netFIELD App PROFINET Device – Seamless integration of edge devices into PROFINET networks

Hattersheim, 15. Jan. 2025 – Hilscher Gesellschaft für Systemautomation mbH has released a new container app for connecting PROFINET networks to IIoT applications, the netFIELD App PROFINET Device. The app enables users to upgrade any PROFINET network with an edge gateway that functions as a PROFINET IO device and exchanges its PROFINET data with an MQTT broker.

The app is particularly interesting because PROFINET is one of the most widely used industrial communication protocols in the world. The PROFIBUS Nutzerorganisation e.V. (PNO) expects the number of PROFINET network nodes to grow by 10.6 million to a total of 69.3 million nodes by 2023. And with the increasing digitalization of production facilities worldwide, the need to process PROFINET-IIoT is also increasing to the same extent.

Who benefits from the new netFIELD app?

The new netFIELD app is aimed at all users who want to exchange PROFINET IO data between a PROFINET controller and IIoT applications that use MQTT as a data interface.

A PROFINET and a MQTT logo in white on a colorful background. "netFIELD App PROFINET Device" is written in the lower half of the picture.

What does the app to operate?

The PROFINET device app is a software container and needs a host with a running container engine. The app converts PROFINET IO device process data streams to and from topics as an MQTT client.
The host system running the container also needs to have a network interface for industrial communication based on Hilscher’s netX communication controllers (for example netX 90 and  netX 100). These controllers are used in cifX PC cards and embedded modules.

Use the PROFINET device app with the following devices (example):

netX 90 Chip Carrier - preloaded protocol stack

Ultracompact netX 90 design - tested and loaded completely

Communication module dual-port memory - Real-Time-Ethernet

Flexible communication module for automation

PC card M.2 2242 Key B+M - Real-Time Ethernet

Communication for PC-based automation

PC card M.2 3042 Key B+M - Real-Time Ethernet

Communication for PC-based automation

PC card PCI Express - Real-Time Ethernet

Communication for PC-based automation

PC card Mini PCI Express - Real-Time Ethernet

Communication for PC-based automation

Application example: Integration into a PROFINET network

As a PROFINET device, the app ensures reliable exchange of process data with a PROFINET controller, such as a PLC. The trick: users receive simple and efficient access to the data via MQTT messages. This opens up a wide range of possibilities for connecting smart services such as analysis tools. Production processes can be optimized with minimal integration effort, for example by detecting deviations at an early stage or evaluating behavioural rules to increase productivity - tasks that are not usually performed by a PLC.

a graphic of a use case with Hilscher' PROFINET device app.

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Related links

Logo Open industry 4.0 Alliance (OI4)
Visit the flagship store for the OI4 community for more IIoT apps

netFIELD App PROFINET Device - data bridge between PROFINET and IIoT

Making PROFINET systems IIoT-capable by means of an intelligent IO-Device

A photo of the male and female customer support phone operator with different internationality
Customer Center / Sales Hilscher Gesellschaft für Systemautomation mbH

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