Mr. Rettig, what are the latest developments and trends in industrial communication?

The market is converging from the previous wide variety of communication technologies to just four systems: EtherCAT as an open solution for all controller manufacturers, and then the systems from the Siemens, Rockwell and Mitsubishi worlds. IO-Link can also be found underneath the bus systems, and OPC UA is increasingly being used for connectivity above the controllers. Some of the systems are trying to get to grips with their real-time deficits using TSN technologies and higher bit rates and are accepting a technological break in order to do so. EtherCAT, on the other hand, retains its familiar stability: extensions are always made in such a way that the existing variety of devices remains compatible. This also applies to EtherCAT G, which provides even more bandwidth for particularly data-hungry devices, while the robust 100 Mbit/s EtherCAT technology remains the first choice for most applications - and also retains the performance crown.

What role do real-time applications play in production today and what untapped opportunities do you see in them?

Many people only associate "real-time communication" with applications that have closed control loops: As is the case with motion control tasks, for example. However, a fast bus system together with powerful controllers - such as PC-based controllers - also leads to significantly shorter response times. This means that almost all applications can be accelerated because the many small waiting times for the switching conditions of the control programs are shortened. This potential is often underestimated. People often only look at the mechanics and consider them to be the limiting factor. However, 5% more throughput can quickly be achieved by replacing a normally fast bus system with a very fast one such as EtherCAT.

Is there any significant potential for retrofitting, for example of decentralized, networked drives or the subsequent construction of an edge structure?

Replacing central drives with decentralized drives at a later date only makes sense in exceptional cases. However, replacing an outdated controller and bus system with a powerful PC-based controller with EtherCAT can pay off very quickly. For example, a supplier of sorting systems has systematically converted its systems in the field to EtherCAT, thereby increasing sorting performance by almost 15 %. And connecting an existing machine or system to company networks or cloud-based solutions via an edge computer is now easier than ever: our compact IPCs with a high degree of protection can also be easily retrofitted outside the control cabinet. The data to be made available to the higher-level system can then be selected with just a few mouse clicks.