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Read the online version if links don't work in this Industrial Communications Update. |
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March 2009 |
Sponsor: ProSoft Technology |
900 MHz Ethernet and serial radios from ProSoft Technology®
ProSoft Technology's new 900 MHz Industrial Frequency Hopping Ethernet and serial radios are license-free and provide best-in-class performance, with features including 128 bit AES encryption, 1 watt of transmit power, and RF data rates up to 1.1 Mbps for Ethernet or 230 kbps for serial. They are ideal for long range SCADA applications, projects with challenging paths, and applications requiring penetration of obstructions such as foliage or walls. Ethernet radios also support wireless serial server functionality.
Click here for more information
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Sponsor: Moxa |
Power Devices over Existing Ethernet Cables in Outdoor and Harsh Environments
Industrial PoE Switches IEEE 802.3af Compliant
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Lower installation cost and efforts
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Intelligent PoE management
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Gigabit backbone and uplink
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Industrial ruggedness and redundancy
Available Now! Click here for more information
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| In this Issue |
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| Featured Articles |
Talking Down to Machines
Automation World, February 2009
By Dave Gehman
What happens when top-down automation data reaches a machine controller—does it go any further? And, what happens when bottom-up data generated by the machine controller tries to move upward, past the machine controller into the automation system?
Peer-to-peer RTU networking becomes a reality
PACE, January 2009
By David Walker, Yokogawa Australia
For the past 15 years, the widely used DNP3 protocol has worked well as a means of communicating data over slow and intermittent links. But it does have a number of shortcomings. To combat this, a quiet revolution is underway in the world of remote terminal units (RTUs).
Convert to Digital Safety
Industrial Networking, February 2009
As networks move to digital technology, some of them take on safety. Users integrate control and safety where possible and keep them separate when necessary.
Industrial Quality Adds Up vs. Commercial
Industrial Networking, February 2009
By Phil Burgert
The extra cost of industrial-grade network components sometimes can be a problem for designers of manufacturing networks. They might be encouraged to learn that a surprising number of vendors will endorse some limited use of less-expensive, commercially available products.
Maintain the Magic And Keep Good Data Coming
Chemical Processing, January 2009
By Ian Verhappen, MTL Instruments, and Frank Williams, Elpro Instruments
A key part of any control system is the infrastructure that carries the signals from the field devices to the controllers. However, as the level of expected interconnectivity increases between the various systems, the degree of difficulty in maintaining them rises exponentially.
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| Product Announcements |
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| Other Product Announcements
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| White Papers |
PoE Switches for Industrial Networking
By Alvis Chen, Moxa
PoE (Power over Ethernet) is one of the hottest topics in Ethernet networking applications today. This white paper discusses the basics of PoE technology and the new 802.3at standard, followed by a review of the required functions and benefits of adopting PoE switches for industrial networking.
Using Operator Interfaces to Optimize Performance of Industrial Wireless Networks
By Jim Ralston, Prosoft Technology
This article will explore the use of a wireless diagnostic OLE for Process Control (OPC) server technology to embed diagnostic information in human machine interfaces (HMIs), thus optimizing industrial wireless network performance.
Switched Ethernet Latency Analysis
By GE Fanuc
Switches will drop packets as soon as their memory and FIFOs fill up, and TCP and UDP protocols used over Ethernet are notorious for generating bursty traffic patterns. It is important to plan for lower than maximum network utilization. Calculations in this paper give an example of how worst case latency in a Switched Ethernet network can be estimated.
Industrial Ethernet…more than just another fieldbus system
By Wago
With industrial protocols like Modbus/TCP, EtherNet/IP, and PROFInet process data is sent over standard, off-the-shelf Ethernet hardware. No longer are users forced to buy proprietary fieldbus components from a handful of vendors.
Industrial Ethernet Infrastructure - Key Selection Criteria
By Eddie M. Lee, Application Engineer, Moxa Technologies
With the recent growth and popularity of Ethernet in factory and process automation, engineers are struggling to select the optimal yet cost effective infrastructure components from the litany of vendors and models available in the marketplace. This white paper outlines the key criteria for selecting Ethernet components and systems.
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| Resources & Literature |
Manufacturing Mobility Guide
By Motorola
Manufacturing mobility guide features more than 150 pages that show how to unleash the full power of mobility across multiple manufacturing segments--from high-tech and consumer packaged goods to automotive, pharmaceuticals and more. The Unified Voice and Data Architecture section shows how a unified voice and data network can reduce costs and improve overall business efficiency.
IMB Enterprises announces Industrial Strength Ethernet website
Website sells M2M solutions including application controls, internet appliances, serial Ethernet bridges and converters, data acquisition and logging devices, and cellular data modems.
B&B Electronics publishes Winter 2009 catalog
Catalog covers Modbus/TCP Ethernet, Gigabit and PoE Ethernet switches, media converters, wireless modems, serial converters, plus digital and analog remote I/O.
ISA publishes IEC 61499 and Safety Resources books
ISA published “Real-Time Execution for IEC 61499,” and “Safety Profiles for Real-Time Ethernet-Based Industrial Automation Networks.”
Omron STI publishes Guide to DeviceNet Safety Systems
Guide outlines the benefits of implementing a DeviceNet safety network in a variety of machine safety applications, including standalone safety applications or distributed safety control systems.
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Browse more resources and literature on the Industrial Communications portal.
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| Application Stories |
ABB controls pumps 25 miles out and 1,000 ft under the North Sea
An undersea cable connects an ACS1000 frequency converter on an oil and gas platform off the coast of Norway to a motor and pump injecting seawater into a new oil field 25 miles away.
