PROFIBUS is the world's largest fieldbus with cost-saving solutions in factory automation and process automation plus safety, drives, and motion control coverage. This fieldbus approach produces significant cost savings in design, installation, and maintenance expenses over the old approach of point-to-point wiring. Openness and standardization guarantee the supply of PROFIBUS solutions from many different vendors as well as the availability of know-how and support from many different experts.

The adoption of fieldbuses in manufacturing continues to grow rapidly, especially in the heavy process industries such as oil and gas and chemical where the penetration of fieldbuses is still small.

'Manufacturers are realizing the benefits of PROFIBUS with its ability to address the needs of multiple manufacturing domains by integrating process instrumentation seamlessly,' said Volker Schulz, Secretary of PROFIBUS Association South East Asia. Today, PROFIBUS technology is the clear market leader worldwide in OPEN fieldbus technology, with over 25 million installed devices. Out of this, over 4.75 million device have been used in the process industry based on market data end of 2007.

Whilst the advantages of digital bus technology for process automation are becoming well understood, the available functions with PROFIBUS are not well known.

- Integration of both process and discrete variables

- Integration of factory automation and process control

- Integration of existing digital technology such as HART

- Combination of safety technology and process control with one bus with over 41,000 installed systems worldwide

In 2005 ARC, the leading US consulting company in Manufacturing – investigated the specific requirements for Fieldbuses in Process Industries and released their second white paper about PROFIBUS technology. David W. Humphrey (Senior Analyst) main conclusions are:

- 'To maximize long-term value, users should evaluate the benefits of fieldbus as they apply to whole processes – not just islands of automation.'

- 'Process industry users can benefit from PROFIBUS’ unique value proposition in its ability to integrate process instrumentation seamlessly with intelligent devices like motor control centers, remote I/O and variable speed drives.'

- 'Unlike other fieldbus solutions, PROFIBUS allows for direct integration of HART devices.'

- 'One unique advantage of PROFIBUS is its ability to connect all field devices to a single network. Other fieldbus solutions would require the use of a separate bus to network discrete devices.'

- 'PROFIBUS offers a unique value proposition to users in the hybrid industries.'

Some of the over visitors off the PROFIBUS stand at the Iwater from 24th – 26th of June 2008 included Punblic Utilities Board, GE Water & Process Technology, Boustead Infrastructure, Hyflux, Worely Parson, George Kent, Camp Dress & McKee International, CPG Consultants, CH2M Hill, Dow Chemical, Black & Veatch and many more who not only come from the direct industry. Which showed the importance of this topic for the industry.

The IWater Exhibition in Singapore was picked to be an automation showcase and technical support base to promote the development and application of PROFIBUS in the region.

In addition to immediate advantages like reduced wiring and installation costs, fieldbus acts as an enabler to a new level of asset management effectiveness. This means reduced downtime through better diagnostics, simplifying routine maintenance and supporting predictive maintenance. PROFIBUS’ common communications protocol creates a familiar environment that can help to lower engineering, training and maintenance costs.

Mr. Volker Schulz added: 'PROFIBUS reduces operating costs significantly and helps manufacturers achieve operational excellence.'

Already an established technology with a proven track record, as many as 500 engineers globally continue to be dedicated to advancing the PROFIBUS technology so that it can adapt to the ever-changing automation landscape.

How much PROFIBUS is being used in Singapore has been reconfirmed based on visitors questionnaires completed during this event. The feedback shows clearly that PROFIBUS is the choice of Fieldbus technology with more the 32 % market share.

The PROFIBUS stand provided by PROFIBUS South East Asia showed the latest products from different companies which included a 'live' demonstration of the full capabilities of PROFIBUS, with migration strategy for Foundation Fieldbus Technology.

About PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International)

With more than 1,400 members worldwide, PI is the world’s largest organization for industrial communication. There are regional PI associations in 24 countries, 7 PI test centers and more than 30 PI competence centers in 16 countries to ensure worldwide PROFIBUS and PROFINET Support.

The PROFIBUS Association South East Asia was established in 1998 as a non-profit organization to promote the knowledge of PROFIBUS and its application in industrial automation, building automation and process automation by manufacturing industries, solution providers and system integrators to enhance the understanding of fieldbus technology in the region.

Some of the key partners in the regional association and sponsors of the booth included:

ABB, AUMA Actuators, Avago Technologies Manufacturing (Singapore), Belden, DNR Process Solutions, Endress + Hauser S.E.A., Excel Marco, Festo, Foxboro, Hirschmann, Hollisys SEA, Leoni Kerpen, LappCable, Mettler Toledo, MTL, Gecma, Pepperl + Fuchs, ProSoft Technology, Turck, TDS Technology, Siemens, Softing, SMAR, Vega, Weidmueller, Wago and many more.

For further information about PI, please visit www.profibus.com.

Disclaimer

Any statements in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties; actual results may differ from the forward-looking statements. PROFIBUS International undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.