2021

This blog post explores how Softing's tManager bridged the gap between the enterprise and controller levels in a robotic welding application.

Driven by the digitalization of field devices in the process industry, the growing importance of predictive maintenance and the increasing possibilities offered by centralized field device configuration, digital communication protocols like HART-IP are on the rise. In addition to providing access to a device’s process variables, the protocol also supports device parameter setting and advanced diagnostics. HART-IP will therefore play an important role in enabling the Industrial Internet of Things in process plants. Softing supports HART-IP technology and offers an NOA-compliant gateway with its smartLink DP product.

This blog post explores the ways Phoenix Digital communication modules unlocked remote I/O for a large, North American infrastructure company that uses Rockwell PLCs.

Field devices in modern plants in the process industry can give operators detailed information about the condition of the plant. The collected data helps in planning preventive maintenance work and in optimizing production processes. Together with the US company Emerson, Softing has developed connectivity solutions to help customers use this data to improve plant productivity and increase lifecycles

The worlds of operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) are coming together in factories around the world, each with the same goal: use digitalization to improve productivity and other business objectives. But sometimes the two worlds require some translation and teamwork so that transactions between them flow as smoothly as possible.

While plants in discrete and process manufacturing often comprise both legacy and new equipment, they still need to be controlled and managed effectively. This requires a modern communication architecture that is able to aggregate their heterogeneous data. smartLink from Softing facilitates interface-neutral data integration in complex production systems.

When it comes to expanding and operating innovative IoT solutions, IT architectures have a key role to play. What architectural issues arise at the interface between IT and OT, and how does this interface relate to 'edge' and 'cloud'?  If you take these questions into account during planning you can fully exploit the potential of software, IT and innovative algorithms and make your production more efficient.