A PROMISING START TO 2012
As we move into 2012 it's natural to wonder what the new year will bring. Signals from the market suggest improvements are on the horizon. For example, the automotive industries are bullish and as they are a large user of automation components that has to be good news for organizations like ours. Competition continues to level the global playing field and I am sure that automation will play a key role in helping keep costs down and competitiveness up for everyone.
At PI we will continue promoting our world-beating technologies on behalf of members and users, and with 2011 demonstrating once again the longevity of PROFIBUS (5 million devices were sold in 2011!) we expect 2012 to be another buoyant year. PROFINET sales for 2011 look likely to support the trend (they are being collected now and will be confirmed by the time of Hannover Fair in April). I believe 2012 will be a turning point, with exponential growth now possible for PROFINET, especially as the V2.3 enhancements come on stream and increased world-wide chip support for device makers takes hold.
As my colleague Jörg Freitag hinted at in PROFINEWS 85, PI will launch some exciting initiatives during the year, aimed at building still further the global reach and impact of our organization. We look forward to bringing the details to you shortly. In the meantime I hope you enjoy reading this issue of PROFINEWS.
Michael Bryant, Deputy Chairman, PI
GENERAL NEWS FROM PI
Successful Standardization in China: (Top two images) In December 2011, the Standardization Administration of the People’s Republic of China (SAC) authorized “PROFIBUS Profile for Process Control Devices (PROFIBUS PA)” as a Chinese national recommendatory standard (PROFIBUS PA GB/T 27526-2011). 80 representatives from a range of industry sectors participated in the official ceremony at the headquarters of the Minister in Beijing, led by Mr. Ouyang Jinsong (Secretary- General of SAC/TC124 Industry Process Measurement and Control). PROFIBUS PA is used to connect process field devices such as pressure, temperature, flow transmitters, and actuators, in process control networks. Standardization ensures that devices from different vendors interoperate in a process control system. In conjunction with the release of the PROFIBUS Profile for Process Control Devices, and combined with the establishment of a PROFIBUS test lab in China, this is expected to attract even more domestic vendors and users to support PROFIBUS. CHINESE TEST LAB.
PROFINET Technology Workshop: (Third image) The first PROFINET Technology Workshop in 2012 takes place on February 15, in Frankfurt, Germany (at the Maritim Hotel). The session is aimed at developers and product managers who would like to educate themselves about the exciting potential of PROFINET. The workshop is free of charge and held in the German language. MORE INFORMATION AND ONLINE REGISTRATION. Further workshops are on June 28, 2012 in Würzburg and on November 8, 2012 in Stuttgart. We look forward to welcoming you!
Fieldbus and Industrial Ethernet explained: (Bottom image) What are the differences between the various fieldbus and industrial Ethernet systems? What are their benefits and advantages? Will industrial Ethernet replace fieldbus? A new book, produced in cooperation with the HMS academy, aims to provide the answers to these questions and more! Called "Industrial Communication with Fieldbus and Ethernet“, it is published in English by VDE Verlag and Prof. Dr. Frithjof Klasen of the Institute for Automation & Industrial IT, Cologne University of Applied Sciences, Dr. Volker Oestreich, an independent consultant in automation technology and Michael Volz, managing director of HMS Industrial Networks in Germany. They provide a review of networking solutions as well as covering related themes like wireless and device integration. Contributing authors include PI Chairman Jörg Freitag and PNO Board Member Klaus-Peter Lindner. VDE VERLAG
Social Media: LinkedIn discussions about PROFINET can be FOUND HERE. Among the recent posts is a question about PROFINET redundancy options. PROFIblog continues to deliver its unique insights into all things automation; the recent SPS/IPC/Drives Fair in Nuremberg, Germany and its relevance to PROFIBUS and PROFINET was covered extensively during December.
CASE STUDY: POTATOES AND PROFINET!
Schulz Systemtechnik, an automation solutions provider, uses managed PROFINET switches from Weidmüller to provide reliable communications between machine segments, plant parts and higher-level office networks in their systems. "As the market is orienting itself towards PROFINET, we have involved ourselves in an intensive way," explained Stephanus Trenkamp, master electrician at Schulz Systemtechnik. "PROFINET means that we have more freedom and flexibility when building our structured networks."
