Table of Content
- Meeting
- 37th PI Meeting in Korea!
- PI News
- Editorial by Dr. Peter Wenzel (Managing Director PNO)
- Strong Foundation, Clear Direction: PI Continues Growth in Automation
- Technology Highlights
- Information About the New Tester
- The PROFINET Community Stack 2.0.0 Has Been Released!
- Security You Can Experience: The PROFINET Security Demo
- Events
- PROFINET V2.5 Webinar Series
- IO-Link at all about automation
- omlox Plugfest and Conference 2026
- Webinar: „Plug & Produce in Practice: How Operators Integrate PEAs with MTP 2.0“
- Registration is Now Open for "MTP Goes Industry" @Merck
- Review
- HANNOVER MESSE 2026
- Press & News
- New Security Whitepaper
- PNO Members' Assembly: Technology Updates and New Elections
- PROFINET Plugfest 2026: Strong Momentum Toward Secure Industrial Communication
- Why Secure Industrial Communication Depends on Deployment as well as Protocols
- Call for...
- ...Papers - PROFINEWS 261
- Documents
- Documents for Review
- Documents for Download
Meeting
37th PI Meeting in Korea!
Website
RPA Korea has created a website with all the relevant information you need:
Online meeting recording, minutes and slides
Yesterday, we held the PI Online Meeting to prepare for the PI Meeting. You can find the recording, minutes, and slides in Nextcloud:
PI News
Editorial by Dr. Peter Wenzel (Managing Director PNO)
Thank you for your trust and cooperation
I had the privilege of celebrating my 25th anniversary with PNO at the end of December 2025. By then, PNO had been operating for just over 36 years. Our goal was to develop the results of a research project with the support of manufacturers and translate them into products and applications for all manufacturing and process industries. I believe long-term success hinges on providing applicable open technologies, modern and targeted marketing, and establishing a global network of regional organizations and centers of excellence that can best serve their regions' specific needs. Internationalization began in Europe, but the organization's founding in the U.S. in 1994 laid the foundation for a global network. Subsequently, we covered the important Asian region, including China and Japan.
Looking back, I see four phases in PNO’s technological development. The first phase revolved around PROFIBUS for ten years, during which the first profiles, such as PROFIdrive, PA Devices, and PROFIsafe, emerged.
The second phase was marked by the introduction of PROFINET and IO-Link. With PROFINET, the PNO took a major step into the world of Ethernet, laying the groundwork for Industry 4.0 and the digitization of production. PROFINET-specific profiles, such as PROFIenergy, also emerged during this phase. With IO-Link, the PNO established open communication for basic sensors and actuators, a technology that remains unrivaled to this day.
The third phase focuses on collaboration-based technology development. It began with the FDI project. This was soon followed by others, most notably APL—the intrinsically safe physical layer for Ethernet. Until then, technologies had been developed in internal working groups based on internal regulatory documents. From then on, contracts—including those with technological competitors—had to be concluded before the activities began, and the content and rules had to be defined. This was a completely new task for me.
The fourth phase has two parts. The first is expanding the scope of automation to include digitalizing production. In this regard, the PNO has incorporated topics such as OMX, SRCI, MTP, and NOA. The second aspect concerns security. Although security has been a PROFINET priority for years, new challenges have emerged in recent years due to various regulations that need to be addressed.
The foundation of this success, in my opinion, is the strong trust that manufacturers and users place in our technologies, as well as the commitment of the many participants in the working groups, committees, and other bodies.
I have greatly enjoyed our many years of focused collaboration, and it has continually motivated me. For this, I would like to thank you sincerely for your trust and wish the PNO, its members, and you continued success.
Dr. Peter Wenzel, Managing Director
Strong Foundation, Clear Direction: PI Continues Growth in Automation
PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International) anticipates a noticeable upturn in the global automation market in 2025. The economic recovery in many regions is clearly reflected in the current node figures and marks a significant improvement over 2024. The broad technological portfolio—ranging from motion control to factory and process automation—has a stabilizing effect and effectively buffers regional and industry-specific fluctuations. At the same time, this diversity provides users and manufacturers with additional flexibility and creates robust, internationally viable market opportunities. Overall, PI technologies have once again proven highly successful and continue to record steady growth.
