PROFIBUS (Process Field Bus) is a widely used fieldbus system in automation technology, which was launched in 1987 in Germany through a network of 21 companies and institutes. A distinction is made between PROFIBUS DP (decentralised peripherals) and PROFIBUS PA (process automation). The original variant PROFIBUS FMS (Fieldbus Message Specification) is no longer part of the international fieldbus standard, as it was replaced in 1993 by PROFIBUS DP.
In the manufacturing industry, PROFIBUS DP is used for fast communication between control systems and sensors, as well as actuators with data rates of up to 12 Mbps. With 43.8 million devices worldwide, PROFIBUS is the most widely used fieldbus system in the manufacturing and process industries.