What is PROFINET?

PROFINET is the leading Industrial Ethernet standard for automation that includes plant-wide fieldbus communication, plant-to-office communication, and equipment-to-equipment integration. PROFINET can simultaneously handle standard TCP/IP transmissions AND real-time transmissions at sub-millisecond speeds. PROFINET embraces industry standards like Ethernet, TCP/IP, XML, and OPC. Using proxy technology it connects other fieldbuses in addition to PROFIBUS; thus protecting the existing investment in plant equipment and networks. PROFINET is more than a fieldbus – it’s a means of integrating disparate control equipment without programming! Currently more than 100 engineers from at least 50 different companies are working in 20 distinct Working Groups to advance PROFINET.

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