News from Profibus / Profinet – Part 1 PROFIBUS — a Proven Technology

Fieldbus systems have a proven track record that goes back about 20 years, and Profibus has been at the forefront. These systems are deployed throughout the industrial automation landscape in the automotive, machinery manufacturing, food & beverage, pharmaceutical and chemical industries.

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PROFIBUS Nutzerorganisation e.V. (PNO)

The participation was much higher than expected. Nearly all of the retired system operators and members of the maintenance & service team had accepted the invitation and could hardly wait to see “their” facility again. Many had already heard that much had changed. The word was that a lot of new gadgetry had been introduced, but the retirees decided to wait and see. Of course no one wanted to stand in the way of progress, but the technology was proven and had almost always worked, so why should that not be good enough in the future?

The youngster was confident but also a bit nervous. He knew some of the people because he had personally worked with them, but the others were strangers. He was constantly in contact with a lot of people on social networking, but now many eyes were fixed on him and he could sense the expectation and scrutiny. He was about to give a presentation on the system automation framework, and he knew that all of the people in the audience were highly knowledgeable. These were people who did not always share his appreciation for the benefits of state-of-the-art process automation. He decided therefore to begin his presentation by highlighting the practical importance of fieldbus technology.

Fieldbus systems have a proven track record that goes back about 20 years, and Profibus has been at the forefront. These systems are deployed throughout the industrial automation landscape in the automotive, machinery manufacturing, food & beverage, pharmaceutical and chemical industries. Somewhere in the region of 50 million Profibus nodes are currently installed in the field. They ensure reliable process data transport, simplify engineering design and installation and play a key role during ongoing operation.

Tailor-made

Profibus PA has been used in process automation for more than 10 years. Around 7.5 million field devices already communicate using Profibus PA links, generating significant value add for users. Device power and process data as well as device status signals and diagnostic data are delivered via the bus cables.

Technology is not the only crucial factor. The enthusiasm, ideas and expertise of the users and manufacturers who stand behind Profibus continue to drive development. The close linkages between Profibus & Profinet International (PI) and end users and their organizations ensure that the technology continues to move forward while remaining aligned with application needs. Prominent examples include Namur, an international user association of automation technology in process industries and Aida in the automobile industry. The result is a set of user-friendly technologies that are quickly ready for practical application.

Strong organization

The technology network gives users in a broad range of industries the opportunity to learn from each other. PI offers technologies for the full spectrum of industrial communication, ranging from factory and process automation to high-performance motion control applications including functional safety. The worldwide network of competence centers, training centers and test labs ensures that support and reliable technology are available around the world. So, the potency and reliability of the cross-industry PI technology network continues to increase.

The old man was impressed with the presentation by this young systems engineer. He poured himself a cup of coffee from the thermos bottle. Just the way he likes it – black, without sugar or milk. The first sip was too hot to hold in his mouth. Simultaneously a thought crossed his mind. He wanted to continue putting this young man to the test just a bit longer …

To be continued: Part 2

www.profibus.com

Further parts of our Profibus series:

Part 1: PROFIBUS – a Proven Technology

Part 2: PROFIBUS — Diagnostics the Easy Way

Part 3: Profibus — Device Management the Easy Way

Part 4: PROFIBUS — for Stable Process Control

Part 5: PROFIBUS — Certification Ensures Compatibility

Part 6: PROFIBUS — Simple and Safe in Explosion Hazard Zones

Part 7: PROFIBUS — Cost–Efficient Throughout the Lifecycle

Watch the video to find out more about the young engineer, the older man, the man with the beard and PROFIBUS PA.

www.profibus.com

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