IO-Link maintains its strong market position and remains a key growth driver at the sensor and actuator level. In 2025, approximately 9.7 million new IO-Link devices and master ports were installed worldwide. This brings the total number of IO-Link nodes installed globally to 71 million. This development once again underscores the high level of industrial acceptance and the continuous spread of the standard across all industries. Following the particularly high volumes of previous years, the market is now entering a phase of normalization at a still very high level.
IO-Link benefits from its key role in end-to-end digitalization, from the sensor all the way to higher-level IT and cloud structures. Topics such as transparency at the field level, easy integration, standardized data models, and seamless integration into higher-level systems like PROFINET make IO-Link an indispensable enabler for data-driven automation, condition monitoring, and AI-supported applications. With new extensions such as IO-Link Safety, wireless approaches, and further-developed profiles, the range of applications is continuously expanding and creating additional momentum for future growth.
PROFINET continues its growth trend and is clearly benefiting from the general market recovery. With 10.4 million newly installed nodes, the total installed base has risen to 89.2 million. This steadily increasing adoption demonstrates how firmly PROFINET is established in a wide variety of industrial scenarios. At the same time, this broad installed base provides a stable foundation for upcoming digitalization steps: from end-to-end data communication with IO-Link integration to increasing security requirements and the transition to Gigabit network technologies. As a result, PROFINET is increasingly becoming a key enabler for AI-supported automation and remains a central building block of modern, scalable production systems.
More information can be found here.
Technology Highlights
Information About the New Tester
Further development of the PN certification environment (ART and ETS).
The PROFINET certification environment is continuously evolving to ensure the highest quality, reproducibility, and efficiency of future test results. With this in mind, we are pleased to announce the introduction of a new ETS test platform. This platform will be an integral part of the official PN certification environment, which comprises ART and ETS.
Motivation and Objectives
Our goal is to ensure reproducible tests, even as technical requirements increase, while maintaining the long-term availability of the used hardware and ensuring the most cost-effective implementation possible for test laboratories.
Research and experience from ongoing development and testing environments show that the ETS hardware platform (TI-IDK), which has been used to date, has physical limits in terms of performance and temporal accuracy. These limits are particularly relevant in new test scenarios, such as:
- very short cycle times,
- high network loads (gigabit and above),
- and precise IRT tests.
Evaluation Results: New PC-Based ETS Platform
The search for a long-term, stable, and future-proof solution revealed that a PC-based platform with a direct, high-performance PCI connection and multiple dedicated network interface cards (NICs) meets the necessary requirements.
The SIMATIC IPC RW-545A was selected as the reference hardware and features:
- Direct PCIe connection to the CPU
- Three Intel i226 network interfaces
- High, reproducible real-time and network performance
- Long-term industrial availability
The PCI connection and resulting performance were the defining factors in the search. Several manufacturers and configurations were tested and evaluated by experts. A qualification/evaluation tool for alternative high-performance PC platforms is currently being developed and will be made available at a later date.
Parallel Operation and Transition Phase
The ETS system is being developed further in parallel on both platforms:
- The existing TI-IDK platform and the new PC-based ETS platform.
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The new PC-based ETS platform.
The following applies:
- All currently available tests on the IDK will remain usable.
- Where possible, new tests can be run on both the PC-ETS and the IDK-ETS platforms.
- However, certain performance-intensive tests can only be executed on the PC-ETS platform. These include:
- Network load tests of 1 Gbit/s or higher
- Faulty load scenarios
- Selected IRT tests with cycle times of up to 1 ms
The exact assignment of the tests will be published via the established information channels.
The PROFINET Community Stack 2.0.0 Has Been Released!
The PROFINET Community Stack has reached an important milestone with version 2.0.0. Serving as a central foundation for collaborative development in industrial automation, the stack provides both PROFINET controller and device functionality as a standardized protocol stack core. Based on a PI-precertified stack, it provides clearly defined APIs to adapt to different hardware, operating systems, and IP stacks. The community approach accelerates implementation, strengthens interoperability between manufacturers, and makes new features, such as those related to PROFINET Security, available more quickly.
What’s new in version 2.0.0?
