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The EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG) has published a Chinese-language edition of the EtherCAT Compendium. The publication provides ETG members in China with structured, application-oriented guidance for EtherCAT and was introduced to regional automation professionals at IAS Shanghai in October 2026. China accounts for more than 2,000 of ETG’s member companies worldwide, making it the association’s largest national membership base. Asia represents 44% of total ETG membership globally.

The EtherCAT Compendium complements the formal EtherCAT specifications with an accessible overview of the technology, system design and implementation. It supports engineers and users in understanding how EtherCAT components and systems interact in automation applications.

Its chapters cover EtherCAT fundamentals as well as key technical subjects, including the physical layer and cabling, process data communication, and the SubDevice Information Interface (SII). ETG will expand the Compendium chapter by chapter into a complete reference work, publishing additional content on an ongoing basis.

Florian Essler, Conformance TWG Chair, EtherCAT Technology Group, explains: “The EtherCAT Compendium closes the gap between detailed specifications, which can be challenging to read, and practical, knowledge-base-style content. Written in clear yet precise language, it explains every layer of the EtherCAT protocol and combines theoretical knowledge with a functional understanding of the technology.

The Compendium covers topics ranging from hardware and application protocols to diagnostics. It supports engineers in translating theory into the implementation and operation of EtherCAT devices that integrate seamlessly into an interoperable EtherCAT ecosystem. The demand for a Chinese translation confirms both the importance of this publication and the significance of the Chinese EtherCAT market.”

Members can download the current version from the relevant page on the ETG website using their member login. The publication date identifies the respective version.

By making the Compendium available in Chinese, ETG provides an additional resource for the exchange of EtherCAT knowledge and for consistent system design, implementation and interoperability among EtherCAT devices and systems.

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ETG releases Chinese edition of the EtherCAT Compendium

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 Florian Essler is lead author and originator of the EtherCAT Compendium.

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At the IAS Shanghai exhibition in October 2026 automation professionals were informed about the translated version.