"I must say it (Hannover Fair 2011) was a far cry from the distant days of the standardization battles, and it was genuinely refreshing for visitors to be able to do business with many different parties without the extensive footwork required in previous years": Bryant
Welcome to PROFINEWS and news of an unusual spirit of cooperation at the recent Hanover Fair where a different form of 'integration' than we normally discuss took center stage in Hall 9. For the first time ever four 'fieldbus' groups joined forces to share a 'Field Communications' booth, with the aim of making it easier for visitors and supporting companies to see, listen to and touch automation networking and engineering technologies. I must say it was a far cry from the distant days of the standardization battles, and it was genuinely refreshing for visitors to be able to do business with four different parties without the extensive footwork required in previous years. Hannover Fair was smaller than ever this year too - which tended to lighten the atmosphere further. Some interesting news was announced by PI, particularly concerning node counts for PROFINET and PROFIBUS. You can read more below about that and other stories but I'd like particularly to draw your attention to perhaps one of the most interesting 'integration' stories of all - the integration of INTERBUS into the PI organization (see right). I think you'll agree that things in the 'field communications' world are changing pretty fast, with PI once again at the forefront!
Michael J Bryant, PI Deputy Chairman
PI Joined forces with the FDT Group, the Fieldbus Foundation and the HART Communication Foundation at the Hanover Fair in hosting the first-ever co-sponsored Field Communication Lounge. The Lounge provided a display area divided into four separate sections. The aim was to reduce costs and make things more convenient for visitors and vendors alike by creating a single place in one Hall where the latest in field communication and integration technologies could be shown and discussed. 
A common presentation forum and relaxation areas were also available. PI showed all its technologies, including PROFINET, PROFIBUS, PROFIenergy, PROFIsafe and IO-Link. A PROFIBUS display emphasized the easy to use nature of PI's world-beating fieldbus solution while a PROFINET wall (pictured) demonstrated the wide ranging scope of the products now available as well as the globalized nature of the vendor base. Presentations on all these technologies were given in the various forums organized throughout the 5 day Fair.
A number of important announcements were made at the Fair and you can read about those stories elsewhere on this page. A great photo-opportunity came with the awarding of an official PROFINET certification to the new Tiger TPS-1 ASIC Development Kit from Phoenix Contact (see also Product Story below right). PI Chairman Joerg Freitag (left) presented the certificate to Gunnar Lessmann (middle), Project Manager TPS-1 Development of Phoenix Contact, with Albert Tretter from Siemens and two very relaxed PI models looking on! The press releases can be 
FOUND HERE
In 2010 nearly twice as many PROFINET devices were installed as in 2009. The number of PROFIBUS and PROFIsafe devices also increased significantly. Audited figures show that 900,000 PROFINET devices were added in 2010, bringing the total installed base to 3 million. “The completion of the 'PROFINET for Process Automation' profile announced recently is an important step towards a uniform communication concept for the process and manufacturing industries,” said Jörg Freitag, PI Chairman (below). "The path is now clear for PROFINET in process automation, and this will open up many new opportunities. We expect significant increases in the number of PROFINET nodes over the next few years.” I
Bernie Anger, General Manager Control and Communication Systems for GE Intelligent Platforms, has been elected to the PI North America Board of Directors. The appointment follows GE Intelligent Platforms’ commitment to PROFINET as the backbone network of its next generation PACSystems controller architecture. Michael Bryant, Executive Director of PI North America, said: “
Separately, Prof. Dr. Frithjof Klasen (left) has been elected to the Board of Directors of PI in Germany, replacing founding chairman Prof. Dr. Klaus Bender who retired in 2009. The PI Board of Directors now comprises Jörg Freitag (Chairman, Siemens AG), Klaus-Peter Lindner (Endress + Hauser Process Solutions), and Prof. Dr. Frithjof Klasen (AIT). Prof. Klasen has served as director of the Institut Automation & Industrial IT (AIT), Cologne University of Applied Sciences, since 2003. He is an expert on PROFINET and Industrial Security and AIT has been an active member of PI Germany since 1997. It is also an accredited PROFINET Competence Center. Prof. Klasen has helped implement numerous industrial automation projects, both domestically and abroad. 
