a presence in China today. The production growth rate across these industries currently averages around 29 percent per year. ControlNet International's membership includes multi-national companies with significant and expanding operations in China including Belden, HMS Industrial Networks, Honeywell and Rockwell Automation.
"ControlNet is attractive to industry in China for many types of automation applications," states Chun Biao Zhu, China Manager for Global Standards & Trade at Rockwell Automation. "The acceptance of both EtherNet/IP and ControlNet as standards in China will continue to drive increases in the adoption of CIP Networks in a diversity of industries and infrastructure projects."
ControlNet is one of the network technologies that comprise the family of networks built on the Common Industrial Protocol (CIPâ„¢). EtherNet/IP, another member of the family of CIP Networks, was also approved by the NDRC as a part of the China machinery industry standard and is recognized under the Chinese standard JB/T 10308.2-2006: Digital data communication for measurement and control - Fieldbus for use in industrial control systems. These two open networking technologies join DeviceNet, the first member of the family of CIP Networks to obtain approval as a standard in China, when the DeviceNet technology was made part of the first Chinese national standard to encompass fieldbus technology - GB/T 18858: "Low Voltage Switchgear and Controlgear Controller-Device Interface."
The effective date of the standard is February 1, 2007.
Suddenly, China appears to have waked up to its ability to control international standards by fiat. The Chinese government is the only entity other than Siemens big enough to control IEC standards, and they frankly don't even have to do that...if they continue their recent and aggressive standards-making push.
