Our next PI Meeting is already in the starting blocks. Chris McComb from PI UK invites us to beautiful Scotland!
 

Here is the scheduling for the 36th PI Meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland:
 

A first detailed draft agenda can be downloaded here: Agenda PI Meeting.
 

Entering Scotland

Please DO NOT FORGET to fill out the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) before entering Scotland. You can find all the information here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta  
 

Registration for the meeting is now closed!

"Sometimes it's good to lose a bet," said Volker Goller, head of the SPE Integration in PROFINET working group, following the successful completion of the IEC TS 63444 update. This new edition brings exciting innovations that will revolutionize sensor connectivity via PROFINET.
 

The introduction of the 2-wire Ethernet technology Ethernet-APL and the extension to Ethernet-SPE based on the 10BASE-T1L standard opens up a wide range of application possibilities. While Ethernet-APL is specifically designed for explosion-protected applications in process automation, Ethernet-SPE can also be used in non-hazardous areas as well as in factory and building automation. This means more flexibility and efficiency for your projects!
 

Standardization includes innovative solutions such as power and data (PoDL) over the same cable pair, which significantly reduces cabling costs. A new unified connector system will be submitted for international standardization, paving the way for a universal SPE standard.
 

We thank everyone involved for their tireless efforts and look forward to taking the next steps in SPE integration together! Take advantage of these opportunities to advance your product development and reap the benefits of these forward-looking technologies!
 

PS: We cordially invite you to participate in the review of the Ethernet-APL / Ethernet-SPE Profile Specification, which describes the technical applications of Ethernet-APL and Ethernet-SPE as well as their versatile use in process, factory and building automation.
 

The annual survey of newly installed nodes conducted by PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International) shows moderate growth for its technologies compared to previous years. Even in times of economic and structural change, PI technologies are experiencing solid growth for use in machines and systems across the globe. Economic uncertainties and the impact of supply issues on inventories naturally affect products with PI technologies as well, and this is reflected in device numbers accordingly - in particular in Europe and China. Despite this, products based on PI technologies were able to hold their ground well in the marketplace, which was impressively demonstrated by the number of newly installed nodes, though it was not possible to repeat or exceed the record numbers seen in previous years.

In 2022, disruptions in the supply chain led to material shortages and significant delivery bottlenecks. These limitations were more than compensated for in 2023 thanks to the supply of a very large number of IO-Link devices, which led to an anticipated normalization in 2024 with an additional 9.7 million new nodes having been put on the market. IO-Link remains stable and has been growing continually for years, with 61 million nodes at last count. IO-Link continues to successfully establish itself as a global standard.

This kind of trend can also be seen with PROFIsafe nodes. Following exceptional growth in the preceding year, an additional 3.1 million nodes were put on the market in 2024. The establishment of this safety technology from PI therefore remains unwavering and underscores its significance and acceptance in the industrial sector with 28.7 million PROFIsafe devices at the current time.

Find the full press release right here.

We are pleased to provide you with a new PDF document that describes the annual IO-Link packages. (The document is also available for download in the "Specification" section). In this document you will find detailed information about the latest developments and updates in the current IO-Link package.
 

Please note that IO-Link releases a maintenance release every year. An IO-Link package contains all the necessary components and information required to implement and use the IO-Link technology. This includes specifications, system extensions and profiles.
 

We are confident that you will find this information very useful and that it will help you to optimize your product development. If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact us.
 

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation!

We would like to remind all members that they can list their products with PI technologies - also forespecially in connection with the newer PI technologies MTP, omlox and SRCI - in our product catalog free of charge and use the PI Product Finder as a free marketing and sales channel! This is an important benefit for you as a member and gives you the opportunity to present your innovative solutions to a wide audience. Please take advantage of it!
 

The PI Product Finder is a valuable resource for all interested parties, potential customers and partners looking for solutions based on PI technologies such as PROFINET, IO-Link, etc. Use this opportunity to increase the visibility of your products and benefit from the advantages of a strong community.
 

Register your products today at: Product Finder Link.
 

A new version of this PI product catalog, the "PI Product Finder", is currently being developed, initially as a prototype based on the "ECLASS v14" information model standard.

You can already make your entries for PROFINET and APL products based on the ECLASS standard there. If you have any support or questions about this new PI Product Finder, you are welcome to send them to the following e-mail address: pf-support(at)profinet(dot)com

Your contribution is also crucial for the success of our community - let's grow together!

On May 7, 2025 at 14:00 (CET) our first PI webinar on the introduction to PROFIsafe will take place. In this 60-minute online seminar, you will get a practical overview of the basics of functional safety in industrial automation. Get to know the most important functions and benefits of PROFIsafe and learn how you can use the safety protocol optimally in your applications - no previous knowledge is required!
 

Register now and expand your PROFIsafe knowledge: https://www.profibus.de/veranstaltungen/profisafe-introduction-webinar

This year's IO-Link General Assembly will take place on May 22, 2025 in Bad Soden, Germany, and all IO-Link members are cordially invited to attend this important event.
 

A major highlight of our meeting will be the election of the Steering Committee (SC), which consists of dedicated representatives from IO-Link member companies. If your company is interested in actively participating in the SC and helping shape the future of IO-Link, please contact Ms. Maria Müller, maria.mueller(at)io-link(dot)com. Take this opportunity and become part of a dynamic and motivated team!

Please note that the General Assembly will be held in English and is free of charge for all IO-Link members.
 

Register for the IO-Link General Assembly by May 2, 2025 at the latest!
 