Salzgitter Flachstahl is the biggest steel subsidiary of Salzgitter AG, one of Europe’s leading steel technology companies. Its central service provider SZST Salzgitter Service und Technik GmbH permanently monitors PROFINET and PROFIBUS networks in several installations. Adequate diagnostics is a major criterion for SZST who needs to be able to act quickly when necessary.
It only takes a few minutes to learn how to use the solution.“
TREBING+HIMSTEDT
Kopenhagen Fur took machine safety very seriously when a new pelt sorting system comprising 30 stations was installed recently to optimize the sorting process - and thus revenue. The new system was set up around existing measuring equipment, which made it possible to exploit the equipment more effectively.
id Tappert, "while being included as part of the overall machine safety system."
If you're interested in a blogger's view of Hannover Fair visit PI North America's 
KPA (Korea PROFIBUS Association) participated in the ‘Automation World 2011’ fair in Seoul during March. A multi-vendor demo showed PROFINET and PROFIBUS devices from member companies and the open connectivity of both protocols. B&R Automation, Deutschmann, Endress+ Hauser, Hilscher, PHOENIX CONTACT, profichip and SIEMENS, Systeme Helmholz participated. PI Chairman Mr. Freitag attended and helped present a Press Conference and parallel Seminars together with Mr. Chang (SIEMENS Korea) and Mr. Cha (RPA Korea Chairman). This fair is Korea’s only exhibition for the domestic automation industry. It offers an information forum for introducing new products. It pursues innovations through convergence of IT, robots and welding technologies, in addition to promoting existing manufacturing technologies and automation. 
kpa@profibus.co.kr
This five-port Ethernet switch has IP67 protection for use in harsh industrial environments. Its housing is only 30mm wide so it can be installed on a standard structural element and be quickly and simply fixed using M6 screws. Integrated priority handling of data according to IEEE 802.1p allows the switch to be used in PROFINET or heterogeneous environments. Accessories including labeling are available for standardized M12 connections. 
This Isolator protects copper-connected Ethernet participants against potential differences up to 4kV. At data transmission rates of up to 1 Gbit/s, the level of interference immunity in industrial environments is significantly increased. They are installed in front of the network participant to be protected. A power supply is not required. Approvals for railway applications (rolling stock) in accordance with EN 50155 and EN 50121 are available. 
COMbricks is a modular repeater system that contains a ProfiTrace core for permanently monitoring four PROFIBUS networks. While the repeaters are driving the bus segments, the ProfiTrace core autonomously monitors the data traffic and warns the user of problems. 
This Switched Ethernet PROFINET module supports the PROFIenergy power management profile to allow the power values of low voltage distribution systems in industrial plants collected with the help of PAC measuring devices to be integrated directly in higher-level automation and power management systems. Thus, power management can be optimized over a PROFINET IO network. Installation, networking and commissioning costs are minimal: the module is simply plugged onto the back of the power monitoring device and, thanks to the integrated Ethernet switch, can be directly connected to the PAC. The module is detected automatically and is programmed using software such as Step 7. 
ZMDI has announced the fourth member of its IO-Link line driver and level shifter IC family. The ZIOL2411 offers two independent I/O channels that meet the physical layer requirements of master, sensor and actuator systems and it is pin- and function-compatible with the ZIOL2401. The ZIOL2411 is a cost-efficient IC without an integrated DC/DC converter and is designed for harsh environments. Starter and Lab Kits are available now, as are chip samples. 
The EK9300 Bus Coupler permits easy connection of EtherCAT Terminals to PROFINET networks. It acts as a PROFINET IO device and has an integrated EtherCAT master, which connects the terminals by auto-configuration. The PROFINET process data are converted in the Bus Coupler into E-bus formats. Terminals and Box modules are directly connectable. 
A PI version of 'PROFIBUS in Process Automation' by James Powell and Harry Vandelinde has been published. It's available in English and German and costs Euro 18 per book for PI members. Non-members price is Euro 36. (Prices exclude tax and shipping.) Reviews include:
