Stop by the PI booth in the new Hall 27 at the Hannover Messe! Meet you there!
Standards make life easier – this applies to everyday life as well as to industrial communication. Anyone who has ever experienced how tedious it is when measuring devices, connectors, or protocols don’t fit together knows how crucial uniform rules are. This is precisely where PI has been focusing its efforts for decades, consistently driving standardization forward in automation. What once began with PROFIBUS now encompasses a broad spectrum: from PROFINET and IO-Link to safety and security topics, all the way to wireless communication issues.
The Road to Standardization
Admittedly, working on standards, guidelines, and test cases isn’t among the most glamorous tasks in the industry. Moreover, it takes patience for an idea to become an established standard. But without this often-invisible foundation: innovations, technological advancements, and reliable solutions would simply not be possible. A key success factor is open discourse. In standardization processes, different perspectives come together; many stakeholders from various companies contribute their expertise and critically examine developments. The challenge lies in setting the right course early on. The fundamental decisions for standardization are made very early, which is why timing and close coordination among all involved parties are essential. For this, technology trends must be identified in a timely manner, user requirements must be considered, and feedback must be taken seriously. Only based on a stable technological foundation does the actual standardization process begin, leading to robust solutions through numerous working groups, review and certification procedures, and in close cooperation with partner organizations such as the OPC Foundation or NAMUR. One visible result is the new PROFINET specification V2.5. This includes crucial developments for industrial communication in the age of Industry 4.0. These include enhanced security features, flexibility regarding the transport channel, and seamless, scalable networking from the sensor to the cloud.
Cybersecurity Front and Center
To ensure secure communication, security has been and remains a key focus of our work. With the new PROFINET specification version 2.5, a scalable security approach has been integrated that addresses modern protection requirements. With Security-on-Board, we create trust and reduce effort – a clear advantage for users, manufacturers, and integrators alike. For IO-Link, we provide manufacturers and users with guidelines. Ultimately, this also pays off economically.
Join the Dialogue
PI remains a driving force for innovation and standardization. Technologies such as MTP and NOA have now found a home under the PI umbrella, as have the Standardized Robot Command Interface SRCI and the location-tracking technology omlox for indoor/outdoor positioning. The portfolio has not grown by chance but is proof that PI’s approach to standards development is sustainable. Special thanks go to the dedicated community of manufacturers, users, and experts. Dialogue, whether at trade fairs, PI events, or in working groups, remains central, because personal contacts are and will remain the foundation for successful collaboration. Therefore, we cordially invite you to participate in the anything-but-boring task of standardization. Why not stop by the PI booth in the new Hall 27 at the Hannover Messe and become part of our active community!
Xaver Schmidt