ODVA forms new special interest group for EtherNet/ IP in the process industries

June 3, 2015
New special interest group plans to add enhancements to the Ethernet/ IP Specification.

ODVA is forming a new special interest group for EtherNet/ IP in the process industries to develop enhancements in the EtherNet/IP Specification. The areas they hope to address include field device-to-industrial control system (ICS) integration, field device-to-plant asset management integration, and a holistic field-to-enterprise communication architecture.

The SIG will focus initially on the integration of field devices with industrial control systems and related diagnostic services, and ODVA representatives hope it will result in a unified communication approach to process applications, enhancing the ability of users to exchange information to and from the field.

"ODVA's SIG for EtherNet/IP in the process industries will provide ODVA's members with a venue to concentrate on technical requirements often unique to process applications," said Katherine Voss, president and executive director of ODVA.  "The result will provide users in all production domains of industrial automation – discrete, hybrid and process - with a feature rich and future proof solution using EtherNet/IP."