- First prototype for PROFINET Security as a starting point for advanced security features
- MRP support in EDDT for higher availability and rapid recovery from single-point failures
- System redundancy (S2) in EDDT for seamless failover in case of controller failure
- Support for multiple IOCRs (Note: Not yet tested in combination with EDDT)
- Improvements and bug fixes
The demo environment has also been expanded. A virtual I/O device variant (vIOD) facilitates onboarding and rapid prototyping without the need for specialized I/O hardware. This is complemented by an updated manual and an ncurses-based terminal interface.
Member Benefit: As a PI/PNO member, you will have exclusive access to the Community Stack and the latest version. This is ideal for quickly testing it hands-on and building your own developments on top of it.
Access: https://www.profibus.com/download/profinet-community-stack/.
GitLab release: https://gitlab.profibus.com/profinet/profinet-community-stack
Security You Can Experience: The PROFINET Security Demo
How can industrial communication be effectively secured? The PROFINET International (PI) Security Demo provides a clear, hands-on answer. It demonstrates the various levels of industrial communication protection, ranging from integrity and authenticity to authorization and confidentiality.
Newly added features include event logging and certificate distribution, which address key requirements for transparent, traceable, and scalable OT security concepts.
The demo has received high praise at trade fairs in Germany and international events. On June 16, it will be showcased live at the "Evento OT Cyber Security" in Milan, Italy — a must-see for anyone interested in practical cybersecurity for industrial networks.
Click here for more information!
Events
PROFINET V2.5 Webinar Series
A series of webinars on the new features of the PROFINET V2.5 specification is scheduled for June.
The series is intended for various audiences, including users and developers. During four coordinated sessions, we will examine the topics of security, the new features introduced by the PROFINET Specification V2.5, technical aspects, and certification according to V2.5 in a practical manner.
The dates at a glance:
- June 2: PROFINET Specification 2.5 — Insights
- June 9: PROFINET Technology: Device Development Based on the New 2.5 Specification
- June 16: PROFINET Certification Webinar
You can find all details about the webinars and the registration link in the event calendar.
IO-Link at all about automation
Hello, Hamburg!
It's a first for IO-Link: We're exhibiting at All About Automation in Hamburg for the first time ever (June 2–3 in Hall 753).
We'll be bringing our Carrera racetrack, an interactive demo that illustrates how IO-Link connects sensors and actuators, makes data available in real time, and enables flexible, efficient automation in a playful way.
Here’s another tip for your visit: On June 2 at 11:30 a.m., we’ll present our technical talk: "IO-Link in Practice: The Interface for Sensors and Actuators." Peter Wienzek will speak on behalf of the IO-Link Community.
Curious? Then, secure your free visitor ticket here.
We look forward to engaging discussions in Hamburg!
omlox Plugfest and Conference 2026
The omlox Plugfest and Conference 2026 will take place from June 9–11, 2026, hosted by Fraunhofer IOSB-INA at SmartFactoryOWL in Lemgo, Germany.
omlox Plugfest
Test your assets under real-world conditions | June 09-10, 2026
Are you a manufacturer of omlox components (hardware or software assets)? → Then you don’t want to miss the omlox Plugfest.
Make use of this rare opportunity to test the interoperability of your components in realistic scenarios together with systems from other manufacturers and the reference setup at the Fraunhofer IOSB-INA test lab. See how well your assets already comply with the omlox standard – in a vendor-neutral, protected environment. Participation is reserved for omlox members and partners.
Your benefits:
- Interoperability tests (plug and play, positioning, timing, hub connectivity, mixed environments)
- Direct access to testing environment and experts for the omlox standard
- Valuable feedback on product maturity and preparation for certification and customer deployment
- Networking with other omlox members, partners, and integrators
- Opportunity to showcase your product to interested companies at the subsequent Conference Day
Interested? Sign up now for the omlox Plugfest—it’s free.
omlox Conference Day
Experience interoperability live | June 11, 2026
Would you like to experience omlox localization interoperability in real-world applications? → Then the omlox Conference Day is the place to be.
