CC-Link open network technologies have won a swathe of new industrial standards’ certifications relating to Japan, China and the worldwide semiconductor industry. These complement the many approvals and certifications CC-Link has previously secured, both in Asia and around the world.
The standards relate to the world’s second and third largest economies, plus one of the leading industries, so their influence is expected to enhance the global acceptance of the CC-Link open network technologies. John Browett, General Manager of the CLPA (CC-Link Partner Association) explains:
“Automation and machine building are globalised industries, so it is perfectly normal for a machine or system destined for use in Asia to be built in Europe or America. Naturally the manufacturers and integrators will be working to the standards of the eventual host nation.”
The new certifications are: Chinese National Standards ‘GB/Z’ for CC-Link Safety; Japanese Industrial Standards ‘JIS’ for CC-Link, and the Semiconductor Industry Standard ‘SEMI E54’ for the 1 Gbit/s CC-Link IE Field industrial Ethernet technology.
GB/Z is the second Chinese certification received by CC-Link technologies, following the GB/T (voluntary standards) approval of CC-Link, received in 2005. Browett again:
“CC-Link Safety has been certified ahead of all other types of industrial networks. The GB/Z-approval will further increase business in China for both users and suppliers of CC-Link and enhance our Gateway to China programme that supports European companies entering or already active in Chinese markets.”
The JIS certification by the Japanese Industrial Standards Committee is expected to further secure CC-Link’s dominance in its original home market. It has been a de facto standard network in Japan (and throughout China and Asia) for many years and is the network of choice across many sectors. The approval from JIS is expected to strengthen this position.
1Gbit/s field level industrial Ethernet network ‘CC-Link IE Field’ was certified in May 2013 to meet the standard SEMI E54 by the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI), the global semiconductor industry association. CC-Link is already well accepted in this industry, and has also achieved a dominant position in the associated liquid crystal display manufacturing industry. The CLPA expects that the approval from SEMI will further stimulate the adoption of CC-Link IE Field, not only in Japan, but on a global scale.
Browett concludes: “Standards and certifications are the lifeblood of globalised industries. They secure cross-border compatibility and interoperability and allow manufacturers, integrators and users to be confident that they can address international markets without being frozen out by minor technical difficulties.
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