October 1, 2007 - HMS Industrial Networks announces the launch of its new EtherNet/IP to Profibus X-gateway. The new X-gateway is a configurable stand-alone gateway that allows plant-floor devices on the Profibus network to communicate with the devices on the EtherNet/IP network and vice versa. Typical applications are installations with mixed usage of Siemens and Rockwell PLCs; such as automobile manufacturing plants where Profibus based segments shall be integrated into industrial Ethernet based control applications with EtherNet/IP real time protocol.
The new X-gateway is a compact device for standard DIN rail mounting and 24 Volt industrial power supply. It functions as an adapter (slave) on the EtherNet/IP network and as a master on the Profibus side. The Profibus master functionality is configured with HMS´ Anybus NetTool for Profibus, a powerful but easy to use Windows-based Profibus configuration tool. After its initial configuration has been downloaded into the X-gateway, it passes up to 512 byte of input and 512 byte of output data transparently between the two networks. Up to 124 Profibus slaves can be connected to the gateway. In addition to its data transfer capabilities, the X-gateway incorporates a powerful embedded web server which supports web based remote diagnostics and visualization. The X-gateway contains Profibus and EtherNet/IP communication interfaces that have both been certified for full compliance to the respective protocol standards.
The EtherNet/IP to Profibus gateway is a new member of HMS´ Anybus X-gateway family which consists of more than 170 individual gateways providing internetwork communications between almost any fieldbus or industrial Ethernet network. All versions work the same way and provide a flexible standard solution to connect two industrial networks.
HMS Industrial Networks is the leading independent supplier of embedded network technology for automation devices. HMS develops and manufactures solutions for interfacing automation devices and systems to industrial networks. Development and manufacturing takes place at the headquarters in Halmstad, Sweden. Local sales and support is handled by the branch offices in China, USA, Germany, Italy, France and Japan. HMS employs 135 persons of which 35 in R&D and reported sales of $35 million in 2006.
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