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SPS IPC Drives 2015 exclusive show report

03 January, 2016
innovative design is said to ensure safe and parallel transmission of signals, loads, data and Ethernet signals.

Molex announced a series of IP67 modules for connecting industrial safety controllers to sensors and actuators in harsh environments. The machine-mountable Brad HarshIO Ethernet modules are designed for safety applications up to SIL 3 / PL where communication via Ethernet/IP is needed to exchange safety and standard control data and diagnostics information over a single Ethernet network. The modules (below) have 12 safe inputs and four safe outputs, supporting the connection of single- and dual-channel safety devices.

Murrelektronik was showing two series of fieldbus modules with a Profinet IRT (isochronous real-time) function, designed to process time-critical data packages to ensure that production-line operation of equipment such as synchronous motors takes place with precise timing. The tough MVK Metal modules, and the Impact67 modules for less demanding applications, can achieve 250µs update times and jitter accuracies better than 1µs.

Rockwell Automation has expanded its Ethernet switch portfolio with the Allen-Bradley Stratix 5410, which has four 10Gbit Ethernet ports and can be used as a Layer 2 access switch or a Layer 3 routing switch. The 19”-rack-mounting switch offers users a centralised point for network distribution and a high port density.

Siemens has developed a range of compact I/O modules for AS-i applications, including 17.5mm-wide versions that, it claims, are the thinnest on the market. The AS-i SlimLine modules (which also include 22.5mm-wide versions) are half the width of their predecessors (the S22.5 and S45 SlimLine modules). The IP20-protected modules include digital I/O versions as well as ASIsafe modules with safe inputs.

Siemens has also launched a high-performance (up to 44Gbps) Ethernet switch designed to link automation and office networks. The 44mm-high Scalance XR526-8C switch has 24 Gigabit ports and two 10Gb ports. Two extra 10Gbps SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable) slots deliver the performance up to 44 Gbps.

At SPS, Softing introduced a gateway designed to integrate Profibus PA segments into control systems that support Profinet, allowing users to migrate to Profinet controllers. The pnGate PA (below) acts as an interface between host systems and field devices and performs Profinet and Profibus PA master tasks. It uses familiar tools such as Siemens PDM and Profinet Engineering Systems.

Softing is also offering a software tool that provides mobile diagnostics of industrial Ethernet networks – in particular, Profinet – for troubleshooting and acceptance testing. The busCheck Analyzer IE allows users to carry out automated acceptance tests and to create test reports.

Vipa, the German automation company owned by Yaskawa, is expanding its portfolio of networking and remote maintenance products, which it is selling under the Remote Access brand. The portfolio include five- and eight-port switches for both industrial Ethernet and Profinet, as well as fieldbus repeaters and bus terminators. 

Wago has launched a series of managed Ethernet switches that allow redundant networks to be created in industrial applications. The 852 series includes two switches, each available in two versions: eight-port 1000Base-T and four-port 1000Base-SX/LX; and eight-port 110Base-TX and two-port 1000Base-SX/LX models. All support the creation of redundant network structures, include redundant power supplies, and can be configured individually.

Wieland announced a new generation of industrial routers that can access the Internet via LANs, WLANs or mobile services. The Wienet VPN routers provide encrypted VPN connections with automatic backup connections to the Internet for secure operation. There are five Ethernet ports, a USB host, an SD card slot, two digital inputs and one digital output, as well as three antenna ports. An energy-saving mode can be activated in




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