Each year, HMS Networks presents its analysis of the industrial network market, focusing on new installed nodes within factory automation globally. The 2023 study includes estimated market shares and growth rates for fieldbuses, Industrial Ethernet and wireless technologies.
Growing by 10%, Industrial Ethernet now makes up for 68% of the global market of new installed nodes in factory automation (compared to 66% last year). The battle between Profinet and EtherNet/IP continues as they lead the 2023 network rankings with 18% market share each, but EtherCAT also continues to grow strongly and is now in an unthreatened third place at 12% market share.
Last year’s growth for Fieldbuses was temporary as new fieldbus installations decline with -5% in 2023. Profitbus leads the fieldbus rankings with 6% market share, but not with much as Modbus-RTU is close behind at 5%.
Together, fieldbuses account for 24% of the market in 2023. Although the number of new fieldbus nodes are declining, a lot of devices, machines and factories will still be relying on the well-functioning and proven fieldbuses for many years to come.
The Wireless growth accelerates to +22% in 2023, as more wireless industrial networking solutions are introduced in factory automation. Typical use cases include cable replacement applications, wireless machine access and connectivity to mobile industrial equipment.
Magnus Jansson, product marketing director at HMS Networks business unit Anybus, said: “Solid industrial network connectivity is key to achieve the manufacturing uptime which is needed to reach productivity and sustainability objectives in factory automation. Quality, security, safety, and gaining insights through device and machine data, are key drivers we see for the continued expansion of industrial networking.”
EtherNet/IP, Profinet and EtherCAT are leading in Europe and the Middle East with Profibus and Modbus-TCP as runners up. The US market is dominated by EtherNet/IP with EtherCAT developing strongly and gaining market share. Profinet leads the Asian market, followed by EtherNet/IP and strong contenders CC-Link/CC-Link IE Field, EtherCAT, Profibus and Modbus (RTU/TCP).