PI North America

What PI North America does

PI North America is a non-profit, member-supported Regional PI Association headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, responsible for promoting and supporting open industrial communication standards across the United States and Canada. The organization was established in 2006 (per the company website copyright spanning 2006-2026) and operates as the North American arm of PROFIBUS Nutzerorganisation e.V. (PI), the Germany-based parent that owns and maintains the underlying specifications. Its core technology portfolio centers on four open, IEC-standardized (IEC 61158, IEC 61784) protocols: PROFINET (Industrial Ethernet with RT and IRT channels for time-critical and isochronous motion applications), PROFIBUS (RS-485-based serial fieldbus), IO-Link (point-to-point sensor/actuator communication), and omlox (vendor-neutral real-time locating system). Adjacent standards include PROFIsafe, PROFIenergy, PROFIdrive, Module Type Package (MTP), NAMUR Open Architecture (NOA), and the Standard Robot Command Interface (SRCI). The organization does not sell products directly; it monetizes its role as a standards body through three revenue streams: tiered annual membership fees for device manufacturers ($800-$8,000/year based on company size), distributors and system integrators ($800/year), and end-users or machine builders ($1,300/year); fee-based certified training courses (with no-cost one-day classes serving as the top-of-funnel); and PROFINET product certification testing, priced at 1,800 EUR per certificate for members and 6,000 EUR for non-members, valid for three years and conducted through accredited PI Test Labs (the PROFI Interface Center operated by Siemens being the only such lab in North America). Distribution and adoption are driven by a nationwide US distributor network across 30+ states and Ontario, a recurring in-person training circuit in Milwaukee, Boston, Toronto, Charlotte, and Grand Rapids, an annual North American PROFINET Plugfest for interoperability testing, the global PI Product Finder online database, and the PROFINEWS electronic newsletter. The organization serves three primary member segments — device manufacturers, distributors/system integrators, and end-users/machine builders — with a Board of Directors drawn from major automation companies including Analog Devices, Emerson, Hilscher, and Siemens, and operates with a lean 1-10 employee footprint.

Name

PI North America

Legal name

PI North America

Website

https://us.profinet.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PI North America is a non-profit Regional PI Association that promotes open industrial communication standards — PROFINET, PROFIBUS, IO-Link, and omlox — for device manufacturers, distributors, system integrators, and end-users across the United States and Canada, funded by tiered membership fees, certified training, and product certification services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Scottsdale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Tiered annual membership fees based on company type and size. Device manufacturers pay $800-$8,000/year depending on employee count. Distributors/system integrators pay $800/year. End-users/machine builders pay $1,300/year.
2. Product Certification Services: Certification testing for PROFINET products. PI members pay 1800 EUR per certificate; non-members pay 6000 EUR. Certificates are valid for three years.
3. Training Services: Revenue generated from certified PROFINET and PROFIBUS training courses, developer workshops, and professional development hours (PDH) certificates. One-day training classes are offered at no-cost, with fee-based advanced courses available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

PI North America is a non-profit, member-supported Regional PI Association that promotes and maintains open, standards-based industrial connectivity technologies including PROFINET (Industrial Ethernet), PROFIBUS (serial fieldbus), IO-Link (sensor/actuator communication), and omlox (real-time locating systems). The organization delivers product certification testing, technical training (free one-day classes and certified courses), developer workshops, and member services such as access to specifications, documentation, and the online Product Finder.

Product overview

PI North America is a non-profit member-supported organization that serves as the Regional PI Association for North America, promoting open industrial communication standards. The organization does not offer a single unified product but rather a portfolio of standards, services, and resources. The core technology portfolio includes PROFINET (Industrial Ethernet standard), PROFIBUS (serial fieldbus), IO-Link (sensor/actuator communication), and omlox (real-time locating system). Additional standards include Module Type Package (MTP), NAMUR Open Architecture (NOA), and Standard Robot Command Interface (SRCI). The organization provides testing and certification services for PROFINET devices, maintains the Product Finder database for certified products, and distributes GSD files for device configuration. Educational offerings include free one-day training classes, certified training courses, and developer workshops. Members receive access to patents, logos, documentation, and marketing support. The organization also publishes technical white papers, application stories, and the PROFINEWS newsletter, and hosts the annual North American PROFINET Plugfest for interoperability testing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PROFINET Open, cross-vendor Industrial Ethernet standard for discrete and process automation, supporting TCP/IP, Real-Time (RT), and Isochronous Real-Time (IRT) channels for deterministic communication with cycle times under 1ms. Based on IEEE 802.3 and IEC 61158/IEC 61784.
• PROFIBUS Classical serial fieldbus protocol based on RS-485, with versions for Decentralized Peripherals (DP) and Process Automation (PA), supporting speeds up to 12 Mbit/s. Used for factory and process automation device communication.
• IO-Link Point-to-point communication standard for connecting digital sensors and actuators to automation systems, enabling bidirectional exchange of process data, parameters, and diagnostics.
• omlox Open standard real-time locating system (RTLS) for industry, providing vendor-neutral indoor positioning and asset tracking capabilities for industrial environments.
• PROFINET Product Testing & Certification Mandatory certification testing service for PROFINET devices and controllers, executed at accredited PI Test Labs (9 worldwide, including PIC in North America) to verify conformance to IEC 61158 and IEC 61784. Certificates are valid for 3 years; PI members pay 1800 EUR per certificate, non-members pay 6000 EUR.
• PROFINET One-Day Training Classes Free no-cost one-day training classes held in cities across North America (Milwaukee, Boston, Toronto, Charlotte, Grand Rapids) that prepare students to apply PROFINET in their own projects, including technical details and practical demonstrations.
• Certified PROFINET Training Courses Fee-based certified training programs for PROFINET technology covering development, implementation, and network design, providing professional development hours (PDH) certificates.
• PROFINET Developer Workshops Hands-on workshops for device developers, providing development kits for embedding PROFINET in products, covering implementation options, solution partners, and product certification.

