Rugged controllers

July 2008 PLCs, DCSs & Controllers

ifm electronic’s R360 safety controller offers a hardened PLC platform specifically designed for mobile vehicle applications up to EN 954-1 category 3.

The controllers can withstand high levels of shock, vibration, electro-magnetic interference (EMI) and extremes of temperature, and all contacts are electronic to prevent wear and breakage. The units offer flexible configuration of input and output functions, allowing up to four fail-safe inductive switches to be connected to one safety controller. The safe and non-safe outputs can also be used as digital and PWM outputs.

The controllers are equipped with two CAN interfaces and support most bus protocols enabling easy exchange of SAE J I939 and CANopen data. Special programming knowledge is not required and users can easily implement functionality using the standardised IEC 61131-3 software.

For more information contact Celia de Beer, ifm electronic SA, 0861 43 6772, www.ifm.com

Further reading:

Upgrading alarm systems for critical industries
Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Omniflex’s OMNI16R alarm annunciator platform provides a direct replacement for legacy CSA systems such as MPAS 90 and SA9100, enabling operators in oil and gas, nuclear and power generation to modernise alarm infrastructure without sacrificing the clarity required for safe operations.

Read more...

---

How DCS can step off the hardware obsolescence treadmill
Schneider Electric South Africa PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Schneider Electric argues that virtualising DCS environments breaks the cycle of hardware obsolescence, giving plant operators a smarter path to lifecycle modernisation without production disruption.

Read more...

---

Loop signature Part 2-6
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
The Loop Signature series turns to frequency plot theory, explaining Bode open-loop plots and how dynamic gain, phase lag and crossover frequency can be extracted from test data to inform more accurate control loop tuning.

Read more...

---

PC-based control in surgery
Beckhoff Automation Editor's Choice PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Researchers at the University of Basel are using Beckhoff PC-based control technology to develop a miniature laser robot for minimally invasive bone surgery.

Read more...

---

IIoT controller for the field and control cabinet
ifm - South Africa PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
The IIoT controller from ifm is a powerful, communicative and flexible PLC solution in machine and plant digitalisation.

Read more...

---

How the DCS can step off the hardware obsolescence treadmill
Schneider Electric South Africa PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Ageing servers and unsupported operating systems are quietly eroding the stability of process plants that rely on distributed control systems. Kobus Vermeulen of Schneider Electric explains how virtualising the DCS environment can break the hardware obsolescence cycle without disrupting operations.

Read more...

---

Centralised control rooms where growth is elastic, not physical
Schneider Electric South Africa PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Modernised control rooms feature distributed control system architecture consolidated into centralised compute environments. replacing traditional PCs with thin clients.

Read more...

---

Advanced DCSs preserve what must not change while enabling
Schneider Electric South Africa PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Next-generation DCSs, such as Schneider Electric’s Foxboro, are preserving the best of the old while introducing the new in a less disruptive manner.

Read more...

---

Siemens launches new generation of logic controller
Siemens South Africa PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Siemens has launched the latest generation of its proven intelligent logic controller, LOGO! 9. This enables simple implementation of small automation projects.

Read more...

---

DCS for maximum plant efficiency and reliability
ABB South Africa PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
ABB has introduced SPR2025, the latest Symphony Plus DCS package release to enable modernisation and efficient performance for the process and power industries.

Read more...

---