Recently, SUPCON completed a PROFINET over Ethernet-APL scalability evaluation conducted by BASF. The evaluation assessed key aspects of system interoperability, standardization, and large-scale communication performance within an Ethernet-APL environment.

As a global leader in the chemical industry, BASF has been at the forefront of both Ethernet-APL qualification and real-world application. Its Zhanjiang Verbund Site pioneered the deployment of this technology in a highly complex, large-scale project. BASF has been actively exploring and implementing Ethernet-APL technology across complex process-industry applications.

The executed tests encompassed interoperability testing of Ethernet-APL products from multiple vendors, covering system configuration, real-time communication, diagnostics, and alarm behavior across a range of devices-including SUPCON AEF6224 APL field switches, SUPCON DCS, ABB 800xA DCS, and Ethernet-APL field instruments from E+H, SAMSON, and KROHNE.

Another core test for large-scale Ethernet-APL was conducted on a scalability platform based on SUPCON DCS with an MRP ring and PROFINET S2 redundancy architecture, consisting of two redundant MRP switches, ten SUPCON AEF6224 APL field switches, and 240 field instruments (237 Ethernet-APL PROFINET instruments and three PROFIBUS PA instruments). This test verified the operational stability of PROFINET real-time data communication, diagnostic alarms, and maintenance operations within a plant-scale Ethernet-APL network.

The evaluation results indicate that based on an open and standardized technical approach, SUPCON AEF6224 APL field switches demonstrated robust interoperability with third-party Ethernet-APL devices from multiple brands and device types, all of which were verified to operate together effectively. This provides end users with greater flexibility in product selection. Furthermore, the SUPCON's PROFINET over Ethernet-APL system performed reliably under sustained full-load networking conditions, with particularly outstanding metrics in redundancy switchover time, fault recovery rate, and stability in accordance with the test criteria.

In addition, SUPCON APL field switch AEF6224 has passed the protocol conformance certification tests administered by PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International), including the Ethernet Test Specification (ETS) and stress testing.

As a pioneer of Ethernet-APL technology in China, SUPCON has developed a full-lifecycle Ethernet-APL solution covering design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance. Successfully meeting the requirements defined by BASF for the evaluation marks a significant milestone for SUPCON's Ethernet-APL ecosystem. Looking ahead, SUPCON remains committed to driving innovation and ecosystem growth in Ethernet-APL technology, and will continue collaborating with industry partners to advance the process industry as a whole.