The IO-Link Community met in Frankfurt, Germany for its 16th IO-Link Interoperability Workshop. 75 participants from 33 companies spent both days intensively putting their new IO-Link devices through their paces. The participant turnout also set a new record in the number of different countries from which attending companies originated.
Did you know that IO-Link drastically reduces electrical installation costs? IO-Link results in significant cost savings even for classic binary sensors. For use as an installation system, IO-Link sensor hubs are available on the market that condense up to 16 binary sensors with one switching output or 8 sensors with two switching outputs (e.g. antivalent or Desina sensors) into a single serial IO-Link connection.
PI Brazil has had a full slate of meetings and activities including some featuring PI Chairman, Karsten Schneider. On November 9, PI Italy held their final PROFIBUS and PROFINET event of 2016 in the industrial district in southern Italy. PI Middle East is hosting another PROFIday featuring the food and beverage industry on November 15.
When a user decides on PROFINET, he has a choice of thousands of different products developed and available worldwide today, such as I/O devices, actuators, sensors, network and infrastructure components, and controllers. This variety gives the user maximum freedom to design his own plant and automation systems. The device manufacturer has access to a wide range of different hardware- and software-based basic technologies for optimal implementation of the PROFINET interface based on his requirements.
Did you know that all well-known chip manufacturers offer chips for IO-Link devices or masters? Over ten chip manufacturers have already listed their products. These offer a suitable chip for every device class, ranging from simple drivers/transceivers to microcontrollers. Several manufactures have also integrated IO-Link in their system or network controllers.
Secure and stable networks form the basis of high performance industrial communication. The only chance for their longevity is that they remain in perfect working condition. Is this currently the case? VORTEX 2016 for the first time delivers a comprehensive appraisal of the status of industrial networks across technologies and countries.
News from Australia and India: PI Australia held their annual member meeting and looked back at the year’s achievements, including a new membership high. PI India demonstrated a seamless multivendor system at SPS Automation India 2016.
Highlighted this month: Australia has 30 certified PROFINET and PROFIBUS training classes scheduled for the remainder of 2016. PI Middle East has an upcoming seminar focused on food and beverage in their Dubai office. IO-Link has enhanced their workshops. And many classes are on the schedule for the balance of 2016.
