ABB is supporting the digital transformation of a major petrochemical complex in China with its latest Ethernet-APL-enabled flow measurement technology.

In July 2026, ABB announced an order from Zhejiang Petroleum & Chemical to supply ProcessMaster FEP600 electromagnetic flowmeters with Ethernet-APL connectivity for an upgrade project at the company’s large refining and petrochemical complex on Yushan Island, Zhejiang Province. The site has an overall refining capacity of approximately 40 million tons per year.

The flowmeters will be deployed in a chemical production unit with an annual capacity of approximately 450,000 tons of adipic acid. The production process involves high-temperature and corrosive acidic fluids, creating demanding conditions for industrial measurement equipment.

One of the key technologies in this project is Ethernet-APL, or Advanced Physical Layer. Designed specifically for process industries, Ethernet-APL enables high-speed digital communication and power transmission over a two-wire connection. It is also designed to support communication over long distances and applications in hazardous industrial environments.

For process automation engineers, Ethernet-APL can provide a more direct connection between field instruments and higher-level automation systems. Instead of relying only on conventional analog signals, modern field devices can provide additional diagnostic and process information through digital communication.

This development is particularly relevant to DCS, PLC, SCADA and industrial IoT systems. More detailed field-level data can help operators and engineers monitor process conditions, identify abnormal operating conditions and improve maintenance decisions.

ABB’s ProcessMaster FEP600 is designed for demanding flow measurement applications. In this petrochemical project, the instruments will monitor corrosive fluids where reliable measurement is essential for maintaining stable production and process efficiency.

The project also highlights a broader trend in industrial automation. As existing plants undergo digital upgrades, manufacturers are looking for ways to connect field instrumentation with modern industrial networks without completely replacing their existing automation infrastructure.

Ethernet-APL provides an important pathway toward this goal by bringing Industrial Ethernet technology closer to the process field.

For petrochemical, chemical, oil and gas facilities, improved field connectivity can support better process visibility and more efficient plant operation. Combined with modern PLC and DCS platforms, smart field instruments can become an important part of a connected automation architecture.

ABB’s latest deployment demonstrates how industrial Ethernet is increasingly moving from control rooms toward field-level devices. As process plants continue their digital transformation, technologies such as Ethernet-APL are expected to play a growing role in smart instrumentation and next-generation process automation.