Industrial Ethernet: fieldbus decline continues

HMS Networks presents its annual analysis of the industrial network market, focusing on new installed nodes within factory automation globally. As an independent supplier of solutions for industrial communication and the Industrial Internet of Things, HMS has a substantial insight into the industrial network market. The 2020 study includes estimated market shares for fieldbuses, industrial Ethernet, and Wireless. Estimated growth rates are not included this year, the reason being the unique general market conditions due to the Coronavirus situation.

Increased market share for industrial Ethernet, while fieldbuses continue to drop

In the study, HMS concludes that Industrial Ethernet continues to take market share from fieldbuses. Industrial Ethernet now makes up for 64% of the global market of new installed nodes in Factory Automation (compared to 59% last year). EtherNet/IP and PROFINET share first place at 17% market share each. EtherCAT continues to perform well globally at seven percent, and Modbus-TCP at five percent just passes Ethernet POWERLINK at four percent.

Fieldbus market shares continue to drop

HMS estimates a fieldbus decline to 30% of new installed nodes (compared to a 35% last year). PROFIBUS is still number one at eight percent, for the first time accounting for less than ten percent of the total industrial network market. Runners up are Modbus-RTU at five percent, followed by CC-Link at four percent.

Reflections on the market shares for industrial Ethernet and fieldbuses

Anders Hansson, Chief Marketing Officer at HMS Networks, said: “We expect the industrial network market to grow steadily during the coming years, but due to the unique Corona virus situation which is now affecting the general business conditions globally, we have chosen not to include growth numbers in our 2020 analysis, only market shares.

“So, only focusing on market shares this year, we see that Industrial Ethernet continues to drive industrial connectivity in factories, headed by EtherNet/IP and PROFINET with EtherCAT in third place.

“PROFIBUS is still the biggest fieldbus but has lost market share as the general decline for fieldbuses continues. Another interesting finding is that Modbus keeps doing well - both when it comes to fieldbus Modbus RTU as well as the Ethernet-based Modbus-TCP, indicating that factories do not refrain from using well-working technologies in their new installations just because they have been around for some time.”

Wireless stays stable, looking good for the future

Wireless technologies keep a six percent market share, with WLAN still being the most popular technology, followed by Bluetooth.

“Wireless keeps its market share on a growing market which is not bad, but we expect the Wireless share to increase over time,” added Hansson. “With all ongoing activities globally about wireless cellular technologies (e.g. Private LTE/5G networks) as enablers for next-level smart manufacturing, market demand will increase for wirelessly connected devices and machines to be included in the less cabled and flexible automation architectures of the future”.

Regional network variations

EtherNet/IP and PROFINET are leading in Europe and the Middle East with PROFIBUS and EtherCAT as runners up. Other popular networks are Modbus (RTU/TCP) and Ethernet POWERLINK. The US market is dominated by EtherNet/IP with EtherCAT gaining some market share.

PROFINET and EtherNet/IP lead a fragmented Asian market, followed by PROFIBUS, EtherCAT, Modbus (RTU/TCP), and CC-Link/CC-Link IE Field.