PROFIBUS Overview

For many years, PROFIBUS development has continued with undiminished enthusiasm and energy. PROFIBUS ist the world market leader in fieldbus systems, and standardized in IEC 61158 and IEC 61784. Current PROFIBUS activities are targeted at system integration, PROFIBUS engineering development and application profiles. Because of these application profiles PROFIBUS today is the only fieldbus that provides robust engineering solutions for both factory and process automation.

PROFIBUS in Factory Automation
PROFIBUS in Factory Automation PROFIBUS Automation Technology provides rich benefits for almost any application in Factory Automation. More than 2.500 PROFIBUS-compliant products are available from which you can select best-in-class devices to suit your individual needs, with alternative sources usually available.

PROFIBUS in Process Automation
PROFIBUS is also tailored to Process Automation Requirements. It is of modular design and comprises the communication protocol PROFIBUS DP, different transmission technologies, numerous application profiles and structured device integration tools. Typical 'PROFIBUS PA Applications' are formed by combining modules suited for or required by the respective applications.

PROFIBUS and Motion Control
The demands of motion control propelled the implementation of functionalities like 'clock cycle synchronisation' or 'slave-to-slave communication'. Decentralised drive applications can be realized economically by means of intelligent drives, since PROFIBUS now also permits the highly dynamic distribution of the technological signals among the drives.

PROFIBUS and Safety
PROFIBUS is the very first fieldbus in merging standard automation and safety automation in one technology, running on the same bus, using the same communication mechanisms, and thus providing highest efficiency to the user. This supports simple and cost effective installation and operation.