The Shift from PROFIBUS to PROFINET Driving Higher-Performance Cables
The migration from legacy fieldbus protocols to industrial Ethernet variants is accelerating, driving demand for higher-performance cables with improved shielding, flexibility, and data rate capabilities. This trend is particularly pronounced in the industrial automation and factory machinery segment, which accounts for approximately 35% of fieldbus cable consumption .
Protocol Migration Drivers:
PROFINET and EtherCAT offer higher bandwidth and lower latency
Increasing need for real-time data in smart manufacturing
Growing integration of IT and OT systems
Support for Power over Data Line (PoDL)
Cable Implications:
Higher shielding requirements for noise immunity
Greater demand for CAT5e and CAT6 performance levels
Increased specification of continuous-flex cables for robotic applications
Growing need for hybrid cables combining power and data transmission
Automation vendors including Siemens AG, Rockwell Automation, ABB Ltd, Schneider Electric, and Fanuc Corporation are key influencers in specifying industrial bus cable requirements
