ETG News

embedded world 2010

02/10 | Visit the ETG Info Booth at the embedded world 2010, taking place March 2-4 in Nuremberg, Germany. You will find us in Hall 9, Booth #331.
Please inform yourself about the latest technology and product updates as well as ETG developments. Take the chance to speak with EtherCAT experts discussing your project or implementation question. Please ask for an appointment by sending an email to info@ethercat.org.

9th European EtherCAT Plug Fest announced

02/10 | We invite and encourage all manufacturers of EtherCAT Devices, Code and Tools to participate in the 9th European EtherCAT Plug Fest taking place March 18th and 19th in Herzogenaurach, Germany, at facilities provided by ETG member company VIPA.
Test the interoperability of your device(s) with other EtherCAT master and/or slave implementations! EtherCAT experts from the ETG will be present and support the Plug Fest. They can give useful hints for technical implementation and handling of the EtherCAT devices.
Detailed information and registration form can be found here.

Industrial Ethernet Seminar Series in Norway

01/10 | The ETG offers Industrial Ethernet / EtherCAT Seminars taking place in Horten, Stavanger and Trondheim on February 9-11, 2010. Next to a comprehensive overview of existing Industrial Ethernet solutions, the seminars will help you to understand the EtherCAT Technology and how it can enhance your application!
End users as well as device vendors and system integrators are addressed to join the seminars. Participation is free of charge and you are cordially invited!
Further seminar details and online registration is available here.
Please register as soon as possible, because the number of seats are limited.

EtherCAT also for factory automation

01/10 | EtherCAT is a well-established technology for machine level control networks. Now ETG has also put a focus on the factory network, enhancing the EtherCAT specification by defining services for the supervisory control level. As a result, EtherCAT will also comprise the Ethernet communication between control systems, as well as to the supervisory systems. The new EtherCAT Automation Protocol (EAP) simplifies the direct access of process data from field devices at the sensor / actuator level and also supports the integration of wireless devices.
For the factory level, the base protocols for process data communication have been part of the EtherCAT specification from the very beginning. Now they were enhanced with services for the parameter communication between control systems and for routing across system boundaries. Uniform diagnostic and configuration interfaces are also part of the EAP. It can be used in switch-based Ethernet topologies as well as via wireless Ethernet. Process data is communicated like network variables, either cyclically or event-driven. Both the classic EtherCAT Device Protocol, which utilizes the special EtherCAT functional principle of "processing on the fly", and the new EAP make use of the same data structures and facilitate vertical integration to supervisory control systems and networked controllers.
Since EAP mainly uses already available protocols and services, for example, those already implemented in many EtherCAT control systems for access to field devices from outside via TCP/IP, it is a fully compatible enhancement of the standard. While EAP handles the communication in the millisecond range on the process control level and between control systems, the EtherCAT Device Protocol handles I/O and motion control communication in the field level in the microsecond range.
Development of the EtherCAT Automation Protocol was kicked off in March 2009. The corresponding ETG working group plans to publish the specification in short time.
Further Information about EAP can be found in this publication

SPS/IPC/DRIVES 2009

11/09 | EtherCAT will be well represented and very active at SPS/IPC/DRIVES 2009, the leading European exhibition for electric automation technology, which takes place Nov 24-26 in Nuremberg, Germany. You will find us at our Joint Booth (Hall 6-208). Furthermore, there will be EtherCAT Presentations at the Conference, the ETG Press Conference and the annual ETG Membership Assembly.
ETG Joint Booth: Please visit the joint EtherCAT booth in Hall 6-208 (at the same location as last year), where 52 member companies show over 200 different EtherCAT Products, including 17 different masters using 10 different operating systems controlling I/O terminals. The range of products also includes servo drives, frequency converts, I/Os, pneumatic and hydraulic valves, encoder, sensors, gateways, as well as implementation kits for slave devices, tools and Safety over EtherCAT solutions. A highlight will be the enhanced Multi-Axis presenter, showing 30 synchronized servo drives within one EtherCAT network. The EtherCAT Automation Protocol will be introduced. Several manufacturers will demonstrate Master-Master communication, Redundancy as well as devices with Power over EtherCAT in live applications.
EtherCAT Presentations: ETG and Beckhoff Automation present two presentations at the SPS/IPC/DRIVES Congress on Tuesday, Nov 24th. Please read more at the tradeshow conference.
ETG Press Conference & ETG Membership Assembly: Details are available within the member area.

Industrial Ethernet Seminar Series in India

10/09 | The ETG offers Industrial Ethernet / EtherCAT Seminars taking place in Achmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune and Mumbai on November 2‐6, 2009.

