22 October 2026 | News
Image Courtesy: Public Domain
ODVA concluded its 2026 Industry Conference and 24th Annual Meeting of Members in Faro, Portugal, bringing together more than 100 industrial automation experts from leading technology suppliers and end users to examine the technologies shaping the future of industrial connectivity.
The event highlighted significant advances in industrial cybersecurity, device interoperability, process automation, and next-generation Ethernet connectivity, reinforcing the continued evolution of EtherNet/IP™ to meet the changing requirements of industrial automation.
Today, more than 700 licensed vendors and approximately 400 ODVA members contribute to the EtherNet/IP ecosystem, supporting its adoption across a broad and growing range of industrial applications. New technologies and application areas—including Single Pair Ethernet (SPE), Ethernet-APL, wireless connectivity, and advanced cybersecurity capabilities—are extending the reach of EtherNet/IP into new markets and applications.
The conference featured more than 20 technical presentations and end-user application stories covering IPv6, cybersecurity, time synchronization, functional safety, OpenAPI engineering workflows, robotics interfaces, electronic data sheets, firmware updates, process automation, and other emerging industrial automation requirements.
Two keynote application presentations demonstrated the expanding use of EtherNet/IP in process and specialized industrial environments. Pat Koenig of VEGA presented “EtherNet/IP over Ethernet-APL Plastics Plant,” highlighting the application of EtherNet/IP and Ethernet-APL in process automation. Christian Seiler of AUMA presented “EtherNet/IP Salmon Farm and Wastewater Treatment Plant,” demonstrating the use of EtherNet/IP in demanding and diverse applications. A third and final keynote presentation by Joe Labeau of Meta titled “A Data Center's Motivation for IPv6” made the case for IPv6 with EtherNet/IP from an end users’ perspective.
Advancing Industrial Cybersecurity
A major area of progress since ODVA’s 23rd Annual Meeting has been the continued development of CIP Security™, ODVA’s cybersecurity technology for EtherNet/IP. CIP Security provides mechanisms for device and user authentication, data integrity and confidentiality, secure communications, and other security capabilities designed to protect industrial automation systems.
ODVA has further advanced the CIP Security Pull Model, including mechanisms that enable efficient distribution of device authenticity information. The approach can simplify device commissioning and replacement while supporting architectures in which conventional configuration methods may not be practical. ODVA released the associated CIP Identification and CIP Security schemas in March 2026.
Expanding Interoperability into Process Automation
ODVA also continues to expand EtherNet/IP’s capabilities for process automation through Process Device Profiles. These profiles establish common functionality for process devices such as level, temperature, flow, and pressure instruments, helping enable greater interoperability and easier device replacement across vendors.
EtherNet/IP’s expansion into process automation is further supported by Ethernet-APL, which combines long-reach, two-wire Single Pair Ethernet with power delivery and intrinsic-safety capabilities for process environments. This enables EtherNet/IP connectivity to extend deeper into process facilities and field-level applications.
Collaboration Across the Industrial Automation Industry
ODVA is also working with other standards organizations and industry groups to advance common approaches to industrial connectivity, energy efficiency, and cybersecurity interoperability. These efforts include work involving Ethernet-APL and Single Pair Ethernet technologies, as well as collaboration through the Industrial Security Harmonization Group (ISHG) to promote greater alignment among industrial cybersecurity initiatives.
“EtherNet/IP has always evolved in response to the needs of the industrial automation community,” said Al Beydoun, President and Executive Director of ODVA. “The developments highlighted at this year’s Annual Meeting demonstrate that evolution is continuing across some of the most important challenges facing our industry—cybersecurity, interoperability, process automation, and the integration of new Ethernet technologies. Our focus remains on providing end users with an open, interoperable, and sustainable technology ecosystem while giving vendors a strong foundation on which to develop the next generation of industrial products.”
The 24th Annual Meeting concluded with the announcement of ODVA’s newly elected leadership for its 25th term, along with an overview of the organization’s recent technical accomplishments and priorities for the coming year.
Through continued development of EtherNet/IP, expansion into new applications, collaboration with industry organizations, and ongoing investment in cybersecurity and interoperability, ODVA is continuing to evolve the EtherNet/IP ecosystem while protecting and increasing the value of end users’ investments in the technology.
Technical papers and presentations from this and previous ODVA Industry Conference and Annual Meetings are available for download: https://www.odva.org/news-events/industry-conference/library-of-proceedings/.