Based on the results of the two-day Plugfest, we will show you how omlox assets from different manufacturers work together seamlessly. Join the omlox community as we share and discuss the latest Plugfest findings and what they mean for your next localization projects. In just one day, get the insights you need – from the fundamentals of the omlox standard and technology through to in-depth interoperability topics.
Look forward to:
- An inspiring keynote (more information to follow)
- Presentation of the Plugfest results
- Live demos of omlox systems
- Expert talks on omlox, interoperability, and certification
- Guided tour of the SmartFactoryOWL lab
- Direct interaction with experts, manufacturers, and users
See how omlox makes applications in factories, logistics centers, and other industrial environments more efficient and flexible. Interested?
Don’t miss the omlox Conference Day – register now for free.
More information on the event can be found here:
Webinar: „Plug & Produce in Practice: How Operators Integrate PEAs with MTP 2.0“
In practice, how can modular units be seamlessly integrated into a higher-level process control system?
In our free webinar, "Plug & Produce in Practice: Integrating PEAs with MTP 2.0 for Operators", we demonstrate how MTP 2.0-enabled Process Equipment Assemblies (PEAs) can be efficiently integrated into a PCS/DCS using typical requirements from the perspective of operators and integrators.
In addition to specific integration steps, we will cover the most important technical and organizational prerequisites, as well as the added value for operations, maintenance, and digitalization.
This webinar is aimed at individuals involved in modular production projects, including operators, system integrators, maintenance personnel, and those responsible for digitalization and modularization.
Date: June 11, 2026 (online via Microsoft Teams)
Sessions: German: 10:00–11:30 a.m. CEST, English: 4:00–5:30 p.m. CEST
The speaker is Wolfram Hänsel (PAVIS Engineering GmbH).
Registration is Now Open for "MTP Goes Industry" @Merck
The inaugural “MTP goes Industry” workshop will take place on September 29, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 4:00 p.m. at Merck’s headquarters in Darmstadt. The event will be conducted in English, and registration is now open. Take advantage of this opportunity now, as spots are limited.
With "MTP Goes Industry," we are launching a new industry format designed to accelerate the practical implementation of the Module Type Package (MTP) standard. To this end, we are bringing together operators, manufacturers of PEAs/package units, and technology providers in a shared, application-oriented setting featuring keynote presentations, interactive workshop formats, ample opportunity for discussion, and guided tours of Merck’s laboratories as a special highlight.
The rationale is clear: operators increasingly demand standardized, proven, and reusable modules. A robust market for MTP-compatible equipment is essential for greater flexibility, faster time-to-market, and long-term investment security in modern production environments.
The program features insights and discussions with experts from the pharmaceutical, life sciences, chemical, and process plant and equipment engineering sectors. These are complemented by hands-on workshops and ample time for professional networking.
We would also like to thank our sponsors for supporting this event. We look forward to seeing the MTP solutions that the participating companies will present on-site, which will provide added value for all attendees.
Further information will be published on the event website on an ongoing basis.
Review
HANNOVER MESSE 2026
Despite challenging conditions marked by declining visitor and exhibitor numbers, HANNOVER MESSE 2026 proved its status as the world’s leading industrial trade fair. Around 3,000 exhibitors and approximately 110,000 visitors from around the world gathered to present solutions for a competitive and sustainable industry. The focus was on automation, digitalization, and artificial intelligence.
Our presence also benefited from the new hall layout. For the first time, we were located in Hall 27, Booth D37, where we presented a completely redesigned booth concept. Visitors and fellow exhibitors received the open, modern design and clear organization of the technology areas very positively, and they significantly facilitated professional exchange.
Alongside over 60 co-exhibitors, we presented practical innovations ranging from PROFINET, IO-Link, PROFIsafe, and PROFIdrive to newer technologies such as OMlox, SRCI, MTP, and NOA. Of course, we also addressed the critical topic of cybersecurity. Our live demonstrations, daily PI tours, and technical presentations on topics such as the EU Cyber Resilience Act and end-to-end data integration also received an excellent response.
Another item on our Hannover agenda was the Industrial Security Harmonization Group's (ISHG) hybrid conference. In its white paper on risk-based cybersecurity, the ISHG emphasizes the importance of coordinated security concepts for industrial communication protocols. Click here to download the white paper.
