IS & Ex


PC-based control for the process industry

November 2018 IS & Ex

At Electra Mining 2018, Beckhoff took the opportunity to introduce the local market to its newly-expanded process competence. With its PC-based control architecture and the high-speed EtherCAT fieldbus, the company has always had the potential to implement process control solutions – in addition to its traditional machine automation capabilities – but what it lacked, was the ability to extend these into Ex zones. This has now changed. Benjamin Bruns, business manager process industry at Beckhoff, was out from Germany for the exhibition. SA Instrumentation and Control took the opportunity to chat to him along with Kenneth McPherson, managing director of Beckhoff’s sub-Saharan Africa office, about this interesting new development.

Benjamin Bruns.
Benjamin Bruns.

From Zone 0 to the cloud

“The addition of Ex functionality is part of a strategy designed to open up new markets for our PC-based control architecture,” explains Bruns. “Up until now most of our business has been in machine building, factory and motion control applications, but with the addition of the new explosion-proof components, our platform is now equally well suited to the hazardous conditions found in process industries, mining for example, or oil and gas.”

At the I/O level, the EtherCAT terminals of the ELX series provide a compact solution for applications requiring intrinsically safe signal transmission to or from a field instrument or actuator. “We cover all common industry standards by connecting via process protocols such as HART, NAMUR and FDT/DTM, which have been integrated into the TwinCAT programming environment,” says Bruns. “It’s a powerful approach because from the terminal up, everything is communicated using the standard EtherCAT fieldbus. So all we need to do is add the HART data, for instance, to an EtherCAT message, and thus we enable all the benefits of a fast Ethernet communication platform.”

In the ELX terminals, Beckhoff has achieved the explosion protection using galvanic isolation to ensure the same high accuracy and resolution of its standard ranges. The ATEX approved terminals are supported by a range of explosion-protected control panels and panel PCs of the CPX series, and from there, cloud communication is easily achieved using either the TwinCAT IoT software or an IoT coupler.

Open and fast and now Ex certified

Beckhoff’s PC-based approach combines the classical control functions such as PLCs, measurement technology and communications into one powerful system. With the addition of the hazardous area components and the process technology updates to the TwinCAT software, the platform is now undoubtedly suitable for almost any process control type application. But why would anyone want to switch from an existing setup?

“Whether we like it or not, Industry 4.0 is steering process control towards more open system approaches,” elaborates McPherson, who has been listening intently up to this point. “Not only that, but as the volumes of data increase, faster communication platforms will become

more and more important. We tick the first box with our PC-based approach, which allows us to integrate the best of the IT and process control worlds into a single architecture. As for the second, our system incorporates a fast Ethernet fieldbus as standard, and is supported by the largest fieldbus organisation of them all – the EtherCAT Technology Group.”

“The addition of the explosion protection has positioned us perfectly for a move into process during the Industry 4.0 era,” agrees Bruns. “But we have found the best way to prove the benefit of our system to end-users who may not be familiar with our technology is through pilot projects. We identify a problem at a site and then set up a Beckhoff solution independent from the main control platform, linked through a gateway if needed. Invariably clients are impressed by the ease of setup and overall performance of our system, to the extent

that the relationship develops from there.”

McPherson nods and says that is exactly the right approach to take locally as most projects, at least initially, are likely to be of the brownfield type. Given the pressures the South African mining industry currently faces, it seems inevitable that the more forward thinking managers will soon consider the feasibility of digitalisation to improve operating margins. At that point, Kenneth McPherson and his team could find themselves ideally positioned for expansion, thanks to the impressive new hazardous area capability of the Beckhoff control platform. Supported by a fast, secure communication network and cloud-based analytics functionality, PC-based control just became an option for the process industry in South Africa.

For more information contact Michelle Murphy, Beckhoff Automation, +27 11 795 2898, [email protected], www.beckhoff.co.za



Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Pluggable system solution helps tackle skills shortages and addresses DC power supply needs
Beckhoff Automation Enclosures, Cabling & Connectors
As a replacement for the conventional control cabinet, the MX-System from Beckhoff is a uniform modular automation system that can be used to completely replace traditional control cabinets with function modules in many applications.

Read more...
PC-based control for advanced hydrogen storage technology
Beckhoff Automation Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Sufficient storage options for renewable energies are essential to use them as efficiently as possible. GKN Hydrogen offers a particularly compact and safe option, low-pressure metal hydride hydrogen storage systems with PC-based control from Beckhoff.

Read more...
Prestigious award recognises inventiveness and entrepreneurial courage
Beckhoff Automation News
Hans Beckhoff, managing director, owner and founder of Beckhoff Automation, was recently honoured with the widely acclaimed Rudolf Diesel Medal 2025. This medal honours him as a visionary pioneer in automation technology.

Read more...
Next-generation homebuilding
Beckhoff Automation Editor's Choice Motion Control & Drives
Promise Robotics, a Canadian startup is reinventing prefabrication. Advanced automation technology from Beckhoff and AI control a robotic solution for efficient prefabrication. As a result, onsite assembly becomes up to 70% faster.

Read more...
Parker strengthens explosion safety
IS & Ex
Parker Hannifin has announced that its 37 mm Ex d m coils have attained new ATEX and IECEx Type Examination Certificates according to the latest explosion protection standards.

Read more...
New modules for distributed integration of intrinsically safe signals
Beckhoff Automation IS & Ex
Beckhoff provides a compact acquisition solution for intrinsically safe signals up to zone 0/20 with the IP67-protected EtherCAT Box modules of the EPX series.

Read more...
Beckhoff’s XPlanar boosts productivity in medical device assembly
Beckhoff Automation Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
The intelligent transport system, XPlanar from Beckhoff provided the basis for an innovative system concept allowing the specialists at Automation NTH to reduce the space requirement of an assembly machine for medical diagnostic devices by a factor of 10.

Read more...
Stopping the sparks from flying
IS & Ex
Whenever electrical equipment is required for use in hazardous environments they must be designed with intrinsic safety in mind. Darren Barratt, product sales manager at alarm and event management specialist, Omniflex outlines the importance and key aspects of intrinsic safety design.

Read more...
Multi-touch panel generation in a smart design
Beckhoff Automation Operator Interfaces, Switches & Relays
Following over 25 years of successful in-house panel production and 12 years of expertise in multi-touch design, Beckhoff is bringing out a new smart panel design, the Next multi-touch panel generation.

Read more...
German Chancellor visits Beckhoff at Hannover Messe
Beckhoff Automation News
As part of the traditional Hannover Messe opening tour, Federal Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz visited German company, Beckhoff Automation. Hans Beckhoff, managing director and owner of Beckhoff Automation, presented his company and its comprehensive expertise in the field of software and AI.

Read more...









While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved