Announcement expands adoption of EtherNet/IP in new markets and applications.

ODVA has announced that EtherNet/IP has been adopted by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of the People's Republic of China as a machinery industry standard for the People's Republic of China. This adoption will spur continued growth of this open industrial network's installed base - already exceeding 1 million nodes worldwide, and a projected growth in the double digit rates. EtherNet/IP is one of the most widely accepted network standards in the industrial arena, including approval from such organisations as the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the corresponding European standards.

'This action, by one the world's leading technology countries, affirms the confidence that both industry and governments have placed in this proven network technology,' said Katherine Voss, executive director of ODVA.

'EtherNet/IP is a future-proof solution for automation applications'.

The Chinese economy is world's fourth largest in terms of gross domestic product, and is growing at more than 9 percent per year.

Nearly every major industry has a presence in China today.

The production growth rate across these industries currently averages around 29 percent per year.

ODVA's membership includes numerous multi-national companies with significant and expanding operations in China including Cisco Systems, Eaton Electrical, Omron and Rockwell Automation.

'Industry in China has expressed strong interest in EtherNet/IP for many automation applications,' states Cai Zhongyong, manager of ODVA activities in China.

'With the addition of EtherNet/IP and ControlNet as accepted standards in China, we will see adoption of CIP Networks continue to expand, EtherNet/IP in particular, throughout a wide variety of industries and include not only manufacturing but also process industries and infrastructure projects'.

EtherNet/IP is one of the network technologies that comprise the family of networks built on the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP).

The machinery industry standard for EtherNet/IP in China is recognised under the Chinese standard JB/T 10308.2-2006: Digital data communication for measurement and control - Fieldbus for use in industrial control systems.

ControlNet, another member of the family of CIP Networks, was also approved by the NDRC as a part of the China machinery industry standard.

These two open networking technologies join DeviceNet, the first member of the family of CIP Networks to obtain approval as a standard in China, when the devicenet technology was made part of the first Chinese national standard to encompass fieldbus technology - GB/T 18858: 'Low Voltage Switchgear and Controlgear Controller-Device Interface'.

'Standard unmodified Ethernet and Internet technologies will play a critical role in achieving continuous productivity improvement in automation applications and for integrating those applications with the enterprise,' said Voss.

'Approval of EtherNet/IP as an industry standard by the People's Republic of China will provide vendors and users with the assurance that an investment in EtherNet/IP will provide positive returns in today's global economy'.