Press & News

With the expansion of its communication technologies, integration solutions, the new technology for the modularization of production plants and other information models, PROFIBUS & PROFINET International (PI) is offering an attractive and valuable portfolio for process automation. 

In the area of communication technology, the certification of PROFINET over APL field devices is now possible—if desired, in conjunction with FDI (Field Device Integration) packages for integration into higher-level systems. With this, a digital connection of field devices is now possible over a two-wire connection which can also be implemented in explosion-protection areas. The standards are currently being expanded for PROFIsafe, where applications with functional safety are also being covered with the same technology in the next step. PROFINET goes SPE is yet another standard offered by PI. 

With this, the tried-and-tested and widely used PROFINET protocol can be continuously used in a wide variety of different industries and applications down to the field level. The new technologies are an enabler for comprehensive digitalization and a driver for further innovation in field device connection.

Remote IOs for process automation (RIO for PA) are available for the integration of additional protocols. The new PA Profile for Remote IO will soon be released for this purpose. HART integration into PROFINET, among other things, is also taken into account here. A further step towards technology openness. 

MTP (Module Type Package), the fifth primary technology from PI, is the key to flexible process-engineering production plants. In cooperation with experts from NAMUR and ZVEI, versions of documents which arose based on the VDI/GMA are being revised in a stable version and will be published in the first quarter of 2024. The host of this technology is PI.

With regard to information models for continuous vertical data exchange, PI is working together with eight other associations on further developing PA-DIM for easier and more flexible device swapping and for vertical data exchange down to the cloud. 

With this, PI is offering an expanded portfolio for digitalization in process industries which goes far beyond communication technology.