Industrial

Tag: process industry

Ethernet-APL – Network Topologies

The fact that Ethernet-APL (Advanced Physical Layer) supports almost all Industrial Ethernet protocols makes network planning and installation much easier for plant engineers and planners. However, a number of points need to be kept in mind to ensure the network is stable and fail-safe. The blog post looks at the various network topologies for Ethernet-APL, as recommended by the Ethernet-APL Engineering Guideline.

How to Manage Your Smart Field Devices Across Different Protocols

Intelligent field devices, from valves to temperature transmitters can detect faults, and in many cases, enable you to trend incoming data to avoid faults altogether. The challenge of managing the complexity of many intelligent field devices across different protocols can be overcome by utilizing a handheld, portable interface tool that supports multiple protocols simultaneously.

Asset management for improved production processes

Along with HART and Foundation Fieldbus, PROFIBUS is one of the most important communication protocols for digital field devices in the process industry. By supporting digital communication and manufacturer-independent device exchange, it offers the best conditions for controlling, monitoring, and streamlining production processes. But to make the communication architecture fit for the requirements of IIoT applications, faster data transmission is needed. For this purpose, modern Ethernet-based PLCs are available, which allow existing PROFIBUS networks in the process industry to be expanded with modern and highly functional segments.

A fast track to your field devices

When it comes to field device management, the process industry still seems to overlook the two key aspects of protocols and ‘accessibility’ – at least that’s the impression we get from the tools provided by instrument suppliers. Softing Industrial has filled this application gap with two mobile enterprise solutions, which are the first in the world to support the three major protocols of HART, FOUNDATION Fieldbus, and PROFIBUS PA in a single device for connection to intelligent field devices while also offering an interface for integration and data provisioning.

HART-IP in the process industry

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.

Transparent data for Industry 4.0 connectivity with PROFIBUS!

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.

Simple Fieldbus Integration Without Programming Effort

The 4..20 mA current loop with HART interface remains the industry standard for transducers. A fieldbus interface with device integration capability and scriptable configurability offers an inexpensive retrofit for these devices for operation with Foundation Fieldbus and PROFIBUS PA.

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Softing Inc.

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