Industrial network market shares 2016 according to HMS

HMS Industrial Networks now presents their annual analysis of the industrial network market. As an independent supplier of products and services for industrial communication and the Internet of Things, HMS has a substantial insight into the industrial network market. Here are some of the trends they see within industrial communication in 2016.

Looking at new installed nodes within factory automation globally, fieldbuses are still the most widely used type of networks with 58 per cent of the market. Fieldbuses are still growing by approximately 7 per cent per year as users ask for simplicity, tradition and reliability. The dominant fieldbus is PROFIBUS (17 per cent of the total world market including industrial Ethernet) followed by Modbus (7 per cent), and CC-Link (6 per cent).

According to HMS, industrial Ethernet is growing faster than previous years and taking more market shares. At a growth rate of 20 per cent, Ethernet now makes up for 38 per cent of the global market compared with 34 per cent last year. EtherNet/IP is the number one Ethernet network with 9 per cent followed by PROFINET (8 per cent). Runners-up are EtherCAT, Modbus-TCP and Ethernet POWERLINK. Anders Hansson, Marketing Director at HMS says: "We see evidence of an accelerated transition towards industrial Ethernet when it comes to new installed nodes. However, industrial automation is a conservative market and it will take time before industrial Ethernet outgrows fieldbuses."

For the first time, wireless technologies are on the chart with 4 per cent of the worldwide industrial network market. WLAN is most popular, followed by Bluetooth. Anders Hansson says: "We see the Internet of Things as a big driver for wireless technologies. Wireless opens up for new automation architectures and is increasingly being considered for machine connectivity and control, including Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) solutions via tablets or smartphones."

Regional facts

In Europe and the Middle East, PROFIBUS is the leading network while PROFINET has the fastest growth rate. Runners up are EtherCAT, Modbus-TCP and POWERLINK. The US market is dominated by the CIP networks where EtherNet/IP is overtaking DeviceNet in terms of market shares. In Asia, no network stands out as market-leaders - PROFIBUS, PROFINET, Ethernet/IP, Modbus and CC-Link are widely used. EtherCAT continues to establish itself as a significant network, and there are early signs of CC-Link IE Field being adopted.

Anders Hansson says: "The presented figures represent our consolidated view, taking into account insights from colleagues in the industry, our own sales statistics and overall perception of the market. It is interesting to see that industrial Ethernet is now growing faster and that wireless technologies are gaining foothold. What is completely clear, however, is that the network market remains fragmented as customers continue to ask for connectivity to fieldbus, industrial Ethernet as well as wireless networks. All in all, industrial devices are getting increasingly connected, boosted by trends such as Industrial Internet of Things and Industry 4.0. With our long-term motto "Connecting Devices', HMS is well-suited to grow with these trends."

For more information about Industrial Ethernet please visit www.anybus.com.