What is IO-Link?

IO-Link is the first globally standardized IO technology (IEC 61131-9) for communicating with sensors and actuators. The powerful point-to-point communication is based on the long-established 3-wire sensor and actuator connection without any additional requirements for the cable material. IO-Link is therefore not a fieldbus, but the evolutionary further development of the previous, tried and tested connection technology for sensors and actuators.

 

Current events
12 May
12 May
New Dates for IO-Link User Workhops in the US

This free user workshop / training class prepares attendees to apply IO-Link in their own project. Lunch is included. Technical details of the technology are provided along with practical demonstrations.  The class is designed for:

  • End-Users
  • OEMs / Machine Builders
  • System Integrators / Distributors
  • Manufacturers of automation devices
  •  

Topics:

  • Background
  • Interface and Protocol
  • USB of Automation
  • Higher-level Integration
  • Application Use-Cases
  • Diagnostics
  • Profiles
  • Safety
  • Wireless

Following the dates / locations:

  • Milwaukee, WI -May 12, 2026
  • Portland, OR - September 01, 2026

More information and registration at: https://io-link.us/events/

IO-Link User Workhops
22 Sep
22 Sep
IO-Link Interop 2026

Do you have new IO-Link products and would like to test them in advance?

On September 22 and 23, 2026, the annual IO-Link Interop Workshop will take place in Bad Soden, Germany (near Frankfurt a. M.), where international manufacturers of IO-Link devices, tools and integration components will come together to check and ensure smooth interaction in OT and the connection to IT. In addition to the standard technology of IO-Link, topics such as IO-Link Wireless, profile implementations, system integrations and IoT connections such as JSON REST API will also be covered. Particularly noteworthy is the opportunity to test IO-Link Safety devices!

The IO-Link Plugfest offers you the opportunity to test the interoperability of your devices or software in a realistic environment and ensure that they work together with products from other manufacturers without any problems. This allows you to test interoperability during the development phase and exchange information at a technical level. You also have the opportunity to clarify open questions in discussions with experts and develop a deeper understanding of the technology. Depending on the progress of your development, a test run can also be carried out with one of the available testers.

Our IO-Link experts are on hand to advise you on all questions relating to IO-Link. The direct exchange and feedback from other developers will provide you with valuable insights and possible suggestions for improving your product or solution.

The participation fee for the IO-Link Interop workshop is 285 € / participant. (This fee covers food/drinks and a dinner together in the evening - but does not include the cost of accommodation).

For organizational reasons, please register online by August 31, 2026.

IO-Link Interop 2026
21 Oct
Key Visual IO-Link Forum Walldorf-Wiesloch, event on Oktober 21, 20206
21 Oct
IO-Link Forum Walldorf-Wiesloch: Key to Modernization

In view of the current economic stagnation, companies are facing the challenge of improving their production facilities and making them more efficient. In this context, IO-Link is proving to be an innovative solution for optimizing systems and modernizing operations. IO-Link is a manufacturer-independent communication standard that enables sensors and actuators in automation technology to be seamlessly integrated into the higher-level control system and also easy to parameterize and configure. 

IO-Link as the key to modernization

By implementing IO-Link, systems can be made more flexible, efficient and future-proof. Companies benefit from shorter downtimes, improved adaptability and greater efficiency. Today, this is a decisive competitive advantage.

In addition, IO-Link makes it easy to integrate new sensors and actuators into existing systems. This makes it easier to modernize and retrofit production lines without having to make extensive changes to the control hardware. Companies can therefore gradually improve their systems and adapt them to new requirements without incurring high investment costs.

If you would like to know how this all works, then the IO-Link Forum on October 21, 2026 in Walldorf-Wiesloch (Germany) offers you a unique exchange of knowledge and promises valuable insights into the world of industrial automation and communication technologies with IO-Link.

The IO-Link Forum offers a wide range of topics for participants of all levels of knowledge in sessions, some of which will take place in parallel. Lectures on the topic of plant modernization in particular have been modified and expanded. A special highlight is the report on an end user's experience with IO-Link. The accompanying Microfair also offers the opportunity to exchange ideas with manufacturers and learn about new products, features and services.

The IO-Link Forum will be held in German language. It is free of charge for participants, but please register in advance.

For more information, please see our invitation flyer, the agenda or the short descriptions on the lectures for Walldorf-Wiesloch (this information is in German language only).

 

 

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Current News
New, Machine-Readable Specification for JSON Mapping

The IO-Link Community announces the release of a new specification, “JSON Integration for IO-Link,” for JSON mapping. The new Version 2 includes important functional enhancements, including support for IO-Link wireless communication and expanded MQTT functions. For the first time, the specification has been fully described using OpenAPI and AsyncAPI, making it machine-readable throughout.

Wireless Support for Flexible Applications
The new specification explicitly accounts for IO-Link Wireless. IO-Link data can thus be mapped in a standards-compliant manner even over wireless connections—such as in mobile applications, rotating machine parts, or hard-to-reach installations—without losing the uniform data structure.

Extended MQTT Functionality for IIoT
Another focus is on expanding MQTT support. The specification now defines more detailed topic structures for process data, parameters, and events. This enables more efficient, event-based communication and seamless integration with cloud platforms or edge systems.

Machine-readable specification via OpenAPI and AsyncAPI
The consistent use of OpenAPI (for REST-based interfaces) and AsyncAPI (for MQTT) enables, for the first time, a formal, automatically evaluable description of the IO-Link JSON mapping. The specification is thus not only documented for humans but also enables automated software generation for development and test systems.

Bridge between automation and the IT world
With this step, IO-Link sets a new milestone for the standardized, IT-oriented use of IO-Link data and creates optimal conditions for automation, IIoT, and cloud-based applications.

With the combination of JSON mapping, OpenAPI, AsyncAPI, wireless options, and extended MQTT, IO-Link specifically strengthens IT/OT convergence. Users gain consistent, standardized access to field data—from the sensor/actuator level all the way to data-driven IT applications.

the new specification is now available for free download the download section.

More on the new JSON Specification
IO-Link Continues Growth in Automation

The annual survey of installed IO-Link devices has once again been completed, confirming continued stable growth and reinforcing IO-Link’s strong position in the global market.

Thus, IO-Link remains a key growth driver at the sensor and actuator level. In 2025, approximately 9.7 million new IO-Link devices and master ports were installed worldwide. This brings the total number of IO-Link nodes installed globally to 71 million. This development once again underscores the high level of industrial acceptance and the continuous spread of the standard across all industries. Following the particularly high volumes of previous years, the market is now entering a phase of normalization at a still very high level.

IO-Link benefits from its key role in end-to-end digitalization, from the sensor all the way to higher-level IT and cloud structures. Topics such as transparency at the field level, easy integration, standardized data models, and seamless integration into higher-level systems like PROFINET make IO-Link an indispensable enabler for data-driven automation, condition monitoring, and AI-supported applications. With new extensions such as IO-Link Safety, wireless approaches, and further-developed profiles, the range of applications is continuously expanding and creating additional momentum for future growth.

Read more about the strong market position