EtherCAT records 88 million nodes

The EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG) reports approximately 88 million EtherCAT nodes in use worldwide, with an increase of 11 million nodes in 2024, despite economic challenges and chip overstocking. The node figures are based on actual chip sales reported by chip manufacturers to Beckhoff Automation, the inventor of the technology. EtherCAT chips include the technology license, so there are no additional license fees for device manufacturers and users.

Beckhoff uses the license fees to finance the activities of the ETG. FPGA-based EtherCAT devices are estimated to account for about 10 percent of the total number. Despite economic uncertainties, EtherCAT remains on a growth path and confirms its leading position in industrial communication.