With the release of the FDI Specification and handover to IEC and the availability of the first version of the developer tool, FDI Cooperation LLC has achieved its primary goal. PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International) has participated actively in the various working groups by providing numerous experts and was instrumental in shaping the technology in the interests of its members.
As agreed, the FDI Cooperation will be dissolved at the conclusion of its work (expected mid-2015). However, permanent establishment of the FDI technology on the market will require continuous further development and support. To this end, PI and the FieldComm Group are proposing to join forces under the framework of a long-term cooperation agreement after disbandment of the FDI Cooperation LLC.
The platform and infrastructure for this will be provided by the FieldComm Group. This includes the establishment of working groups for support and management teams for development projects. PI’s own experts will be represented in all relevant activities. Both organizations hold equal rights to the results.
Further development of PROFIBUS- and PROFINET-specific parts of the specifications and developer tools will take place in PI Working Groups. The certification tests of PROFIBUS and PROFINET products with FDI will be performed in accredited PI Test Labs and the certificates will be issued by the PI Certification Body. PI will remain the point of contact for its members in regard to the specifications and developer tools relevant to FDI.
In the future, PI will also implement user requirements and will permanently establish FDI as a component of its supported technology portfolio. PI is fulfilling the expectations of its member companies by actively promoting the further development of FDI for PROFIBUS and PROFINET technologies.