The PI Conference 2025 is fast approaching and the conference program is taking shape! On June 4 and 5, 2025, in Frankfurt, Germany, you can expect exciting keynotes, presentations and discussions on PI technologies and their applications, integration of PI technologies, security, and many other topics related to PI technologies, as well as an exciting keynote on the evening of the first conference day.
 

A program overview of the main topics for both conference days is now available on the official website. Take a look at the planned presentations and highlights of the conference: www.pi-konferenz.de
 

We look forward to seeing you at the PI Conference 2025!

Part 1 of our two-part international PROFINET Security Webinar took place on March 18, 2025 - with great success! Over 500 registrations and around 290 participants show the great interest in the topic of network security in PROFINET systems.
 

The focus was on exciting and practical topics such as: - TLS and its use in PROFINET - Authorization and  role-based security concepts - Certificate management for industrial networks - Status of PROFINET today and the outlook for tomorrow. A big thank you to our experts, who not only presented well-founded content, but also answered numerous interesting questions.
 

Don't worry - due to the wealth of content, part 2 will follow! However the next session had to be postponed. You will find the new date shortly on our event page: https://www.profibus.com/trainingevents
Stay tuned - it's worth it!

Two exciting webinars offered exclusive insights into the omlox localization standard that is revolutionising real-time localization. The first webinar focused on the omlox Hub - including use cases, architecture, API (REST, WebSocket, MQTT) and security aspects.

The second part focused on the omlox AIR interface, which enables plug & play interoperability. Participants received practical know-how, direct answers to their questions and valuable impulses for Industry 4.0. The online event was held in English.

The mioty alliance and the IO-Link Community (PI) have announced the signing of a major cooperation agreement at the Hannover Trade Fair.

This agreement will intensify cooperation between the two communication standards, especially with regard to data model use. The goal of this partnership is to enable the integration of mioty devices using the same mechanisms as those used for IO-Link devices. The advantage here is that users won’t need any new tools for mioty.

By combining the expertise of the mioty alliance in the development of wireless communication systems and the leading position of IO-Link in the area of industrial automation, this cooperation will set new standards. Both communities are convinced that this cooperation will bring about new and innovative solutions.

“We’re very pleased about our partnership with IO-Link. Together, we’ll shape the future of communication systems and offer our members even more powerful solutions,” said the mioty alliance’s General Manager Peter Hedberg in explaining the goals of cooperation. [...]

Find out more right here.

The primary task of PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International) is to develop and maintain specifications for industrial communication and automation technology, to perform testing and certification, and to create guidelines. PI pursued these tasks consistently in 2024, with a total of 24 specifications and guidelines for PI technologies being published. In addition, six test specifications and 11 test tools/bundles were provided for quality assurance. This is a clear signal of a year of innovation and intensive cooperation.

The documents contain both specific technical developments, such as enhancements to the security specification for PROFINET and the safety specification for IO-Link, as well as necessary adjustments and maintenance activities. A significant factor for success is quality and interoperability, both in the depth and scope of the specifications themselves and in the associated test specifications and test tools. This is supplemented with easy-to-read, technically sound descriptions and supplements in the guidelines. The PI community continues to invest considerable resources in these areas to ensure a stable, reliable foundation for industrial applications. 

These further developments are a clear indication of living, future-proof standards which adapt to new customer, market and regulatory requirements and technological progress. These innovations make an important contribution to the digital transformation of automation technology, helping to overcome current challenges in the industrial environment.

This year, the PI community will continue to work intensively on new technological developments in its tried and tested way of which the active community is gaining a shared understanding. It’s precisely this cooperation—the open exchange and diversity of ideas and experiences of the many companies involved—which creates the basis for further innovation. In light of the industry demand for powerful and interoperable solutions, PI has an optimistic view of the future.

The world’s largest mobile smartphone manufacturers include UWB in their newer devices, to the projected tune of more than 1 billion mobile devices by 2032. There is a growing focus on leveraging UWB for consumer-oriented use cases, such as finding something or someone, and point-and-trigger control of devices within the home. Meanwhile, commercial enterprises, healthcare, and transit verticals have discovered the benefits of UWB for applications such as asset management, parts position tracking, worker safety, and more. Consumer and professional markets often have different requirements but rely on the same shared medium, UWB.

For real-time location solutions (RTLS) in the commercial environment, omlox developed the world’s first open standard. This ecosystem incorporates the omlox core zone which specifies the UWB protocol for the infrastructure and allows full interoperability between any infrastructure provider and professional mobile devices from different suppliers.

FiRa – denoting fine-ranging – is dedicated to transforming how people interact with their environment by enabling precise location awareness for people and devices. FiRa has developed standards for UWB targeting the PHY and MAC layers and, more importantly, FiRa offers a certification program to ensure interoperability across a wide range of UWB-enabled products, including smartphones. [...]
 

Find out more in our press area.

The PROFINET Planning Guide has been revised and is now available for free download in English and German from the PI website. It supports planners of PROFINET automation systems in the professional planning and selection of devices and network components and ensures reliable network performance as well as easy installation, commissioning, and maintenance.
 

The current version now also includes Conformance Class D (CC-D), TSN, application profiles, and the basics of network technology. CC-D enables the use of Gigabit Ethernet and improves network characteristics through Time Sensitive Networking (TSN), which isolates real-time traffic from non-real-time traffic. This enables convergent networks where PROFINET and other services are used together.
 

The planning guide defines important terms such as port, interface, switch, and router, explains relevant topologies, and presents suitable transmission media. Networks with multiple controllers are also covered. All PROFINET devices must be assigned unique names and IP addresses, with a meaningful naming convention providing maintenance personnel with information about function and installation location.
 

The PROFINET Planning Guide complements the Installation and Commissioning Guide and is freely available together with these documents on the PI website.