Celebrating 25 Years of Open Network Innovation as CLPA returns to SPS

The CC-Link Partner Association (CLPA) will mark its 25th anniversary at SPS 2025, taking place from 25th-27th November in Nuremberg, Germany. Visitors to Stand 108, Hall 5 will be invited to understand the benefits of the CLPA’s key technology, CC-Link IE TSN, with live demonstrations highlighting how this it delivers key benefits to a range of industries.

Founded in 2000 with the goal of promoting open networking technologies for industrial automation, the CLPA has grown into a global force for innovation in the space. Over the past 25 years, the organisation has played a key role in shaping the way machines, systems, and people connect on the shop floor.

From launching the first gigabit-capable industrial Ethernet in 2007 to pioneering Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) integration with CC-Link IE TSN in 2018, the CLPA has consistently led the way in helping manufacturers adopt more connected, efficient, and future-ready operations.

The CLPA has grown from humble beginnings as a small, local fieldbus association in Japan, to an industry leading global presence. Today, the CLPA counts over 400 of the world’s key industrial automation device vendors as partners, leading to a product ecosystem spanning over 3,300 certified devices. This has led to a global installed base of more than 43 million devices. Its technologies are trusted by OEMs, system integrators, and end-users across sectors such as automotive, electronics, packaging, and food & beverage. As a result, more than 4,400 companies across the world are currently members.

To celebrate this milestone, the CLPA’s stand at SPS 2025 will feature real-world demonstrations that showcase the tangible benefits of CC-Link IE TSN. As the only open industrial Ethernet, it is currently unique in providing a gigabit bandwidth, deterministic, converged network architecture for industrial automation.

This provides a range of benefits, including being able to use a single network to address all communication needs on a system, which means that it is no longer necessary to use multiple separate networks to address different functional needs, such as I/O, safety and motion. Moreover, the convergence of OT and IT systems is also possible, by integrating TCP/IP traffic. This reduces system cost and engineering time, while increasing uptime and process transparency.

CC-Link IE TSN is the most recent of a series of technology innovations that the CLPA has become known for. This technical leadership position has allowed the CC-Link family of open industrial automation networks to be among the elite group of networks used worldwide by global manufacturing companies and the suppliers who work with them.

John Browett, General Manager at CLPA Europe, comments: “Reaching our 25th anniversary is a proud milestone for the CLPA. It shows that the CC-Link family of networks have become firmly established in the global industrial automation marketplace and are first choice for many of the world’s leading manufacturing corporations. We’re excited to mark the occasion by returning to SPS – one of the world’s most influential automation events.

“The technologies we’ve developed, especially CC-Link IE TSN, continue to shape the future of industrial networking. Visitors to our stand will be able to see first-hand how our solutions unlock real competitive advantages for automation users worldwide.”

Visit the CLPA on Stand 108, Hall 5 at SPS 2025, from 25th-27th November 2025, at Nürnberg Messe, Nuremberg, Germany.