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ABB: CO-CREATING SMARTER PROCESS AUTOMATION WITH ETHERNET-APL
KEY TAKEAWAYS
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The process automation industry relies on long-standing field devices and legacy infrastructure, making upgrades difficult and costly. These outdated systems lack modern efficiency, connectivity, and data access, creating challenges in cybersecurity, analytics, and maintenance for modern, efficient operations.
Such was the challenge ABB faced, as a recognized leader in process automation.
Thankfully, ABB had a trusted ally in ADI, whose Ethernet-APL solution delivered high speed, intrinsically safe data and power over a single cable—simplifying installation and enabling advanced, reliable process automation, even in hazardous environments.
As an early contributor to 10BASE-T1L technology, ADI has played a key role in shaping the standards and enabling the practical implementation of Ethernet-APL. Beyond this, ADI is one of the leading providers of industrial communication technologies, including signal processing, power management, and sensor integration, and is already well known to ABB from numerous other successful projects.
“Thanks to our long-standing partnership with ADI, we’ve been able to bring Ethernet-APL into the process industry, overcoming legacy limitations with a solution that delivers safe, high speed data and power over a single cable—perfect for the demanding, risk-averse environments we serve.”Bernhard Eschermann
CTO, ABB Process Automation
AT A GLANCE
COMPANY
ABB is a global technology leader in electrification and automation. Its purpose is to enable a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. By connecting engineering and digitalization expertise, ABB helps industries run at high performance, while becoming more efficient productive, and “Engineered to Outrun.”
GOAL
Enable seamless, future-proof, and cost-effective data access and communication across all levels of process automation, using open standards to simplify installation, boost operational efficiency, and support advanced data-driven applications.
CHALLENGE
Unifying and simplifying data access and communication across increasingly complex, vendor-specific, and fragmented process automation systems.
SOLUTION
Ethernet-APL, allowing ABB to streamline process automation with high speed, safe data and power over a single cable, making installation easier and supporting reliable, efficient operations even in the most hazardous industrial environments.
A PROVEN PARTNERSHIP, BUILT ON INNOVATION
ABB and ADI have a long-standing relationship in the semiconductor industry, with a history of successful joint projects. This trust and familiarity laid the foundation for their alliance, which focused on developing Ethernet-APL devices, enhancing communication protocols and ensuring cybersecurity.
The partnership thrived on close collaboration through workshops and ongoing technical exchanges in order to deeply understand ABB’s needs for Ethernet-APL. ADI supported every development phase with robust, low power, 10BASE-T1L transceivers, microcontroller, software, and deep industrial communication expertise. Its system-level insight, reliability, and solution-focused approach helped ABB deliver high performance, safe field devices that helped it gain a competitive edge.
Both ABB and ADI also actively participated in joint standardization efforts for Ethernet-APL, ensuring the technology would be interoperable, scalable, and suitable for large-scale industrial deployment.
ETHERNET-APL: BENEFITS AND ADVANTAGES
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ETHERNET-APL: SMARTER PROCESSING BEGINS HERE
Ethernet-APL paves the way for fully digital, efficient process plants by replacing legacy systems with high speed, safe connectivity that supports advanced analytics, automated commissioning, and digital twins. Its low-power design and single-cable architecture enable field devices to use efficient microcontrollers and deliver data and power over one line, reducing energy use, external power needs, and device size. This helps lower operational costs and environmental impact, while scalability and cybersecurity features make it a future-ready solution.
Beyond this, Ethernet-APL provides a pathway to upgrade legacy communication systems (e.g., HART®, fieldbus, Modbus) to modern, digital, and efficient networks without wholesale infrastructure replacement.
COLLABORATING ON ETHERNET-APL FOR GROUNDBREAKING PROCESS AUTOMATION
The collaboration between ABB and ADI on Ethernet-APL is a model of how strategic partnerships can drive digital transformation in conservative, high stakes industries, like process automation. By combining ABB’s process automation expertise with ADI’s pioneering semiconductor and communication technology, the partnership has delivered a future-proof and efficient solution that addresses the most pressing challenges in process automation—while laying the groundwork for the next generation of smart, connected industrial operations.
“We’re working hand-in-hand with ABB to help transform process automation with Ethernet-APL. Our shared vision is to drive innovation and deliver safe, high speed connectivity across challenging environments.”Duncan Bosworth
Corporate Vice President, Industrial
Analog Devices
