Let’s count down the top five articles from last year. Scroll down for Number One… Drumroll please…
5. Beyond Silos: Expanding the Automation Frontier with SRCI
SRCI introduces standardized communication with robots. This includes standardized commands, data exchange, and services for operations like status reporting and error handling. This shared vocabulary empowers higher-level control systems (PLCs, MES, SCADA, edge applications) to communicate seamlessly and consistently with any SRCI-compliant robot. Engineers can focus on application logic, not translating robot dialects. This common language simplifies programming and integration, expanding the talent pool and reducing specialized expertise.
4. IO-Link Safety: The Next Logical Step in Industrial Communication
IO-Link is a worldwide standard for point-to-point communication between sensors, actuators, and controllers. With IO-Link Safety, the proven concept has been expanded to include certified safety-related communication on the same physical infrastructure and is certified by TÜV. IO-Link Safety is much more than a new protocol; it is a strategic enabler for the smart, safe factory of the future. Following the successful market launch of the first IO-Link Safety products, it is reasonable to assume that the number of safety nodes will grow as quickly as standard IO-Link devices. The technology is ready. Now, it’s up to us to implement and use it.
3. Achieving PROFINET Certification with the Community Stack: A Success Story
Accretech SBS’s successful implementation of PROFINET using the Community Stack demonstrates that community-supported solutions can meet the basic requirements for inclusion in the expansive PROFINET ecosystem. Can the PROFINET Community Stack also be utilized for expanded feature-sets, higher Conformance Classes, or different architectures? Absolutely, yes: it is capable of the full breadth of PROFINET features. Can this be achieved in a relatively short period or with limited developer resources? Absolutely not. But in the case of Accretech SBS, and for organizations with similar minimal requirements—single-port devices, Conformance Class A, and a willingness to invest in internal expertise—the PROFINET Community Stack presents a viable, cost-effective path to PROFINET certification.
2. PROFINET Sets Standards in Industrial Ethernet Security
A recent analysis by the market research institute Omdia confirms once again that PROFINET is the leading technology in the field of industrial Ethernet protocols. In addition to its widespread adoption, PROFINET is particularly convincing due to its consistent focus on security – a decisive factor in times of increasing networking and digital threats. With the publication of the latest PROFINET specification, PI is sending a strong message in favor of security by design. The new version contains comprehensive definitions for Security Classes 2 and 3, which are specifically tailored to the requirements of modern industrial systems. These security mechanisms ensure robust networks that are protected against both external attacks and inadequate access controls.
1. New Products
Our reigning champion from 2024 has retained their title for 2025! Yet again, the Number One article in every single issue is the New Products article. Count them all up and you get 75+ new products announced in PROFINEWS last year –and those are just the ones we know about. Countless more are released and slip past our eyes, but if you are a member of PI, you should include editor[AT]profinews[DOT]com in your product news press release distribution list. Let’s see if we can get to 100+ new product announcements in 2026!