Under the new name ‘Smart Production Solutions’, SPS Fair 2019 was again a big success. The name change reflects the ongoing digital transformation and therefore the convergence of IT and OT. Many IT companies appeared at the fair to showcase their IoT solutions. It was a perfect setup for PI and our booth.
Tunnel boring machines are enormous, highly automated, mobile “factories,” which can perform all stages of tunnel construction in a single run. A challenge for these machines is the transmission of relevant data from the head to the controller located further back. PROFINET over wireless played a vital role in solving that challenge.
On June 26th, PI UK and Endress+Hauser hosted a fruitful event in the city of Manchester. The seminar addressed key practical issues arising from the use of digital communications technologies in automated manufacturing and process industry applications.
Giant tank farms are coming into existence with the flourishing palm oil industry in Southeast Asia. In Indonesia, a new project has been implemented which directly integrates PROFIBUS PA segments via PROFINET. This tight integration was critical when it came time to design an installation that would be up to Industry 4.0.
The goal of APL is to bring Ethernet down to field level instruments in hazardous areas. Nowadays, existing field devices typically rely on limited fieldbus network infrastructures. The development of a two-wire-based advanced physical layer (APL) for Ethernet is running at full steam.
PI Brazil has made stops in its onsite workshop roadshow at Transpetro and ArcelorMittal in March. The events cover the full range of PI’s technologies with practical demonstrations. Also highlighted in Brazil are specific trainings for PROFIBUS and IO-Link news.
![The ‘Dual Channel Principle’ [Case Study]](https://profinews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IPIC_Dual_channel_principle_feldbus_interface_feature2-150x150.jpg)
Leuze electronic is promoting what they’re calling a ‘dual channel principle’. Real-time data is transferred via one channel, and data for process monitoring and configuration via another channel. Wonder which protocols are being used? You guessed it: PROFINET and OPC UA.
New products this month include those from: Phoenix Contact, HMS, TWK, PROVERTHA, Turck, halstrup-walcher, and Softing. This is the second in a two-part section on new products. It’s an exciting time for the PROFIBUS, PROFINET, and IO-Link technologies.