Conclusion: With our new trade show concept and our strong partner network, we were able to solidify our position further as the central platform for automation standards.
The next HANNOVER MESSE will take place from April 5 to 8, 2027, as the trade show has been shortened by one day. Spain is the partner country. Join us and take advantage of the opportunities offered by our partner booth.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all co-exhibitors, booth staff, and visitors!
Press & News
New Security Whitepaper
PROFIBUS & PROFINET International (PI) is presenting a new joint technical position paper on the secure use of industrial communication protocols. The document was developed as part of an international collaboration with the FieldComm Group, the ODVA, and the OPC Foundation.
The white paper “Secure Deployment of Industrial Communication Protocols – A Risk Management Based Approach” describes a practical, risk-based approach for the secure deployment of industrial protocols - including PROFINET, IO-Link, PROFIBUS, and other established technologies - in automation architectures.
Among other things, the document demonstrates how integrated security functions, e.g., from PROFINET, in combination with zones and conduit concepts, network segmentation, and organizational measures, make a significant contribution to the cyber resilience of industrial plants.
PNO Members' Assembly: Technology Updates and New Elections
On the first day of the Hannover Messe (April 20, 2026), the annual general meeting of the PROFIBUS User Organization e.V. (PNO) took place. In addition to the Executive Board’s report, the focus was on the elections for the Board of Directors and Advisory Board, which are held every three years.
The Board of Directors reported on the continued highly successful adoption of PI technologies based on node counts for the year 2025, current topics in technology development and organizational development, as well as completed and planned marketing activities. In addition, the financial figures for 2025 and the financial plan for 2026 were presented.
Particular emphasis was placed on the interaction between the various PI technologies as well as current developments. These included, among other things, an update on PROFINET and the new Version 2.5, an overview of IO-Link, and results from the security working groups and the APL/SPE project. Furthermore, progress on the omlox, SRCI, MTP, and NOA technologies was shared.
Changes to the bylaws and other association documents were also presented.
PROFINET Plugfest 2026: Strong Momentum Toward Secure Industrial Communication
The PROFINET community continues to drive progress toward secure industrial communication: At the third PROFINET Security Plugfest on March 24–25, 2026, at the technical university of applied sciences OTH Amberg-Weiden, organized by PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International) and aia automations institut GmbH, leading automation providers tested the latest security features.
The central focus was the Service eXchange Protocol (SXP), the foundation of PROFINET Security. Early SXP implementations at Layer 2 and Layer 3 demonstrated how the protocol enables secure and interoperable communication across various automation environments.
The Plugfest confirmed the high level of maturity of the new security technologies. This demonstrated stable AR establishment as well as device access via SXP across multiple manufacturers. Multi-controller scenarios, as well as Layer 2 and Layer 3 scenarios, also functioned reliably. Robust operation was also evident in shared-device and parallel-protocol configurations. Furthermore, immediately actionable technical insights were gained that contribute to further optimization.
Why Secure Industrial Communication Depends on Deployment as well as Protocols
The Industrial Security Harmonization Group (ISHG) has released a joint industry perspective highlighting a critical truth in industrial cybersecurity: secure communication is not determined by protocols alone, but by how they are deployed and managed in real-world environments.
The ISHG—comprising leading industry organizations including the FieldComm Group, ODVA, OPC Foundation, and PROFIBUS & PROFINET International—collaborates regularly to align security concepts across Ethernet and non-Ethernet communication protocol technologies. Their shared mission is to reduce complexity for end users and promote consistent, effective cybersecurity practices in industrial automation systems.
Industrial communication protocols serve as the backbone of modern automation, enabling seamless connectivity between devices, systems, and applications across both process and factory environments. However, many widely used protocols were originally developed without cybersecurity as a primary design consideration [...]
Call for...
...Papers - PROFINEWS 261
Deadline for stories: June 05, 2026
We would like to invite you to submit stories for the next issue of PROFINEWS. Please note that the deadline for issue 261 is June 05, 2026 and delivery will be two weeks later. Please send us your product news, short articles, company news, info and new solutions or application stories or your event reports only to editor(at)profinews(dot)com.
Stories may be submitted at any time and will be published in the next possible PROFINEWS. Stories may be shortened, reorganized or rewritten for publication.
