Endress+Hauser Showcases its Digitalization Innovations

Summary

The Endress & Hauser May 20, 2021 Digital Press Event provided more insights into the continuing product innovation expanding sensor technologies, which are the core foundation of industrial Digitalization and Industry 4.0. 

In the world of open systems, Endress & Hauser is independent of any particular industrial automation system supplier and architecture, supporting virtually all industrial networking and data model standards, including EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, IO-Link and OPC UA. The company actively participates in the latest industry initiatives on topics including structured modular product design, MTP ( Modular Type Package) cloud services, and Industry 4.0 for Process Automation. 

Also, the Endress & Hauser Open Integration Partner initiative is focused on advancing open, interoperable systems instead of proprietary solutions to improve the quality and efficiency of device integration and lifecycle maintenance of control and automation systems. Listening to customers the need for information standardization to dramatically lower process automation lifecycle costs became clear to Endress+Hauser and in 2015 the company took a leadership position by forming the Open Integration Partner Program. The fundamentals of the Open Integration Partner Program are focused on reducing risks and increasing efficiency.

Systems approach

Endress & Hauser continues to innovate the sensor technology with integrated intelligence and communications, understanding the importance of systems design and tools which has resulted in the development of their Netilion. Endress+Hauser Netilion IIoT solution platform is an ecosystem combining digital services and system components to improve the lifecycle and asset management, maintenance, and support of instruments and analyzers. Netilion enables users to keep track of their installed base, documentation and data management, as well as instruments’ performance and health status. Netilion includes a free smartphone app that guides the user in capturing field instrument asset data, while utilizing QR code or RFID tags. It can store images and instrument location and accessibility. Critical and quality-relevant information can also be saved and associated with instrument tags. Netilion system components, such as field gates and edge devices, can be used to upload installed base information and create lists of the instruments without requiring interaction with control systems.

The installed base information in the digital service Netilion Analytics can be used to create a digital twin of the system and analyzed with the help of dashboards to initiate proactive maintenance measures for critical instruments. Netilion Health can track the condition of the instrument so that other maintenance optimization measures can be initiated. There are many other features that can be used separately or in concert to improve the management, maintenance and support of instrumentation systems regardless of instrument or vendor.  For more information, see this website.

Edge device

The FieldEdge SGC500 connects field devices to the internet, and Endress+Hauser IIoT Netilion supports communication standards including HART, WirelessHART, Profibus and in combination with gateways EtherNet/IP. HTTPS data transfer with end-to-end encryption and authentication according to the OAuth 2.0 standard to guarantee a highly secure connection to the internet. In addition, data can only flow in one direction, from the field device to the internet.

Micropilot FWR30 level sensor

An example of innovation is the Micropilot FWR30 level sensor designed for remote and mobile applications. Many applications including traveling on transport containers worldwide continuously measuring and transmitting the level of liquids and solids. The sensor operates on the principle of free-radiating radar and is designed exclusively for operation in an IIoT environment. The device communicates wirelessly directly with the internet without a gateway, using Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) , LTE-M or 2G cellular standards.  Netilion Inventory or Supply Care Hosting can be used to display the measured values on various end devices. Power management in the device enables battery life of up to 10 years or even more. The integrated GPS positioning function allows the instrument to be located from anywhere at any time. Measured values and positions can be displayed on a map via digital services. Installation and commissioning, in particular setting up the connection to the internet, are simple and can be completed in just a few minutes. Level measurement is performed using reliable and very accurate 80 GHz radar technology. The maximum measurement deviation over the entire measuring range is less than 10mm. Radar technology provides a further advantage with non-conductive tank walls. Mounted on plastic tanks like IBCs, the sensor can measure through the wall without coming into contact with the medium.

Innovation

Founded in 1953 Endress+Hauser continues as a pioneer and innovator in sensing technology and serving customers needs for quality measurements and lower lifecycle cost.  The company has embraced industrial digitalization applying new technology and communications leveraging their deep applications expertise and know-how.