For manufacturers of intelligent devices, connecting them to an Industrial Ethernet (IE) is a challenge facing many companies who sell their products worldwide.  There are a number of IE protocols and they tend to be based on a regional basis.  In Europe PROFINET, in the Americas EtherNet/IP and in Japan and Asia the CC-Link IE gigabit network.  The CC-Link organisation has now simplified connectivity to CC-Link by introducing its Seamless Message Protocol (SLMP).

Reducing cost and time to market

Simplicity is the advantage of developing CC-Link IE compatible products using SLMP, offering a short development cycle and lower cost. Traditional new product development programmes require the development of both hardware and software. SLMP does away with the hardware development completely by allowing the simple adaption of existing devices. Compliance testing is also minimised as with SLMP, only the software functions need to be tested, significantly reducing cost and time to market.

Connects almost any Ethernet-compatible device

SLMP can be used with any Ethernet-compatible device including barcode readers, RFID scanners, sensors, checkweighers, etc., and communicates over a standard Ethernet physical layer network. The key benefit of SLMP is that it provides a way for virtually any Ethernet based device to connect to a CC-Link IE network without the need for hardware development or gigabit performance. It is a simple client/server protocol and easily implemented into firmware for 100Mbit devices. The devices then easily connect to the CC-Link IE network via an Ethernet adapter.

Open access to CC-Link protocol

This opens up CC-Link IE to the full range of device manufacturers, regardless of whether or not their devices support its unique industry leading gigabit performance. With SLMP every Ethernet device has the potential to be connected to a CC-Link IE network. This includes HMI, PLCs, drives, printers, timers and sensors and almost any device that can support Ethernet and is used on a control network. Since CC-Link IE and SLMP are open technologies, the technical specifications of both are freely available to companies who join the CC-Link Partner Association (CLPA).

The potential according to CLPA Europe is enormous. “Any product with Ethernet connectivity can be integrated into a CC-Link IE network. Device manufacturers can make their whole product range compatible with CC-Link IE at a stroke, while systems integrators and end users can add any device they like to their networks.”

Go to 999 Automation for more CC-Link compatible products