For more information, please contact editor(at)profinews(dot)com.
Documents
Documents for Review
Test Specification for PROFINET
2.572; d2.5; April 2026
This document specifies the test and the certification procedures for PROFINET Devices, PROFINET Controllers and active network components. The specified components must undergo testing in accordance with the procedures detailed or referenced within this document for their conformance classes A, B, C, or E for getting a test report. With such a test report the manufacturer applies for the mandatory certificate.
It additionally provides the test specifications for PROFINET devices supporting multiple identities—where the assigned identity is determined upon initial AR establishment—as well as for devices that obtain their identity through the local application program.
The review period has been extended from 6 weeks to 3 months.
The review ends at July 17, 2026.
The PI-wide review will be conducted as a PDF review.
All CRs will be entered directly into the PDF as comments.
Documents for Download
TRIAL Bundle PROFIdrive Profile Tester
5.240; V6.1.0.0_12; April 2026
The PROFIdrive Profile Tester supports the development of PROFINET devices with PROFIdrive or ENCODER Profile application interfaces. It can be used as a tool for preparation of the PROFIdrive and ENCODER certification and also to run self-programmed test scripts.
V6.1 provides updated test scripts and the possibility to test the Encoder Profile V4.2 and PROFIdrive V4.2. Tests for the PROFIdrive on PROFIsafe Amendment are integrated as well.
For test automation, a full functional console application is supported.
This TRIAL Bundle PROFIdrive Profile Tester is not for official device certification! It is just for trial and providing feedback.
PROFINET TRIAL Testbundle
5.210; V2.46.3_RC; April 2026
The PROFINET TRIAL Test Bundle facilitates the development of PROFINET field devices and controllers. It features preliminary iterations of both current and prospective test systems, as well as test cases.
This TRIAL bundle introduces several enhancements:
• Netload Robustness 100Mbit/s testing (SL1T) on the Automated RT-Tester, with standard and faulty loads.
• An additional ETS image for the new ETS hardware.
Test cases employed by PITLs for PROFINET Certification are also included. Please note that these may offer expanded coverage or be subject to changes, such as corrections or improvements.
This bundle is not for official device certification! It is just for trial and providing feedback.
Secure Deployment of Industrial Communication Protocols: A Risk-Based Approach
8.402; V 1.00; April 2026
Industrial communication protocols are a foundational element of modern process and factory automation, enabling interoperability, real-time control, and efficient device integration. However, many widely deployed protocols were not originally designed with cybersecurity as a primary objective. Although standards development organizations have been steadily adding security functionality to these protocols, there are still many deployments of legacy protocols that lack built-in security mechanisms such as authentication, authorization, integrity, and confidentiality.
To address this challenge, FieldComm Group, ODVA, OPC Foundation, and PROFIBUS & PROFINET International have collaborated to establish a shared operational environment and architecture overview for industrial communication protocols in alignment with EN 40000-1-2.
JSON Integration for IO-Link
10.222; V2.0.0; March 2026
New use cases and requirements concerning the integration between modern IT systems and the production floor require new device interfaces. The connections today mainly focus on the integration of a device into fieldbuses and PLC systems. Cyclic data exchange and real time are the most important requirements for today field bus implementations. The techniques used are completely different than the ones used for the rest of the IT world. On the other hand, modern automation devices provide a way to communicate over TCP/IP networks beside the real time communication with the PLC over the field bus.
This document describes a device data model, objects and semantics for mapping on IT relevant connections or services.
IO-Link Product Quality Policy
10.132; V1.7; February 2026
This policy describes the necessary procedures on how to attain a manufacturer declaration for an IO-Link Master or Device and shall ensure the product quality.
Furthermore, it gives hints for the successful preparation of testing, steps to create a manufacturer declaration and for brand labelling.
RPA Chairmen, RPA/PICC/PITL/PITC staff receive this PI information automatically.
ACCESS RIGHTS: If somebody from your institution is missing from the distribution list, please send an e-mail to pi@profibus.com with the missing person's name, address details, e-mail address and indicate if he/she shall get access rights.
You can find all previous PI information in the ARCHIVE on www.profibus.com or www.profinet.com if you are logged in.
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