The safety and functionality of a safe transfer protocol can only be proven through implementation of the specification in a product. Devices with Safety over EtherCAT have been available since 2005. Safety over EtherCAT is therefore one of the first Industrial Ethernet real-time communication systems supporting a safe protocol.

This application utilizes the benefits of the technology. The safety components are deployed wherever they are required in the automation system. Scalable local input and output components can be used in the system. An additional input or output can be extended flexibly using safety and non-safety Bus Terminals as required.

The safety logic is also embedded within the network strand. A standard PLC can thus continue dealing with control tasks without a safety extension. Safe input and output functions are linked in the local safety logic in the form of an intelligent, safe Bus Terminal. This saves the costs otherwise required for an expensive safety PLC and enables scaling of the logic according to the task at hand. Only the messages between the Safety over Ether- CAT master and the allocated safe slaves are routed via the non-safe, standard PLC.