Plants in the process industry have to satisfy increasingly tougher demands in terms of flexibility, scalability, availability and security, while still offering sustainability and protection of the investment. Digitalisation is opening up entirely new perspectives within these complicated and competing demands.
Step by step, Simatic PCS 7 V9.0 is paving the way toward digital transformation for the process industry. With its hardware and software innovations, the new version of the proven process control system is making it safer and easier to plan the path to digitalisation.
Delegates at the PCS 7 V9.0 launch at Irene Country Lodge.
At the recent African product launch in Pretoria, head of Siemens Process Automation Mikhail Vakhutinskiy explained; “With Version 9 of its Simatic PCS 7 process control system, Siemens is opening up scope for new perspectives to plant operators in the process industries. This represents another important step forward by Siemens towards digitalisation. In addition, Version 9 of the process control system Simatic PCS 7 supports the leading industrial Ethernet standard Profinet with two new distributed I/O lines for greater digitalisation down to the field level and a range of software innovations.
Despite its space-saving design – the width of the new module has been reduced by almost half – it allows the operation of up to 16 channels. The number of modules per head assembly or per station has been increased from 12 to 56, corresponding to just under 900 I/O signals instead of the previous 96 (when using 8-channel modules).
Another benefit is its consistently modular and flexible structure, which allows modules to be conveniently hot swapped while running in operational mode. The Simatic ET 200SP HA stations can be easily extended as requirements change, since the permanent wiring and use of uniform terminal blocks enable control cabinets with a standardised structure.
The Simatic Compact Field Unit (CFU) opens up new scope for the integration of field devices since the field distributor connected over Profinet is able to overcome the restrictions of conventional I/O concepts, providing consistent decentralisation coupled with flexible structures.
“This version significantly enhances the performance of the Simatic PCS 7 process control system in order to fulfil the continuously increasing demands of the process industry,” concludes Vakhutinskiy. “Thanks to its new hardware and improved software features, PCS 7 can now be used for an even larger spectrum of applications. It simplifies processes and saves costs as well as space and time. Plants thus become more flexible, more efficient and easier to modernise.”
For more information contact Keshin Govender, Siemens Digital Factory and Process Industries and Drives, +27 (0)11 652 2000, [email protected], www.siemens.co.za
RS South Africa shapes future engineering talent RS South Africa
News
RS South Africa is demonstrating that nurturing future engineers goes beyond traditional classrooms or competitions. On STEM Day, the company shone a light on the full spectrum of its educational initiatives.
Read more...UKZN’s SMART lab wins aviation award
News
: The SMART Lab at UKZN was awarded first place in the Aviation Research and Development category at the Civil Aviation Authority of South Africa’s award ceremony for outstanding contributions and achievements in the aviation sector.
Read more...Meta and partners announce completion of 2Africa subsea cable system
News
Meta, in partnership with leading global and regional telecommunications companies, has announced the completion and activation of the core 2Africa subsea cable system. This marks a historic milestone in digital infrastructure, establishing what the world’s longest open-access subsea cable system.
Read more...SEW-EURODRIVE unveils world class facility in Gqeberha
News
In a landmark event in the Eastern Cape attended by key customers and industry leaders, SEW-EURODRIVE officially opened its expanded state-of-the-art facility in Gqeberha, marking a major milestone in its strategy to strengthen regional support and deepen its footprint in the region.
Read more...Africa’s brightest young battery innovators Schneider Electric South Africa
News
Schneider Electric and Enactus, the international NGO dedicated to inspiring students through entrepreneurial action, have announced the winners of the 2025 Energy Transition Battery Innovation Challenge, funded by the Schneider Electric Foundation. It empowers young innovators to design battery solutions addressing the region’s most pressing energy challenges.
Read more...The road to the Indaba
News
The Africa Automation Indaba 2026 is set to become a landmark gathering for Africa’s automation, process control and manufacturing community. SA Instrumentation and Control will be running a dedicated editorial series spotlighting the voices, ideas and debates shaping Africa’s industrial future.
Read more...Crash reconstruction tests advance vehicle safety research
News
The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Scientific Multidisciplinary Advanced Research Technologies (SMART) Lab recently participated in a series of collaborative crash reconstruction tests held at the Toyota Test Track.
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.
printer friendly version