The full schedule proposed for the Profibus User Conference 2008 is now presented on the conference website, at http://www.profi-bus.co.uk. Once again the two lecture streams provide technology updates and application experience on the one hand, with a second stream presenting workshops on the more practical aspects of installing and using Profibus systems. The workshops are presented with the same schedule on both days of the conference, enabling the delegate to choose the main lectures of interest for his particular application.
Day One (24 June) kicks off with a keynote address from Joerg Freitag, Chairman of Profibus International (PI) - the organisation behind both PROFIBUS and PROFINET. Joerg will report to the conference on the state of the technology and the market for both PROFIBUS and PROFINET, and will present the way forward for users and also intending users of the technologies.
Case studies outlining user experience from recent UK PROFIBUS installations will include a description of the Electric Monorail System installed at Cummins Engines, presented by Tam Ashcroft of Cleveland Systems. The diesel engine production line and pressure test process now uses 600m of overhead monorail to transport the units through 34 assembly stations, and a number of PROFIBUS networks interface between operator HMI and touch panels, and the Siemens S7-317DP PLCs. Paul Le Cornu of Hydro International will also describe the instrumentation and automation of their hydraulic test facilities using a PROFIBUS system. Other practical papers on Day 1 discuss system design, pitfalls and troubleshooting.
Day Two (25 June) includes a presentation from Thomas Klatt of Pepperl + Fuchs on the use of PROFIBUS PA in hazardous area applications, and a further paper from Mark Cargill of Enpure on upgrading and extending legacy PROFIBUS systems. Mark Cargill will be well known for his previous presentations at many PROFIBUS events describing the water industry use of fieldbus installations, both in terms of design and practical implementation. The current and future trends in the water industry installation of fieldbus networks is the main topic of a further paper from Roger Marlow, of the Pump Centre, part of ESR Technology, one of the UK’s leading engineering, safety and risk consultancies. For the past 12 years, Roger has been the Project Manager for the Water Industry Mechanical and Electrical Specification (WIMES) project, which is currently preparing a common UK Water Industry Specification for the installation of fieldbus networks.
Further presentations lined up for the two day event include an update on PROFINET and discussion papers over PROFINET in motion control. Other papers cover topics such as safety, electrical drives, and cyber security in PROFIBUS systems.
Please consult the PROFIBUS conference website at www.profi-bus.co.uk for further information, about the presentation programme and the speakers: there you can also find an on-line booking form and full information about the 2008 schedule, and reports on past similar events.
