PROFINET Controller Development for Safety Control Systems
Situation
Background
HIMA is an independent global supplier of safety-focused automation solutions
HIMA has customers in process industries such as Oil & Gas, Petrochemicals, Energy, and in the Rail sector
HIMA plans to offer a next generation safety control systems to support digitalization
Business need
HIMA’s safety control solutions need to offer highest availability and uninterrupted operation of plants through seamless communication between control and automation systems
The next generation safety control systems shall be based on a future-proof architecture and use commonly communication standards
A new communication subsystem shall be used across all next generation safety control system variants
Technical Requirements
HIMA‘s new safety control solution shall support PROFINET
The PROFINET controller must be kept compliant with current and future PNO-> PI specifications
The communication subsystem must integrate with the existing HIMA host system and expansion slots
The communication subsystem must be configurable
The communication subsystem must be protected against IT security threats
Solution
HIMA decided to use Softing’s PROFINET controller software stack, running on FPGA hardware integrated into HIMax and HIMatrix devices
Softing delivered additional logic components such as a high-performance
Ethernet switch offering maximum security and realtime capabilities
Softing’s real-time Ethernet module (RTEM2) was used as reference design
Softing supported HIMA with consulting services
Benefits
HIMA’s new safety control solution is flexible, easy to update, and achieves netload class III robustness
Proven and mature Softing components contribute to highest reliability during operation
Softing’s reference design and consulting services reduced risk and effort for HIMA’s development project