Expanding standards: China adopts ControlNet

By Control Engineering Staff November 28, 2006

Ann Arbor, MIThe National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of the People’s Republic of China has adopted ControlNet as part of a machinery industry standard. The move expands the use of CIP networks in China’s manufacturing industry. The standard takes effect Feb. 1, 2007.

‘ControlNet is attractive to industry in China for many types of automation applications,’ said Chun Biao Zhu, China manager for global standards and trade at Rockwell Automation, adding that, ‘The acceptance of both EtherNet/IP and ControlNet as standards in China will continue to drive increases in the adoption of CIP networks in a diversity of industries and infrastructure projects.’

ControlNet is part of the family of networks built on the common industrial protocol (CIP). EtherNet/IP is also a member of the CIP network family. It was also recently approved by the NDRC as part of the China machinery industry standard and is recognized under the Chinese standard JB/T 10308.2-2006: ‘Digital data communication for measurement and control—Fieldbus for use in industrial control systems.’ The two open networking technologies join DeviceNet, the first member of CIP network family to obtain approval as a standard in China. DeviceNet is part of the first Chinese national standard to encompass fieldbus technology, GB/T 18858: ‘Low voltage switchgear and controlgear controller-device interface.’

The Chinese economy reportedly has the world’s fourth largest gross domestic product and is growing at more than 9% a year. Nearly every major industry has a presence in China today, says ControlNet International, the association for ControlNet networking technology, with the production growth rate across these industries reportedly averaging around 29% a year.

For more recent news about growth in the region, read ‘ Singapore touts manufacturing advantages, Asia trends .’

—Control Engineering Daily News Desk
Jeanine Katzel , senior editor