Starting in the early days of Industrial Ethernet more than 10 years ago, the Softing engineering team today can refer to a wide range of Industrial Ethernet implementations. These projects include software as well as hardware development and address all common Industrial Ethernet protocols, EtherCAT, Ethernet POWERLINK, EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP and PROFINET. The Softing approach allows implementing both, controllers as well as devices.
Besides implementing off-the-shelf Softing products, the various protocol stacks as well as the hardware know-how have also been the key for successful customer-specific developments. One of the advantages provided by the Softing Industrial Ethernet approach is the support of an efficient universal application interface allowing to integrate more than one protocol into one device, eliminating the need to modify the application when switching from one protocol to another. In addition, the Softing solution also is capable to support standard IT services (e.g. web server, data download or e-mail services) in the implemented device in parallel to the Industrial Ethernet services, using the same cable and the same Ethernet interface.
Many leading automation providers trust and rely on Softing's Industrial Ethernet expertise. The Softing reference design thus is already in use in numerous customer implementations and in Softing's own products. It proves its capabilities, functionality and performance every day in a vast range of applications in many vertical markets and all around the world. The Softing Industrial Ethernet expertise is also proven by Softing’s active contribution in the different standardization bodies and their working groups as well as by participating in the various technical meetings.