New analysis from Frost & Sullivan – European Industrial Networking/Communication Market – has found that the market earned revenues of €854.1 million in 2010 and estimates this to reach €1,596.1 million in 2015. The research covers Ethernet, Fieldbus and wireless device technologies.
“As industrial networking/communication devices have the ability to retrieve real-time data from multiple, sometimes inaccessible, field devices, they are critical to process control operations where rapid reaction is necessary to prevent any abnormal functioning of the systems,” said Frost & Sullivan senior research analyst Katarzyna Owczarczyk. “Real-time capabilities also enable convenient and cost-effective transmission and monitoring of data parameters over long distances.”
End-users acknowledge the importance of measuring the various critical parameters that are available within a factory automation environment. However, the conservative attitudes of end-user industries such as pharmaceutical, food & beverage, chemicals and oil & gas towards implementing new technologies, without being assured of their potential benefits, has proved a major restraint for industrial networking penetration.
“Manufacturers of industrial networking/communication devices have to generate greater awareness and conduct workshops and training to educate end-users about the advantages of integrating industrial networking into the manufacturing process,” advises Owczarczyk. “Once end-users realise the benefits of these devices, adoption levels are set to soar.”
