The number of industrial devices connected to industrial networks continues to rise. HMS expects the number of new nodes to increase by around 10% in 2019. Industrial Ethernet is therefore growing by 20% (previous year: 22%) and now accounts for 59% of newly installed nodes (previous year: 52%), while fieldbuses account for 35% (previous year: 42%). At 15%, EtherNet/IP is still the most common network, closely followed by Profinet at 14%. Ethercat is also widespread with a market share of 7%, Ethernet Powerlink with 5% and Modbus-TCP with 4%, all of which are showing stable growth. Wireless technologies continue to develop strongly and account for 6% of the market (previous year: 6%).

The study includes HMS estimates for 2019 based on newly installed nodes in the factory automation sector in 2018. A node is defined as a machine or device that is connected to an industrial network. The figures are a consolidated view of HMS based on its own sales statistics, the insights of colleagues in the industry and the overall perception of the market.

Industrial Ethernet vs. fieldbuses - an assessment

"The transition to Industrial Ethernet is continuing. The main drivers for this are that users need high performance on the one hand and want to connect factory installations with IT systems or IIoT applications on the other," says Thilo Döring, Managing Director of HMS in Germany. "For the first time, we are observing that traditional fieldbuses are declining in terms of new installed nodes. In Industrial Ethernet, we are seeing good growth in many networks - both in the established networks such as EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, EtherCAT, POWERLINK and Modbus-TCP and in the networks that we have grouped together in the 'Other Ethernet' category. This fragmented Ethernet picture is very interesting. It shows that Industrial Ethernet was never standardized into a single network - something many predicted back in the 1990s when Ethernet-based networks emerged. As with fieldbuses, which network is most suitable in each case depends on the industrial application, among other things."

Wireless technologies continue to gain ground

According to HMS, wireless technologies recorded growth of 30% (previous year: 32%). WLAN is the most widespread wireless technology, followed by Bluetooth. "Wireless is increasingly being used by machine builders and system integrators to implement innovative automation architectures. Users can reduce cabling costs and implement new solutions for connectivity and control," says Thilo Döring and adds: "We are also seeing increasing activity around mobile technologies worldwide - for example private LTE/5G networks - which can pave the way for smart and even more flexible production in factories."

Regional differences

EtherNet/IP and Profinet are leading in Europe and the Middle East. Profibus is also still widely used there. Ethercat and Ethernet Powerlink are also frequently used. The US market is dominated by CIP networks, with a clear shift towards EtherNet/IP. Ethercat continues to gain market share there. In Asia, no network is the market leader, but Profinet, EtherNet/IP, Profibus, Ethercat, Modbus and CC-Link are widely used. The Ethernet version CC-Link IE Field also continues to gain in importance.