Posted to News on 18th Dec 2011, 15:47
CLPA celebrates 10th anniversary of CC-Link
November 2010 is CC-Link's 10th anniversary. Over the last decade CC-Link has become a global favourite as a high-speed, highly robust, open network, with a rapidly growing market share in all regions. Marking this increased presence, and heralding a new identity as 'The Non-Stop Open Network' in recognition of CC-Link's high availability, the CC-Link Partner Association has its largest ever stand at the 2010 SPS/IPC/Drives Fair, with displays from many partner companies, including Weidmuller, HMS Industrial Networks, Hilscher and Mitsubishi Electric.
Weidmuller, a leading international provider of products for electrical connectivity, transmission and conditioning of power, signal and data in industrial environments, supports CC-Link IE connection technology with its robust and high-speed connectivity products for up to 1Gigabit Ethernet.
The Industrial Ethernet passive network infrastructure portfolio is an application-focused range of industrial connectivity products for Ethernet communication. It offers a broad range of products for Industrial Ethernet connectivity, combined with the a high standard of service, piloted by the latest technology. IE passive provides a range of RJ45, M12 and fibre- optic connectors, as well as customised and moulded cordsets with these interfaces.
HMS Industrial Networks is presenting an embedded gigabit Ethernet interface module for CC-Link IE Field level - the Anybus-S for CC-Link IE Field level. The different CC-Link protocols are fundamental for the Asian and Japanese market - and supporting these networks is a core part of the Anybus product strategy offering flexible, proven and trusted systems for CC-Link and other major networks.
Hilscher will be displaying its netX Network Evaluation Board NXEB 100-NET. This conformance-tested device supports both CC-Link Remote Device and Remote I/O capabilities and integrates multiple capabilities including two Ethernet channels. For companies looking to develop CC-Link devices, Hilscher also offers its netX Design Service for implementing a CC-Link interface at fixed time and cost.
Mitsubishi Electric, a global leader in automation technology with a comprehensive portfolio of products across a wide array of industries and applications, is a key supporter of the CC-Link network architecture. Mitsubishi Electric offers comprehensive connectivity as a core feature of all its automation product lines.
CC-Link is offered in fieldbus, bit-bus, safety and industrial Ethernet variants. Originated by the global automation business of Mitsubishi Electric, CC-Link is said to be the de-facto standard for automation networks in Asia. And with its rapidly increasing acceptance worldwide, CC-Link is claimed to be unrivalled for global manufacturers looking to implement a single networking standard across multiple sites in multiple regions. As a result it is the network standard for many of the world's best known multinational industrial corporations.
CC-Link is claimed to have many performance and availability advantages that make it an excellent choice for today's automated systems. It is a proven, robust and reliable technology that meets critical communications requirements in challenging industrial environments. This capability has seen CC-Link's globally installed base rise to over 7million nodes, with an annual growth rate of around 1million nodes.
CLPA numbers over 1300 partner companies among its members, over 200 of which have developed compatible products, giving users access to well over 1000 best-of-breed network devices.
As well as making a compelling case as the network of choice in critical installations, CC-Link is also a good standard for western companies looking to create business opportunities in Asia, where many customers want and expect CC-Link as the embedded communications protocol. Building CC-Link into products, control systems and machinery destined for the Asian market is one of the best ways to exploit opportunities in the region. CLPA is actively helping European device manufacturers and OEMs enter Eastern markets through its Gateway to Asia (G2A) programme, which provides assistance with the integration of CC-Link network technology into products and systems, and can even provide marketing support via CLPA branches throughout the region.
Visitors to the SPS/IPC/Drives Fair can learn more about the benefits of CC-Link technology by visiting the CC-Link Partner Association in Hall 6, stand number 6-435.