Resistance Temperature Detectors at a Hydro Plant
Power Engineering, February 2009
By Ed Sullivan
A Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories SEL-2600A temperature monitoring scheme is used at a dam and power plant for alarm and trip functions. Temperature data are passed to the plant data control system via Modbus communications from the SEL 300G to the plant remote terminal unit. Stator temperature data are available locally and at the main control center that is more than 60 miles away.
Video security travels on existing control system
InTech, February 2009
By Al Larson, Madison Water Utility, and Steve Rubin, Longwatch
The task was 'simple.' Put cameras at 32 remote sites and bring back video clips over the utility's radio network. A Longwatch video surveillance system put video on the plant’s Wonderware HMI/SCADA system.
Out of sight, not out of reach
By Softing
Clariant, a plastics manufacturer in Gersthofen, Germany, used a Profibus Ethernet gateway and FDT to connect to HART devices in hazardous areas and won the HART plant of the year award.
IT sees light
Plant Services, January 2009
New Millennium decided to renovate and expand its voice and data network. That included laying fiber-optic cable to connect five manufacturing buildings with the main office facility. Fiber-optic connections among buildings set the stage for high-speed information transfer to and from production machines.
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Browse more application stories on the Industrial Communications portal.
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| Featured Training |
CANBus Communication
By National Instruments
15-minute on-line slide presentation covers the basics of the ISO 11898 Controller Area Network protocol.
Softing conducts PROFINET training classes
Each class combines teaching the fundamentals of the technology with hands-on experience in Softing’s training lab. Participants receive an official certificate as “Certified PROFINET Engineer” or “Certified PROFINET Installer.”
Wireless Network Design Webcast
By Design News
Darvin Kaelberer from Banner Engineering reviews wireless network applications, including point-to-point, point-to-bus and bus-to-bus. This tutorial will also teach you troubleshooting options and solutions to common problems. Registration required
WAGO announces Industrial Control Seminars
Interactive free three-day seminars provide attendees with information needed to advance automation projects. WAGO provides all course materials, meals and coordinates ground transport.
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Browse more training and seminar opportunities on the Industrial Communications portal.
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| Company & Organizational News |
Frost & Sullivan says wireless market in factory automation to nearly double by 2012
The European market earned revenues of over $75.2 million in 2008 and this will reach $132.8 million in 2012.
VDC Research sees strong growth for POWERLINK networks
Study says Ethernet IP, TCP/IP and Modbus TCP are the most common Ethernet-based systems on the American market today. The highest increases in market share over the next four years are expected for POWERLINK and ProfiNet.
ISA publishes industrial cyber security management standard
The standard, ANSI/ISA-99.02.01-2009, describes elements to set up a cyber security management system.
Cisco acquires Richards-Zeta Building Intelligence
Richards-Zeta is a provider of intelligent middleware technology that enables businesses to integrate building infrastructure and IT applications over a common Internet Protocol network.
SERCOS and FDT work together
SERCOS III will be the first high-performance real-time Ethernet communication standard to support FDT Technology.
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Browse more company and organizational news on the Industrial Communications portal. |
| Project News |
Emerson to provide Syncade operations management to Bristol-Myers Squibb
Emerson will supply PlantWeb digital plant architecture, Syncade Smart Operations Management suite, DeltaV digital automation and a network of intelligent digital field devices.
Autodesk to supply Utility Software to Grant County Public Utility District
Using the software will help Grant PUD to design their networks more quickly, help reduce operating costs to maintain the networks, and provide the utility with a strong foundation for future growth.
Kepware supplies device communications to Yokogawa
Kepware Technologies has been selected by Yokogawa as their primary provider of connectivity for their controllers and recorders.
IPS to upgrade DCS at Qatargas
IPS will upgrade control processors, gateways, local area networks and network security with its Foxboro I/A Series distributed control system Version 8, including mesh architecture.
Emerson to automate Basin Electric coal power plant
Equipment includes PlantWeb, Ovation control system, SmartProcess optimization technology, Foundation and Profibus fieldbus, and Scenario high-fidelity simulator.
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Browse more project news on the Industrial Communications portal.
Add an event to our calendar. |
| Featured Events |
SCADA & Industrial Automation 2009
March 23-24, 2009 Melbourne, Australia
Conference provides best practice case studies on the latest technologies, trends and challenges in the area of SCADA, Industrial security, automation and process control.
ABB Automation & Power World
March 24-26, 2009 Orlando, FL
Event merges ABB Automation World and ABB Power World into one comprehensive users conference and exhibition.
Digital Energy 2009
April 7-8, 2009 Houston Texas
Reflecting a focus on the merging of E&P with IT and the impact it is having on the way we do business, the conference will focus on the deployment issues examining key aspects related to this challenge. Another key aspect of the conference will be the emphasis on the real life case studies covering people, process, and technology issues.
Hannover Messe
April 20 - 24 Hannover, Germany
HANNOVER MESSE is the world's leading industrial technology trade fair. Established 60 years ago, the event is internationally renowned for new products, innovative technologies, and knowledge transfer in sectors that range from automation, energy, and microtechnology to compressed air, power transmission, and surface treatment. HANNOVER MESSE also features an extensive range of conferences and special events, including Energy Efficiency, Global Business Forum, World Energy Dialogue, and Hermes Award, the world's most lucrative prize for pioneering technology.
Connections US
June 2-4, 2009 Santa Clara, CA
This research-driven executive conference and showcase, hosting close to 1,000 attendees each year, delivers insight and recommendations for new business models and opportunities in digital media/content, connected consumer electronics, broadband and value-added services, and home systems.
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Add an event to our calendar. |
I hope you enjoyed this Industrial Communications update. If you have any comments or suggestions regarding the content in this e-newsletter or on Automation.com, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Rick Zabel
Vice President, Publisher
Automation.com
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