"The challenge in our first PROFINET project – a high-shelf warehouse – was to find suitable components," he recalled. "We quickly realized that our old components were not ideal. Weidmüller's managed switches turned the tide and with Weidmüller as a partner, we found we could provide optimum solutions in a very short time."
More recently, Schulz has installed Weidmüller switches in a potato washing machine supplying potatoes for processing into fries and chips. The plant is operated 365 days a year, 24 hours a day in a 4-shift working cycle so reliability and availability were top priorities. Schulz provided the electrical and control systems.
Different protocols and numerous participants made networking the washing machine a challenge. There are around 210 devices in the network, including operating panels, visualization, drives and I/O systems. PROFINET, Ethernet and an internal in-house network run over the same cabling. "To avoid network failures, the use of active devices with efficient filter mechanisms was called for to reduce the broadcast traffic," said Weidmüller's Jiangxu Wang. "Our managed switches met these requirements easily as they were designed with PROFINET in mind. In addition, they enable easy connection of office networks, for example via VLAN.”
Close collaboration with Weidmüller meant that project managers at Schulz soon became able to answer questions about the communications network themselves, which means they can react very quickly to problems. Today, the potato washing machine is running for a second period without interruption. Trenkamp summarized: "Managed switches are the ideal solution for PROFINET networks. With them we have a simple way of building complex network configurations to exactly suit customers' needs." SCHULZ SYSTEMTECHNIK
(Top image: The food industry demands perfect production control, efficiency, flexibility and security. Middle image: Weidmüller's switches impressed with their reliability and simple configuration. Lower image: Other Weidmüller electronic components were also used, for instance 24 V PRO-M switch-mode power supplies.)
NEW PRODUCTS
COMbricks gets relays: (Top image) The COMbricks modular repeater platform with integrated ProfiTrace for permanent PROFIBUS monitoring now has relay modules able to respond in real time when bus problems are detected. This enables applications to directly act on a machine when communications become unreliable. PROCENTEC says that it is the only monitor that can respond directly like this. PROCENTEC
Remote I/O System for Hazardous Areas: (Second image) Bartec's remote I/O system ANTARES for Ex areas can be connected to any control system via PROFIBUS DP and PROFINET. Nine different digital and analog I/O modules are available. Up to 32 modules can be connected. The combination of Ex d, Ex e and Ex i and a specifically designed unique plug-in technology have been realized in the smallest space. The system does not require an explosion-proof casing for device category 2G. BARTEC
DSL Extender surges to Ex: (Bottom image) Due to strong demand for EX-area applications, this PROFIBUS DSL Extender is now available with approvals Ex II 3G EEx nA II T4 X. It allows PROFIBUS networks of up to 20km, with data rates up to 1.5 Mbit/s, even on non-PROFIBUS cable. In addition there are now two DSL connections, for establishing structures of up to 30 stations, plus surge protection offering two a/b connections to reduce the number of devices required. PHOENIX CONTACT
AROUND THE WORLD
South East Asia: (Both images) The final Seminar of 2011 was held in Surabaya, Indonesia, attracting 150 participants. The event was supported by Siemens, Pepperl + Fuchs, ABB, VEGA and Posital Fraba. Live demonstrations showcased products and solutions. Bernd Lieberth, President of PI South East Asia, presented the latest node numbers and introduced PROFINET innovations including PROFIenergy. Arasu Thanigai, Secretary, presented ‘best practice’ and regulations for setting up a PROFIBUS Network based on examples from real installations. 2011 saw 8 Seminars being held in 6 ASEAN countries, with over 1000 participants in all. For 2012, a special End User event is planned for Singapore. The focus will be on PROFIBUS DP/PA as well as giving more practical examples and applications on PROFINET in combination with PROFIenergy and Wireless. SOUTH EAST ASIA
UK: The PROFIBUS Group will support the UK's new Engineering Design Show which takes place in October 2012 at the Jaguar Exhibition Hall at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry. The show will focus on the needs of design engineers in the mechanical and electronic fields and will include a comprehensive conference and workshop program in which The PROFIBUS Group will be presenting on design-related issues in automation and control. UK
