Ethernet and AS-Interface: the ideal partner networks for industrial automation
09 April, 2008 by Helge Hornis, PhD*In manufacturing plant networks, what is frequently overlooked is the lowest level of automation, where sensors, simple binary actuator and safety inputs reside. At this level the number of wire leads that must be routed, stripped and terminated is staggering.
FDT specifications for automation applications
06 December, 2007The FDT Group has released addendums for Profinet I/O and Modbus to its specification, which is the next step towards the application of the FDT technology in factory automation applications.
Yokogawa and Moore Industries simplify HART compatibility
01 August, 2007Japanese company Yokogawa Electric and the American company Moore Industries have expanded their preferred vendor agreement to include Moore Industries’ HCS HART concentrator system.
Third FDT user forum in Basel
19 July, 2007The FDT Group held its third User Forum on 28 June 2007 in the Congress Center of Basel, Switzerland. The forum is a platform where end users and suppliers exchange practical experience in implementing the FDT technology in their process plants and give feedback to the FDT Group about their requirements and priorities for technology enhancements.
Network integration
22 May, 2007The new MGate 3000 series from CrispTech was designed for simple integration of Modbus TCP and RTU/ASCII networks.
Unified solution for device integration
27 April, 2007The EDDL Cooperation Team (ECT) and the FDT Group have agreed to combine their efforts and work towards a unified solution for device integration that is compatible with both technologies.
Powerful new BACnet controller
17 April, 2007The BACnet standard for building automation has become so widespread that it is now impossible to imagine building control technology without it. For this reason, Saia-Burgess Controls, a longstanding member of the "BACnet Interest Group Europe" (BIG-EU), also offers the new Saia PCD3 series as a "BACnet Building Controller" (B-BC).
Profinet in process automation
11 April, 2007Profibus & Profinet International (PI) is standardising the use of Profinet in process automation. After completing the integration of Profibus PA in Profinet IO, work was extended to include the integration of HART and Foundation Fieldbus
Fibre-optic solution
14 March, 2007North Otago Irrigation Company has recently completed the Downlands Scheme irrigation project. The project, was constructed over 18 months and commissioned last Spring.
SmartSlice I/O for DeviceNet
06 October, 2006The GRT1 series is a Smart Slice I/O system which allows up to 64 small input/output modules to be plugged into a single communications module.
Emerson on the Brunei Shell Petroleum platform
31 July, 2006Emerson Process Management's PlantWeb digital automation architecture and system integration services have helped Brunei Shell Petroleum Co. Sdn Bhd (BSP) start up its Phase III Champion West oil and gas field platform. The platform, located off the coast of Brunei, operates completely unmanned.
