Will we ever see ‘one network to rule them all’? Perhaps. It certainly would be an elegant solution. But it begs the question: would it be practical? So, perhaps not. In the meantime we’re beginning to combine technologies to solve unique use-cases.

The PI Konferenz in Germany welcomes everyone interested in digitalization with respect to industry! Join us at the House of Logistics and Mobility (HOLM) in Frankfurt / Main, Germany on March 22-23, 2023.

Join us for two great technology workshops – one for IO-Link and one for omlox. The IO-Link Workshop is a one-day training session in Detroit, MI, USA; and the omlox Workshop is online. Get the details here.

At this year’s Hanover Fair, PI will be exhibiting its innovations at an impressive joint booth in Hall 9, Stand D68. Once again, a large number of technology demos on the current topics of PROFINET over TSN, PROFIsafe, OPC UA Safety, IO-Link Safety, and omlox will be displayed.

New IO-Link products this month include: proximity sensors from Carlo Gavazzi; incremental encoders from Baumer; pressure transmitters from Trafag; and vibration/temperature sensors from Turck.

Work on IO-Link Safety has progressed, and the relevant specifications are now complete; first devices will follow shortly. On May 9–11, 2023, in cooperation with TÜV-SÜD, the IO-Link Community will offer a training to become an IO-Link Safety Certified Designer.

Read about how and why PROFINET is a critical industrial communication technology for the digital transformation in the first of this two part series. Hint: it’s about future-proofing: by enabling coexistence through a single network infrastructure.

To attain the goal of completely seamless industrial networking, Ethernet standards needed to evolve. One such advancement has been SPE (Single Pair Ethernet). It is now allowing Ethernet to be better optimized for edge-based usage.