HMS Networks has conducted a study and the results show a predicted 7% growth in the industrial network market 2023. The study analyzed newly installed nodes within factory automation worldwide, focusing on field buses, Industrial Ethernet, and wireless technologies.
Industrial Ethernet continues to dominate the market, with a 10% growth rate, accounting for 68% of all new installed nodes in factory automation. EtherNet/IP and PROFINET are in a close battle for the top spot, both with an 18% market share, followed by EtherCAT at 12%. On the other hand, fieldbuses are declining, with a -5% decrease in new installations this year. PROFIBUS leads the fieldbus rankings with 6% market share, closely followed by Modbus-RTU at 5%. Despite the decline, fieldbuses still make up 24% of the market, and many factories and devices continue to rely on them.
Wireless technologies, on the other hand, are growing rapidly, with a 22% increase in new installations in 2023. The rise of wireless industrial networking solutions, especially in cable replacement and machine access, drives this trend. Magnus Jansson, Product Marketing Director at HMS Networks, emphasized the importance of solid industrial network connectivity. This is crucial for achieving manufacturing uptime, productivity, and sustainability objectives. He also pointed out that quality, security, and safety are key drivers for the continued expansion of industrial networking. Gaining insights through device and machine data is also an important factor.
Europe and the Middle East show EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, and EtherCAT as leading regional variations, with PROFIBUS and Modbus-TCP following closely. The US market is dominated by EtherNet/IP, while PROFINET leads a fragmented Asian market. EtherNet/IP, CC-Link/CC-Link IE Field, EtherCAT, PROFIBUS, and Modbus (RTU/TCP) follow this order.
