Smart manufacturing depends on high-speed communication, deterministic control, and coordinated equipment operation. Real-time industrial Ethernet provides the communication foundation for modern automation.

The EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG) reports that the cumulative EtherCAT node count reached 105.2 million in 2025, with 16.9 million new nodes added during the year. The figures follow a conservative methodology based on data reported by chip manufacturers: multi-protocol chips are counted proportionally, FPGA implementations are counted at only 10%, and modular I/O modules are excluded.

EtherCAT’s on-the-fly processing enables short cycle times, high determinism, and low latency. Flexible topology, automatic address assignment, and operation without switches also simplify commissioning.

Reliability, interoperability, and cybersecurity are increasingly important as industrial networks support connected, future-ready automation.

Key Industry Takeaways

1. Node Growth

EtherCAT reached 105.2 million cumulative nodes in 2025.

2. Broader Adoption

Adopted across robotics, manufacturing automation, intralogistics, and semiconductor manufacturing.

3. Deterministic Control

Low-latency communication supports synchronized systems, remote I/O, and fast data exchange.

4.Security Focus

Modern industrial networks increasingly prioritize reliability, interoperability, and cybersecurity.

Following Industry Trends in Industrial Connectivity

ULO GROUP focuses on industrial communication, remote I/O, connectors, and control solutions for digital manufacturing.