Learn about the benefits and the challenges of Industrial Ethernet. Come, explore and understand the EtherCAT Technology & see how it can help your application! These seminars specifically address end users as well as device vendors and system integrators to learn about EtherCAT technology and other Industrial Ethernet technologies.

Participation is free of charge & you are cordially invited!
Further seminar details and online registration is available here.

Please register online as soon as possible, because the number of seats are limited.

Well attended 8th European EtherCAT Plug Fest

10/09 | 37 participants attended the 8th European EtherCAT Plug Fest, hosted by STÖBER Antriebstechnik in Pforzheim, Germany on October 1-2, 2009. At this well established and also well attended EtherCAT Plug Fest, 8 different master implementations were tested with the slave variety of 15 different vendors. All slave devices were operated individually and in groups with all master devices. In addition, the devices were checked with the official EtherCAT Conformance Test Tool.
The next European Plug Fest will be hosted by ETG member company VIPA on March 18-19, 2010. Further details will be published in the Event section soon.

Great success with 1st North American EtherCAT Plug Fest

09/09 | The first North American EtherCAT Plug Fest was well attended with over 20 people from 11 ETG member companies. At this Plug Fest four new master implementations were tested with the slave device variety of 8 different vendors. The main goal of this event, which was hosted by National Instruments in Austin, Texas, was to check interoperability of EtherCAT implementations.
Please find the full article as press release and additional pictures from the event here.

Industrial Ethernet Seminar Series in Taiwan

08/09 | September 15-18 ETG hosts Industrial Ethernet / EtherCAT seminars in Taipei, Tainan and Taichung. These seminars address the needs of system integrators and machine builders in Taiwan.
Details and registration form can be found here.

Japanese EtherCAT Test Center fully operational

09/09 | As of September 1st the Japanese EtherCAT Test Center (ETC), operated in Kyoto by ASTEM, is fully operational and can serve the Japanese as well as the overall Asian EtherCAT community. The European ETC, operated by Beckhoff Automation GmbH in Nuremberg, Germany, has been providing Conformance Testing for ETG members since end of 2008.
Please find more information about conformance and contact details of the ETCs within the Conformance Section.

8th European EtherCAT Plug Fest announced

08/09 | The 8th European EtherCAT Plug Fest will take place in Pforzheim, Germany, on October 1/2, 2009. The interoperability meeting will be hosted by STÖBER Antriebstechnik. At the Plug Fest both master and slave devices are interoperability tested in various configurations. Thus we invite and encourage all manufacturers of EtherCAT Devices, Codes and Tools to participate. The meeting also serves as forum for developers. ETG experts will attend the Plug Fest to ensure qualified feedback and provide technical backup.
Details and registration form for ETG members can be found here.

1st North American EtherCAT Plug Fest hosted by NI

07/09 | We invite and encourage all manufacturers of EtherCAT Devices, Code and Tools to participate in the 1st North American EtherCAT Plug Fest taking place September 2nd and 3rd in Austin, Texas, at facilities provided by ETG member company, National Instruments (NI). The goal of this developers’ event is to perform interoperability tests.
This is a special offer for manufacturers in North America to test the interoperability of their devices with other EtherCAT master and/or slave implementations. EtherCAT experts will be present and support the PlugFest. They can give useful hints for technical implementation and handling of the EtherCAT devices.
Further information and registration form for ETG members can be found here. Please register as soon as possible!

ETG opens new Conformance Test Center in Japan

07/09 | To best serve the large number of EtherCAT device vendors in Japan, the EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG) has opened the first EtherCAT Test Center (ETC) outside of Europe in Kyoto, Japan. This new ETC is operated by the Advanced Scientific Technology & Management Research Institute of KYOTO (ASTEM RI). The Kyoto Test Center will be fully operational in a few weeks from now, serving the Japanese as well as the overall Asian EtherCAT community.
Please read the full article and see pictures in the press release section.

Full house at ETG Member Meeting Japan

06/09 | Three weeks before the ETG member meeting Japan on July 7th already over 100 people registered for the event, which will provide an update of the EtherCAT technology, application presentations from Japan and also an overview of EtherCAT applications worldwide. This information and networking event is held annually, this year for the first time in the new, conveniently located Akihabara UDX conference center. In the last years the event was well attended, too, reflecting the enormous interest of the Japanese automation industry in EtherCAT. Details and the registration form can be found here.

US membership exceeds 100

06/09 | Shortly after exceeding the 1000 member mark, ETG membership reached another milestone: there are now more than 100 member companies from the United States of America. After Germany, the US provides the second largest ETG member community, closely followed by Japan and China/Taiwan. Since member 1000 was reached, ETG experiences an ongoing strong interest in its membership: the last month has seen an average of two new members every business day.

