March 7, 2014 – Schneider Electric announces Modicon M580 Ethernet PAC (ePAC) automation controller that uses open Ethernet standards with cybersecurity provided through its Achilles Level 2 Certification. The M580 ePAC gives industrial plant operators the power to design, implement, and run a process that actively employs the benefits of open networking, helping customers:
- Access consistent and accurate data for timely decisions
- Reduce downtime with detailed insight into alarms and events
- Rapidly diagnose and identify root causes of issues
- Make informed decisions about plant operations and energy management
The M580 with the Achilles Level 2 Certification is tested according to Ethernet services and protocols such as ARP, ICMP, TCP, IP, and more. Firmware integrity is checked at every start-up and is compiled and stored in-memory, preventing its decompilation by a third party. Upgrading to the M580 ePAC is possible without additional investment in wiring, software development, or training. The M580 ePAC extends the capbilities of the Modicon X80 modules initially introduced with the M340 PAC. The M580 ePAC is also compatible with the xBus communications of the Modicon M340 and Premium PLC.
Users can easily switch between the different controller sizes in the Modicon range without changing their I/O racks and cabling. Modicon M580 ePAC has been built for PlantStruxure, which is a collaborative and integrated automation architecture from Schneider Electric. PlantStruxure brings together the telemetry, PLC/SCADA, and DCS offerings with complete lifecycle services to help make operations more efficient. From initial design to modernization, PlantStruxure transparently connects the control, operation and enterprise levels of the business.