Quantifiable outcome

• $125,000 in annual energy savings achieved by a national food distributor using PROFINET networks
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Analog DevicescoreTechnology or IntegrationAnalog Devices provides the RapID Platform Network Interface - a complete, cost-effective, and easy-to-integrate PROFINET connectivity solution. They are featured as a solution provider on the PROFINET Product Development page, offering modules and embedded circuits with PROFINET protocol management, communication controller, protocol stacks, Flash memory, RAM, Ethernet switch, and PHYs.
• CodeWerkcoreTechnology or IntegrationCodeWerk offers PROFINET stack integration services, providing a complete carefree package for PROFINET implementation. They master all PROFINET conformance classes including Class C (IRT) and future Class D (PROFINET over TSN). They have collaborated with Analog Devices on isochronous real-time (IRT) support integration.
• HilschercoreTechnology or IntegrationHilscher provides the netX system-on-a-chip multi-protocol network controller and netIOT products for Industry 4.0 functionality. They offer netTAP gateways for protocol conversion, cifX PC cards for direct network connection, and embedded solutions for field devices.
• HMS NetworkscoreTechnology or IntegrationHMS Networks (Anybus, IXXAT, eWON brands) provides industrial communication products enabling machines and devices to connect with control systems. They offer the Anybus CompactCom series for PROFINET network capability in chip, brick, or module form factors.
• Phoenix ContactcoreTechnology or IntegrationPhoenix Contact is a developer of PROFINET technology and producer of PROFINET components. They operate the Phoenix Contact Competence Center (PCCC) and Phoenix Testlab - an accredited PROFINET IO Test Lab providing certification services.
• SiemenscoreTechnology or IntegrationSiemens operates the PROFI Interface Center (PIC) in North America - the only combined certified competence center, training center, and test lab in the region. They provide PROFINET development kits and support certification testing. ComDeC operates in Europe.
• EmersoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmerson is a Board of Directors member and hosted the 2026 North American PROFINET Plugfest. They are shown as a major supporter of PROFINET technology adoption.
• Aruba (HPE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company, joined the omlox RTLS group as a member, focusing on interoperable open RTLS standards. They join other technology companies in the omlox ecosystem.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• FieldComm Group: FieldComm Group is the standards organization that develops and promotes FOUNDATION Fieldbus, HART, and FDI, the principal competing process-automation fieldbus protocol family to PROFIBUS PA. Both are non-profit member organizations focused on standards-based industrial communication and certification.
• OPC Foundation: The OPC Foundation is the non-profit standards body behind OPC UA, the interoperability standard for industrial data exchange that increasingly co-exists with — or competes against — fieldbus-level protocols like PROFINET. Both organizations run member programs, certification, and conformance testing for industrial interoperability standards.
• EtherCAT Technology Group: The EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG) is the user organization that maintains and promotes the EtherCAT real-time industrial Ethernet standard, a leading competitor to PROFINET particularly in motion control. ETG mirrors PI North America's model of vendor-neutral certification, member-driven governance, training programs, and plugfests.
• ODVA: ODVA is the global standards organization that develops and promotes EtherNet/IP and the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP), the principal direct competitor to PROFINET in industrial Ethernet. Both ODVA and PI North America operate as non-profit member-supported standards bodies running certification programs, training, and plugfests for their respective technologies.
• CC-Link Partner Association: CLPA is the non-profit organization that develops and promotes the CC-Link IE family of open industrial networks, another direct competitor to PROFINET. Like PI North America, CLPA runs conformance certification, member programs, and training across regional chapters globally.

Broad incumbents

• Siemens: Siemens is the largest automation incumbent and a PI board member, operating the PROFI Interface Center (PIC) in North America. While also a key strategic partner, Siemens is a broad incumbent whose automation portfolio (controllers, drives, PLCs) drives much of PROFINET adoption, making it comparable in mission but vastly larger in scope.
• Rockwell Automation: Rockwell Automation is a major industrial automation incumbent and the primary promoter of EtherNet/IP through ODVA. Comparable to PI North America in that it shapes industrial connectivity standards adoption, but vastly broader in scope as a full-line automation vendor rather than a focused standards body.
• Schneider Electric: Schneider Electric is a global broad-line automation and industrial software incumbent that promotes its own connectivity ecosystem (Modbus, EcoStruxure). Like Siemens and Rockwell, Schneider influences industrial networking standards adoption and competes for the same end-customer automation budgets that PI North America members serve.
• Industrial Internet Consortium: The Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC) is a broader, established industry organization advancing the Industrial Internet of Things across multiple standards and use cases. While not a direct protocol competitor, IIC overlaps with PI North America's Industry 4.0 mission and convenes many of the same automation and IT stakeholders.

Emerging players

• Avnu Alliance: Avnu Alliance is an emerging industry consortium promoting deterministic networking standards including Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) for industrial and professional AV applications. TSN is increasingly positioned as a next-generation layer that could complement or compete with PROFINET over TSN (Class D), making Avnu a strategic emerging peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AllThingsPROFI

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PI North America