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.
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.
PI North America members Beamex and HARTING are in the news this month along with Germany’s Indu-Sol. Beamex has scheduled two calibration-focused events for the process industry, one for technicians and engineers and one for managers and executives. HARTING’s new product MICA (Modular Industry Computing Architecture) won the HERMES AWARD at the opening ceremony of Hannover Fair. Indu-Sol presents an appraisal of the status of industrial networks across technologies and countries.
PROFINET stalwart Phoenix Contact’s Middletown, Pa., plant was named Plant Engineering magazine’s Top Plant of 2015. HARTING announces “The HARTING Knowledge Center” app, a content hub of all of HARTING’s educational materials, including white papers, FAQs, videos, brochures, and more.
HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, has become the first American school to join Phoenix Contact’s EduNet program. EduNet is an international education network that brings together schools and industry in the field of automation technology. The EduNet program includes donating equipment for the lab. This gives students hands-on access to several Phoenix Contact ILC controller and PROFINET starter kits, the same type of equipment they might use once they graduate and work on the manufacturing floor.
A combined Regional PI Chairman meeting and Industry Forum has been announced for Australia. HARTING announces a North American roadshow truck to showcase connectivity solutions. Ireland held a one-day demo consisting of two sessions on PROFIBUS diagnostics.
We have four members’ updates this month: GE Intelligent Platforms customer gets easy upgrade to PROFINET. PI and PI North America member PROCENTEC announces the opening of a new office in Italy. Softing provides a white paper on Best Practice in PROFIBUS Network Diagnostics and a success story for PROFIBUS diagnostics. Industrie 4.0 and cyber-physical systems are the topics of a position paper from halstrup-walcher.
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In member news this month, Phoenix Contact has introduced a hybrid magazine+catalog App for the iPad. It contains both topical articles as well as a product library. Delta Computer Systems is expanding its work space to accommodate new personnel and expanded training and test labs.
