Belden and Weidmüller jointly develop a modular infrastructure box for Industry 4.0

Belden has been working with Weidmüller to jointly develop a modular infrastructure box for the connection of production modules. This standardised interface, which was presented for the first time in a pilot production line for the SmartFactory^KL technology initiative at this year's Hanover trade fair, is said to represent an essential prerequisite for the cross-location collection of production information in the Internet of Things, according to Industry 4.0 requirements.

SmartFactory^KL is a centre of expertise and manufacturer-independent demonstration and research platform, developing innovative factory systems to support the vision of Industry 4.0. SmartFactory^KL has already developed the world's first manufacturer-independent Industry 4.0 plant.

Flexibly integrated, the plug-and-play infrastructure box is compatible with any manufacturer's production module within SmartFactory^KL and provides transparency, functional reliability and data security. It is designed to facilitate fast data communication and to be used to transmit control commands and status information as well as other types of data, with a reliable power supply for efficient production processes even with the smallest of batch sizes.

"The infrastructure box creates a sort of lifeline, through which each production module is supplied with everything it requires in terms of infrastructure," explained Dr John Herold, vice president of Industrial Marketing at Belden. "The requirements for corresponding solutions include fast data transmission, reliable energy supply and flexible, yet secure integration."

The solution is available with protection ratings ranging from IP54 to IP69K and also in a version suitable for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. It comprises the Connected Security module from Hirschmann, which ensures high-availability data communication between process and control systems and actuator/sensor systems, and components for integrated energy measurement from Weidmüller.

Hirschmann RSP switches facilitate networking, while safety functions can be implemented due to multiport firewalls from Hirschmann's EAGLE range. Status information and measurement data are provided by the infrastructure box via OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA) without additional interfaces and middleware.

The Power Monitor measurement device and high-performance PROmax switched-mode power supply from Weidmüller provide integrated energy measurement. Klippon housing technology, lightning and overvoltage protection from the VARITECTOR range and the FrontCom Vario service interface from Weidmüller form the frame of the infrastructure box and contribute to its compact, durable design.

The infrastructure box can be used in ring, bus and star topologies and in standalone operation, as required by efficiency, availability and safety requirements. It also allows for a centralised power supply through decentralised sources. The modular design of the infrastructure box provides optimal flexibility: for example, the number of inputs and outputs can be customised and even changed at a later instance if desired.