Featured Articles:
-Fault-Free Fieldbus
-Who Puts the 'Industrial’ in Ethernet?
-Fieldbus in hazardous areas; and more

Resources & Literature:
-MooreHawke publishes brochure on TRUNKSAFE Fault-Tolerant Fieldbus System
-MooreHawke publishes white paper on Installing Fieldbus in Hazardous Locations
-Reading HART Data into Non-HART Systems; and more

Application Stories:
-Genentech Uses HART Technology at New Facility
-Fieldbus reinstrumentation project yields significant benefits
-Safe Designs Dodge Downtime

Featured Training:
-EtherNet/IP: The Proven and Complete Solution for Manufacturing Automation
-PROFIBUS Training Classes
-International Foundation Fieldbus Seminars; and more

Product Announcements:
-TURCK releases Profibus FDP20 I/O stations
-ABB releases Asset Master for field device management
-Advantech launches three EKI industrial Ethernet switches; and more

Company News:
-Fieldbus Foundation Brazilian Marketing Committee names officers
-Softing provides fieldbus connectivity for GE Fanuc
-Fieldbus Foundation updates Host Profile Spec; and more

Application News:
-Pepperl+Fuchs provides fieldbus to Rabigh Refining Complex
-Midland-ACS uses HART protocols for heat exchange systems control
-Pepperl+Fuchs to supply fieldbus equipment to BP in Angola; and more

Featured Events:
-2007 Emerson Global Users Exchange
-Industrial Automation Show and Conference
-ISA Expo; and more

Fault-Free Fieldbus
Control Engineering Asia, June 2007
By Desmond Ho, Fieldbus Applications Consultant, MooreHawke
Although fieldbus systems provide many advantages to end users, there are key decisions made early in a project that affect maintenance and operations during construction and afterward. These issues are not typically brought up by the control system supplier.

Who Puts the 'Industrial’ in Ethernet?
Control Engineering, June 2007
By Mark T. Hoske
Switches, routers, hubs, gateways, connectors, and other Ethernet hardware have been industrially hardened to take what manufacturing can dish out.

Fieldbus in hazardous areas
Control, June 2007
By Dan Hebert, senior technical editor
Digital fieldbus networks have created new options for installing devices in hazardous areas by simplifying implementation of IS systems and avoiding explosion-proof enclosure conduit systems.

Foundation fieldbus in hazardous areas
Control, May 2007
By C. Bruce Bradley, PE
Implementing Foundation fieldbus can seem like a daunting task, and when coupled with hazardous-area considerations, may approach information overload; however, it doesn't have to be an explosive concept.

One bus for all?
Control, May 2007
By John Rezabek, Contributing Editor
When it comes to applications that allow our basic controls to function, system lock-ups are intolerable, so it pays to examine the heritage of fieldbus and carefully analyze the market that shaped it.

Industrial Ethernet: More than just another fieldbus system
By John Ditter, WAGO Corporation
White paper says that, with industrial protocols like Modbus/TCP, EtherNet/IP, and PROFInet, users are no longer forced to buy proprietary fieldbus components from a handful of vendors.

Browse more articles and white papers on the portal.

MooreHawke publishes brochure on TRUNKSAFE Fault-Tolerant Fieldbus System
The TRUNKSAFE brochure explains how it is not necessary to duplicate an entire fieldbus segment, duplicate the field instruments, nor have any special software at the DCS to achieve fieldbus redundancy.

MooreHawke publishes white paper on Installing Fieldbus in Hazardous Locations
By Bruce Bradley, Boehringer Ingelheim Chemicals
This paper describes everything you should consider when applying fieldbus in hazardous areas, then shows how it was done. Author uses it in a class he teaches on hazardous environments.

Reading HART Data into Non-HART Systems
By HART Foundation
Note describes two devices that can read HART digital signals and convert them to analog or contact information, which enables any traditional analog/digital I/O to take full advantage of the benefits of HART-communicating devices.

PROFIBUS PA Book
By Christian Diedrich, et al
This book is a must for all who need in-depth information about PROFIBUS in the process industries. It is equally useful for developers of PA devices and for planners, end-users and maintenance staff.

PROFIBUS PA Profile Simplified
By PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International)
Version 3.02 “Profile for Process Automation” (PROFIBUS PA) application profile has been simplified to improve readability. Updates include resolved change requests, amendments and profile specifications.

Pepperl+Fuchs publishes AS-Interface Solutions Guide
200+ page resource includes a full color selection guide to assist users in choosing the optimum AS-Interface components.

Browse more resources and literature on the portal.

Genentech Uses HART Technology at New Facility
By HART Foundation
Biotechnology manufacturer Genentech is integrating HART Communication with the distributed control system (DCS) in its CCP2 facility in Vacaville, California, to manage critical device configurations that have a direct impact on plant efficiency and product quality.

Fieldbus reinstrumentation project yields significant benefits
Hydrocarbon Processing, March 2007
By M. MEDINA, Shell Oil and C. LAU, Yokogawa
Here’s how Shell upgraded from a pneumatic instrumented plant to a fully digital control system

Safe Designs Dodge Downtime
Intech, February 2007
By Ellen Fussell Policastro, Associate Editor
A Virginia chemical plant, where the entire facility is a hazardous area, installed Foundation fieldbus controls. The engineer involved explains the ins and outs of its bout with intrinsic safety and fieldbus, the costs involved, and the choice it had to make between FISCO and Entity.

