PROFIdrive is the standard profile for drive technology in conjunction with the PROFIBUS and PROFINET communication systems. The use of open “application profiles” divided in Application Classes (AC) is a tried-and-tested way of using communication systems to connect drives and controllers from different manufacturers in an integrated and straightforward way. The way drives are integrated into automation solutions is heavily dependent on the drive application. For this reason, the PROFIdrive profile defines 6 application classes (AC) that cover the entire drive application range. A drive device can span one or more application classes, depending on the market segment and device implementation. In this way, PROFIdrive allows flexible, manufacturer-specific design of drive products to meet particular market requirements.