There is news this month from Hilscher, who announces a partnership to integrate IT and OT networks. Also, Phoenix Contact has opened a brand new training facility in Germany to further collaboration with universities there.
Partnership for Seamless IT/OT Integration
Hilscher has formed a milestone partnership with SAP that allows for the seamless integration of information technology (IT) with operational technology (OT). With this agreement, the two companies are able to provide bi-directional access of the sensor/actuator level, via the netIOT Edge® Gateway from Hilscher, to the SAP HANA Cloud Platform and the SAP Asset Intelligence Network. A first demonstration was shown at the SAP booth during Hanover Fair, April 25-29, 2016.
The integration into the Asset Intelligence Network is carried out without the need for additional configuration, and offers device manufacturers the opportunity to access their own devices regardless of the PLC and the production network.
This results in benefits for plant operators and device manufacturers:
- Production technology can be optimized through integrated installation and preventive maintenance procedures, and in parallel, the device manufacturers can monitor and improve the usage and service of their products in the field.
- New business models, such as pay-per-use and function-based billing, can be implemented.
In addition, access down to the field level from the Asset Intelligence Network is possible, allowing integration into the business processes during installation, maintenance and service of the production system. The integrated solution from the sensor to the cloud allows the implementation of the reference architectures of the Platform Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet Consortium.
“The netIOT Edge Gateway has four Ethernet ports, two for PROFINET and two for cloud and IT network connections,” says Phil Marshall, Hilscher North America CEO and PI North America Board of Directors member. “The first implementation of the netIOT Edge Gateway will support PROFINET for field-level communications.”
Phoenix Contact Training Center officially opened
With Garrelt Duin, the State Minister for Economic Affairs for North Rhine-Westphalia in attendance, Phoenix Contact officially opened its new Training Center in Schieder on June 10, 2016.
Built on the site previously used by the Schieder-Möbel company, the new multi-story building has a floor space of 13,000 sqm and is home to vocational training as well as further training for Phoenix Contact. In future, training workshops, laboratories, and seminar rooms will be available not only to Phoenix Contact Group trainees and staff, but also external providers such as adult education centers, Chambers of Industry and Commerce or colleges and universities.
Over 30 million euros have been invested in the project. A particular area of focus this year is the qualification of employees for digitalization in industry (Industrie 4.0), which affects all the business divisions along the value added chain. A digital laboratory has been set up on site for training production staff, where they will be able to try and test processes in practice.
The event opened with a welcoming address by video from the German Minister of Education and Research, Professor Johanna Wanka. Welcoming addresses then followed from Garrelt Duin, the State Minister for Economic Affairs for North Rhine-Westphalia, and President of the Federal Institute for Vocational Training and Education, Professor Friedrich H. Esser.