EtherNet/IP: The Proven and Complete Solution for Manufacturing Automation
August 10, 2007 Waltham, MA
This free, one day seminar gives potential users and vendors of industrial Ethernet technology an overview of how industrial Ethernet and EtherNet/IP can solve automation challenges. The seminar includes classroom tutorial, a free buffet lunch, and an EtherNet/IP Vendor Open House.

PROFIBUS Training Classes
The PTO and PROFI Interface Center will be holding one-day training classes throughout North America. Classes will be held in Austin, TX, Aug. 7; Houston, Aug 21; Detroit, Sept 19; and dates TBD in Dallas, Montreal, Toronto, Columbus, Kansas City, Richmond, Philadelphia and New York City.

International Foundation Fieldbus Seminars
The Fieldbus Educational Road Tour shows end users around the globe how FOUNDATION fieldbus is "Changing the Playing Field." Shows will be held in Cork, Ireland; Chengdu, China; Grangemouth, Scotland; Bahrain; Reading, England; and Cardiff, Wales.

PROFIBUS Roadshow South East Asia 2007
Series of two-day tutorials in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Philippines, August through October.

PROFIBUS Installation Guideline for Cabling and Assembly
PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International) has published a new Web Based Training package to provide support for assembly and installation staff working on the assembly of PROFIBUS systems. The Web Based Training tells you everything you need to know about assembly in an easy to understand and interactive format. Topics include how to lay and assemble PROFIBUS cables correctly and what you need to be aware of when connecting PROFIBUS stations. It takes approximately 2.5 hours to complete the Web Based Training course.

Browse more training and seminar opportunities on portal.

Browse more Product Announcements on the portal.

Search all Products by keyword, category, manufacturer or release date.

Fieldbus Foundation Brazilian Marketing Committee names officers  -  07/13/07
Officers include Claudio Fayad, Emerson Process Management, Chairman; Marcos Rocha, Pepperl+Fuchs, Co-chairman; and Augusto Pereira, Yokogawa, Secretary/Treasurer.

Softing provides fieldbus connectivity for GE Fanuc  -  07/02/07
Softing North America will provide Foundation fieldbus connectivity for GE Fanuc's Proficy Process Systems solution.

Fieldbus Foundation updates Host Profile Spec  -  06/20/07
FF-569 Version 2.0 supports new Host Profile Test & Registration Program. It includes updated FOUNDATION fieldbus host profiles, interoperability requirements, and test procedures leading to host registration.

ISA Publishes EDDL Standard  -  06/12/07
ISA published ANSI/ISA-61804-3 (104.00.01)-2007, Function Blocks (FB) for Process Control - Part 3: Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL).

Phoenix Contact names Mercier wireless business development manager  -  05/24/07
Paul Mercier previously served as the national wireless specialist for Phoenix Contact USA. In his new role, Mercier will focus on the continuing growth of wireless and Foundation Fieldbus technologies.

FF approves MooreHawke's TRUNKSAFE Fault-Tolerant Fieldbus system
Approved by the Fieldbus Foundation,TRUNKSAFE achieves fault-tolerance without duplicating every component and installing special software at the DCS.

Browse more company and organizational news on the portal.

Pepperl+Fuchs provides fieldbus to Rabigh Refining Complex
Pepperl+Fuchs FieldConnex fieldbus interface solution has been selected as the main FOUNDATION fieldbus supplier to Yokogawa and the Rabigh Integrated Refining and Petrochemical Complex.

Midland-ACS uses HART protocols for heat exchange systems control
Process and Control Today, July 2007
By John Houston, Editor
UK manufacturer Midland-ACS has developed a HART-based control system capable of operating in the harsh environment of gas turbine heat recovery systems destined for the Al Shaheen oil field in Qatar.

Pepperl+Fuchs to supply fieldbus equipment to BP in Angola
Pepperl+Fuchs GmbH has won the contract to be the Fieldbus interface supplier, partnering with Emerson Process Management, for the project awarded by BP to automate the floating production, storage, and offloading vessel that will develop the Greater Plutonio Deepwater offshore oil fields of Angola.

Emerson automates Motiva Norco refinery in Louisiana
Motiva Norco facility deployed Emerson's PlantWeb and Foundation Fieldbus, improving production reliability, plant utilization, and safety and environmental performance.

ABB to supply $62M control system for power plant in Germany
ABB will supply a System 800xA, boiler protection, instrumentation and electrical actuators, which will be integrated via a Profibus network. The system will be installed at E.ON-Kraftwerke GmbH's coal-fired plant in Germany's Rhein-Ruhr region.

2007 Emerson Global Users Exchange
Sept 10-14, 2007 Grapevine, Texas
Annual conference, exhibit and special interest group meetings.

ODVA CIP networks conference
September 18-20, 2007 Denver, Colorado
The conference features technical, marketing, and training sessions and will conclude with ODVA’s annual meeting of members.

Industrial Automation Show and Conference
Sept 24-27, 2007 Rosemont, IL
Conference attracts Automation & control engineering teams, manufacturing managers and systems integrators from across the country responsible for increased production uptime, improved accuracy, optimized plant operations and lower costs through the latest automation technology, systems and solutions.

ISA Expo
October 2-4, 2007 Houston, TX
Organized around six core automation and control themes, ISA EXPO 2007 provides attendees a content-rich environment that offers unlimited opportunity for exploration of key technologies, professional growth, and interaction with like minded professionals.

Smart Automation Austria
October 3-5, 2007 Linz, Austria
Products and solutions in the field of factory and process automation, process control technology, control and motive power engineering, industrial PC, field busses and networking, software for automization, sensor technology, identification, image processing. (Web site in German).

Rick Zabel
Vice President, Publisher
Automation.com

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