ABB and Ethernet-APL Ecosystem Accelerate Large-Scale Deployment with New Selection Guide for Proces
Time:2026-07-03 Browse: 0
ABB and Industry Partners Push Ethernet-APL Toward Scaled Industrial Deployment
ABB, together with members of the Ethernet-APL ecosystem and a leading process industry media platform, has successfully hosted the first stop of the “Ethernet-APL Technology Application Roadshow” in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China. The event marks the beginning of a nationwide three-city series aimed at accelerating the adoption of Ethernet-APL in process industries.
During the event, ecosystem partners jointly released the “Ethernet-APL Product Selection Guide”, a standardized reference designed to streamline equipment selection, engineering design, and system integration for plants adopting Ethernet-APL technology.
Standardization to Reduce Engineering Complexity
The newly launched selection guide aims to provide a unified framework for:
Engineering design institutes
End users in process industries
System integrators
By establishing standardized selection criteria, the guide is expected to reduce complexity in project planning and deployment, while improving consistency across Ethernet-APL-based industrial systems.
ABB stated that the initiative is designed to help industrial users establish a complete end-to-end data architecture, breaking down traditional data silos and strengthening the digital foundation required for intelligent and AI-driven industrial operations.
Ethernet-APL Ecosystem Enters Scaled Deployment Phase
Alongside the guide release, ecosystem members also presented the latest iterations of their APL-enabled product portfolios, signaling that China’s Ethernet-APL industry is moving toward a new phase of:
Standardization
Systematic engineering practices
Large-scale industrial deployment
This development is seen as a key milestone in supporting the digital transformation of process industries, particularly in chemical, pharmaceutical, and large-scale manufacturing sectors.
Focus on Practical Engineering Challenges
The roadshow emphasized real-world engineering requirements, focusing on the challenges faced during project implementation. Key technical topics included:
In-depth analysis of PROFINET over Ethernet-APL architectures
System design and selection methodologies for APL networks
Standardized integration approaches for complete APL systems
Field-level installation, commissioning, and maintenance practices
The discussions covered the full project lifecycle—from early-stage design and planning through deployment, commissioning, and long-term operation—providing practical guidance for wider industry adoption.
Industry Collaboration and Real-World Applications
Participants from major process industry companies, including chemical and pharmaceutical sectors, engaged in discussions on:
System compatibility and integration performance
Project delivery efficiency
Long-term operational reliability
Lifecycle value optimization
The event also referenced implementation experience from major industrial projects such as BASF’s Zhanjiang integrated site, which serves as a benchmark for Ethernet-APL deployment in large-scale process environments.
These real-world cases provided valuable insights for both new plant construction and retrofit projects.
Industry Perspective from ABB Leadership
ABB Vice President and Head of Energy Industries China, Fan Xiaopeng, commented on the importance of reliable field-level data infrastructure in the era of industrial AI:
“As industrial AI technologies evolve rapidly, stable and reliable field-level data has become the foundation for autonomous and intelligent plant operations. This roadshow series represents ABB’s commitment to working with ecosystem partners to accelerate innovation in China’s process industries and support digital transformation.”
He added that ABB will continue to collaborate across the industrial value chain to promote technology adoption and enable scalable deployment of intelligent industrial solutions.
Conclusion: Ethernet-APL Moves Toward Industrial Scale Adoption
The successful launch of the Ningbo roadshow signals a broader industry shift toward standardized and scalable Ethernet-APL deployment in China’s process industries. With the release of the selection guide and coordinated ecosystem efforts, Ethernet-APL is increasingly positioned as a foundational technology for industrial digitalization and AI-enabled autonomous operations.
Future roadshow events will be held in other key industrial regions across China, continuing to promote standardized engineering practices, proven deployment models, and ecosystem collaboration.
