Industry 4.0 is of interest to everyone in the automation community and the customers who depend on them for innovative solutions. In general terms, Industry 4.0 is seen as the next big change in manufacturing to deliver efficiency and flexibility of manufacturing systems.

Industry 4.0’s success depends on information being able to flow seamlessly around a manufacturing process and beyond. For systems to offer optimum performance, this flow must be unimpeded and in real time. The level of data handled is expected  to grow exponentially, and the network must have sufficient bandwidth to grow. While there are many different industrial Ethernet technologies to choose from, only one can offer the widest bandwidth of all, and that is CC-Link IE.

CC-Link IE (Industrial Ethernet) was first introduced in 2007 and has since developed into the fastest growing industrial Ethernet technology available. The original drivers for its development were leading Asian industries such as automotive and flat panel display manufacturers. They had ever increasing needs to track large amounts of data in real time.

Automotive production lines have multiple models all being built at the same time on the same line with multiple variations in options, trim levels and so on. Being able to keep track of what parts go on what body for a whole production shift quickly becomes an extremely data intensive task with thousands of parts all needing to be available, correctly selected and installed in real time.

One feature of CC-Link IE that really sets it apart from all other networks is its gigabit performance. No other open Ethernet technology can offer a similar performance. For companies looking to take the capacity of their production lines to a level beyond that of the competition, only CC-Link IE equipped systems will outpace all other competing technologies.

On the other side of the industry, CC-Link IE also offers a clear opportunity for device makers looking to increase their business by offering new leading edge products. The CC-Link Partner Association (CLPA), the organization responsible for the development and promotion of CC-Link IE, has worked with leading development vendors across the world to ensure that there is a wide choice of different options available for companies who wish to build CC-Link IE connectivity into their products. Currently solutions are available from industry leading vendors.

CC-Link open network products are available from 999 Automation.