EtherCAT in Measurement Systems

05/09 | Encountered by many as the upcoming de facto standard for measurement systems, EtherCAT is quickly expanding in this industry, too. The decision of BMW, Volvo, Airbus and others for EtherCAT in test stand applications has further boosted the acceptance among the test and measurement suppliers. Consequently ETG exhibited at the Sensor & Test Exhibition in Nuremberg, Germany in May. Besides generic EtherCAT Technology displays and demonstrators also EtherCAT based measurement systems by HBM, imc Messsysteme, National Instruments, Stiegele Datensysteme, and Vector Informatik were shown.

Large audience at ETG Seminars in India

05/09 | Although aimed at ETG member companies only, the recent seminar series was very well received: more than 150 registered attendants mark India’s interest in the EtherCAT Technology. The seminars in New Delhi, Bangalore and Pune covered a detailed technology introduction as well as an EtherCAT application overview. In India, EtherCAT is already used in a large variety of applications such as packaging machines, automotive test beds, wind turbines and semiconductor manufacturing equipment. ETG plans to hold another seminar series in India in October, this time focusing on end users.

Historic Milestone for EtherCAT Technology Group: the 1000th Member

04/09 | With 1000 member companies joining in just over 5 years, the EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG) is undoubtedly a dynamic organization powered by rapid growth. The 1000th member of the ETG is Multivac, a world leader in packaging machine technology with its headquarters in Bavaria, Germany. Details can be found in the press release section.

EtherCAT Seminar Series and Evaluation Kit Workshops in North America

04/09 | On May 13th+14th as well as May 18th+19th there will be EtherCAT seminars and Evaluation Kit workshops in North America. Invited are end users as well as device vendors that want to learn about EtherCAT technology. The EtherCAT implementation seminars take place in San Jose and Chicago. Details and registration form are found in the event section.

Industrial Ethernet Seminar Series in India

04/09 | In May, ETG hosts Industrial Ethernet / EtherCAT seminars in New Delhi, Bangalore and Pune. These seminars specifically address the needs of ETG members and their distributors in India, who may have EtherCAT or other Industrial Ethernet products either available or coming up, and who want to be prepared so that they can talk to their customers about it. Details can be found here.

Call for Experts: Technical Committee starts new Working groups

04/09 | The Technical Committee (TC) established several Working Groups (WG) on the last Meeting on March, 18th 2009. These Working Groups have the goal to enhance the EtherCAT Technology and to improve the conformity. The TC asks the ETG members to join the Working Groups and send Experts for an active work within these groups. A list of all Working Groups is available within the Member Section here.

Free "Safety over EtherCAT" Seminar: March, 17th, 2009

03/09 | The EtherCAT Technology Group organizes a "Safety over EtherCAT" seminar in Raunheim, Germany, on March 17th, 2009. Decision makers, product manager as well as R&D engineers who are involved in their companies safety product strategy are invited to this seminar. We will give you a comprehensive overview about today's requirements for safety machine architectures with the focus on safety communication with the Safety over EtherCAT protocol. You should get a basis for the strategy of your machine or device implementation. Safety over EtherCAT is a safety communication protocol used within the EtherCAT Technology. Several companies already use this technology or offer products. If you are interested in joining the seminar, please register immediately here.

50 Devices successfully Conformance Tested

02/09 | Starting operations in October last year, the EtherCAT Test Center in Nuremberg has successfully tested 50 EtherCAT devices so far. Among the first vendors that received conformance certificates were Hilscher, SMC and Beckhoff. ETG invites the device vendors among its members to bring their EtherCAT products to the official test center and also encourages end users to check for the ETG Certificate when purchasing EtherCAT products. The Test Center is operated by Beckhoff on behalf of the ETG. Details about conformance can be found here.

ETG Team expanded

02/09 | The EtherCAT Technology Group welcomes a new team member: Rainer Hoffmann complements the technical team in the Nuremberg ETG headquarter in Germany. Rainer Hoffmann has a background in software development and will provide high level implementation support, contribute to the conformance test and look after EtherCAT sample code. He started his new job in February and is currently receiving advanced training.

7th European Plug Fest announced

01/09 | The 7th European EtherCAT Plug Fest will take place in Garbsen, near Hannover, Germany, on March 16/17, 2009. The interoperability meeting will be hosted by the local SEW Eurodrive training center. At the Plug Fest both master and slave devices are interoperability tested in various configurations. The meeting also serves as forum for developers. Details can be found here.