ABB and the Institute of Instrumentation and Technology are leveraging their respective strengths to jointly build a laboratory and promote the standardization and large-scale application of Ethernet APL technology in China.
The laboratory will focus on compatibility testing, technology demonstration, and training, providing strong support for process industry automation control and digital transformation.
By building an open ecosystem and promoting technology, the laboratory will collaborate with upstream and downstream partners in the industry chain to jointly promote the progress of global industrial communication technology, laying the foundation for moving towards autonomous operation and green sustainable development.
On April 16, 2025, Beijing – ABB, a leading global enterprise in electrical products, robotics, and automation technology, officially established the Ethernet APL+PROFINET Application Technology Joint Laboratory in Beijing in collaboration with the Institute of Integrated Technology and Economics of Mechanical Industry Instruments (hereinafter referred to as the “Institute”). This move marks a deep cooperation between the two parties in the field of intelligent industrial communication, aimed at accelerating the standardization process and large-scale application of Ethernet APL technology in the Chinese market, empowering industrial digital transformation and intelligent manufacturing. Mr. Ouyang Jinsong, Director of the Institute of Instrumentation and Technology, Ms. Li Lin, Deputy Director of the Institute, Mr. Anders Maltesen, President of ABB Energy Industry Asia Pacific, Mr. Fan Xiaopeng, Vice President of ABB China and Head of Energy Industry China Business, and other senior executives from both sides attended the event and jointly unveiled the plaque for the laboratory.

Anders Maltesen, President of ABB Energy Industries Asia Pacific, said, “The application and popularization of Ethernet APL marks the acceleration of the development of process industry automation and intelligence, and will lead us into a new era of self-reliance. In this process of transformation, automation and autonomy not only improve production efficiency, but are also closely related to the green transformation of global energy. We believe that by promoting the widespread application of Ethernet APL technology, enterprises will be able to better address the challenges faced by modern industry and achieve a more sustainable future. ”

Mr. Ouyang Jinsong, Director of the Institute of Instrumentation and Technology, said, “Standardization of industrial communication technology is the core engine driving the transformation and upgrading of intelligent manufacturing. Through this cooperation with ABB, we aim to provide a standardized testing and verification platform for domestic enterprises, helping them quickly achieve product technology upgrades and innovative applications. We look forward to accelerating the popularization and promotion of Ethernet APL technology, building a solid industrial Internet base and promoting the process of China’s new quality productivity through this laboratory. ”

The joint laboratory will focus on conducting compatibility testing, technical demonstrations and training, as well as promoting and exchanging technology. The laboratory will provide testing services for products based on Ethernet PL and PROFINET protocols to ensure compliance with international standards and enhance market competitiveness. At the same time, the joint laboratory will serve as a technology showcase platform to showcase advanced technologies such as Ethernet APL, PROFINET, FDI, and OPC UA to enterprise customers and industry experts, and provide relevant training. In addition, technical seminars and industry forums will be held to promote the popularization and application of Ethernet PL technology.

ABB has always regarded technological innovation as the core engine of enterprise development, and as a long-term cultivator in the Chinese market, deeply integrated into China’s high-quality development process. Based on insights into China’s industrial transformation and customer needs, ABB has launched a new Ethernet APL architecture process automation system, which meets the stringent requirements of modern industrial production for network performance with ‘efficient, accurate, and real-time’ data transmission capabilities.

In the future, ABB and the Institute of Instrumentation will continue to iterate technical specifications and enhance the global influence of the laboratory through a joint technical working group. The laboratory will become a core hub for technological exchange and market promotion between both parties, promoting the progress of China’s industrial communication technology, assisting China’s high-quality development, laying the foundation for accelerating the transition towards independent operation and energy transformation, and driving the industry towards a smarter and greener future.