HMS Adds Support for PROFINET into the Anybus Technology

Chicago, April, 2006. HMS Industrial Networks announces today its commitment to develop a range of PROFINET compatible products with IRT functionality. HMS will complement its family of interchangeable Anybus communications modules with embedded interfaces for PROFINET with IRT. HMS already supports 18 different Fieldbusses and 5 different Industrial Ethernet technologies. The PROFINET Real Time communication interface from HMS just passed certification and is among the first certified PROFINET devices worldwide. PROFINET with IRT will be the latest contribution to the Anybus® family. The communication interfaces from HMS have an integrated 2-Port Switch and are based on Siemens ASIC Technology for IRT. The development will be done in co-operation between HMS and Siemens Automation and Drives (A&D). “We have over 500 device manufactures world-wide that standardized on our Anybus concept for industrial communication. All these vendors can now also get an easy access to the PROFINET with IRT technology for their products” says Nicolas Hassbjer, President & CEO of HMS. “We recognize the growing interest of PROFINET with IRT functionality among European OEM’s and drive manufacturers, and for us it is important to provide our customers with a solution for instant PROFINET connectivity with IRT”.PROFINET with IRT is the open real-time Ethernet network characterised by outstanding performance, simple wiring and low system costs. PROFINET with IRT technology provides built-in switches allowing simple low cost line topologies. No expensive infrastructure components such as Switches are required. “Having HMS adding PROFINET with IRT into their product range is yet another sign of the industry acceptance of the IRT functionality. The fact that HMS offers an instant way for vendors to enable their products for PROFINET with IRT, will further accelerate the number of companies supporting the IRT functionality of PROFINET,” says Dietmar Herian, Head of Industrial Communication, Siemens A&D. About HMSHMS Industrial Networks is the leading independent supplier of embedded network technology for automation devices. HMS develops and manufactures solutions for interfacing automation devices to industrial networks. Development and manufacturing takes place at the head office in Halmstad, Sweden. Local sales and In-Design support for device manufacturers are provided by the branch offices in Chicago, Beijing, Karlsruhe, Milan and Tokyo. HMS employs 110 persons of which 35 in R&D and reported sales of €20 million in 2005. The Siemens Automation and Drives Group (A&D), Nuremberg, Germany, is the leading manufacturer in this field worldwide. Products supplied by A&D include standard products for the manufacturing and process industries and for the electrical installation industry as well as system solutions, for example for machine tools, and solutions for whole industries such as the automation of entire automobile factories or chemical plants. Supplementing this range of products and services, A&D also offers software for linking production and management (horizontal and vertical IT integration) and for optimizing production processes. A&D employs 60,800 people worldwide and in fiscal year 2005 (to September 30) earned a group profit of €1,210 million on sales of €9,844 million and orders of €10,190 million.

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