The manufacturing industry is constantly evolving due to changing consumer demands. This has resulted in a cycle of continuous improvement to drive operational efficiency, whilst minimising resource usage and the impact to the environment. Data has therefore become the preferred resource to facilitate these initiatives.
Much excitement has been created by IO-Link technology due to its advanced features such as parameter storage and detailed diagnostics. IO-Link is defined as a short-distance, bidirectional, digital, point-to-point, wired (or wireless), industrial communications networking standard (IEC61131-9) used for connecting digital sensors and actuators to either a type of industrial fieldbus or a type of industrial Ethernet. The primary goal of IO-Link is to improve sensor or field-level device communication capabilities through a standardised interface. IO-Link is a proven technology for extracting more information from low-level devices across a range of manufacturing environments.
Endress+Hauser is a pioneer in digital communication and plays a leading role in the implementation of HART, Profibus DP/PA and Foundation Fieldbus technology. As a market leader, the company continues to implement the groundbreaking industrial Ethernet trend and was the first manufacturer worldwide to offer process automation field devices with Profinet in addition to EtherNet/IP. IO-Link is the youngest member in the portfolio of Endress+Hauser devices and brings digitalisation to basic instruments. By digitally communicating data from sensors back to the PLC, this technology helps many organisations save on cabling costs and integration time, as well as expanding the amount of available I/O.
Digital communication unlocks benefits throughout the plant life cycle
• Efficient integration by using standardised functions.
• Faster commissioning and start-up.
• Increased accuracy due to digital signal transmission.
• Effective maintenance by having diagnostics with cause and remedy.
• Plug-and-produce device exchange through automatic parameter handling.
Process orchestration is typically done with an automation control system, which interconnects the controllers of each skid by using EtherNet/IP or Profinet as the data exchange backbone. In auxiliary circuits, e.g. heat exchangers, devices such as the Picomag flowmeter provide additional process data to increase plant efficiency and up-time. Since IO-Link is fully digital, multivariable measurements from each sensor are possible (e.g. volume flow, temperature, totaliser).
Simple measurement points such as pressure, level and temperature as well as valves can easily be integrated using IO-Link. The master bundles the information and can store the sensor parameterisation for plug-and-produce device exchange. Intelligent 4-wire devices such as the Proline Promass S 300 can be directly connected using EtherNet/IP or Profinet, enabling full transparency and seamless integration down to the field level.
Keeping a close eye on product quality and purity Endress+Hauser South Africa
Sensors & Transducers
Colour measurements are necessary in many processes to avoid product losses and ensure safe production and batching. The Memosens Wave CKI50 process spectrometer from Endress+Hauser is a compact, robust and process-friendly device allowing quality, batching and phase checks to be performed by a single instrument for the entire visible colour spectrum.
Read more...Where simplicity meets reliability Endress+Hauser South Africa
Temperature Measurement
The new iTEMP TMT31 temperature transmitter from Endress+Hauser combines simplified selection, ordering, installation and operation with the highest reliability and long-term stability in one product.
Read more...Comprehensive solutions for the food and beverage sector RS South Africa
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
RS South Africa is reinforcing its commitment to the country’s dynamic food and beverage sector, backed by a comprehensive portfolio of over 800 000 products, extensive technical expertise and end-to-end service capabilities.
Read more...Case History 198: Cascade control overcomes valve problems Michael Brown Control Engineering
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
A large petrochemical refinery asked me to perform an audit on several critical base layer control loops. This article deals with a problem found on a valve controlling the flow of fuel to a heat exchanger.
Read more...Improved networking technology for fire and gas detection Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Critical alarm and event management technology supplier, Omniflex has worked with the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation to upgrade equipment providing digital and analogue signals for its safety critical fire and gas alarm systems.
Read more...Simple and efficient level measurement in the mining, minerals and metals industries Endress+Hauser South Africa
Editor's Choice Level Measurement & Control
Measuring devices in the mining, minerals and metals industries face the challenge of varying material states and long distances in measurement height. Endress+Hauser’s answer to these challenges is the new Micropilot family.
Read more...PC-based control for fertiliser Beckhoff Automation
Editor's Choice Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
On a farm in the USA, valuable ammonia is extracted from slurry and processed into ammonium sulphate. NSI Byosis has transformed this complex process into a flexible modular system. This modular approach requires an automation solution with flexible scalability in both hardware and software, which this Dutch company has found in PC-based control from Beckhoff.
Read more...Loop signature 28: Things to consider when tuning. Michael Brown Control Engineering
Editor's Choice Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
I was giving a course at a remote mine in the middle of the Namibian desert. We were discussing tuning responses, and as I always do on my courses, I mentioned that in my opinion ¼ amplitude damped tuning is not desirable, and is in fact not good.
Read more...How industrial network design impacts ESG commitments Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
In safety-critical industries like nuclear, petrochemical and oil and gas, installing a new industrial cable network is an extremely complicated task. Gary Bradshaw, a director of industrial network specialist, Omniflex explains why this is often unnecessary as plants are likely to have existing cabling capable of being used to create new industrial networks.
Read more...Minelert industrial solutions
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Profitek provides cutting-edge industrial networking, automation and IoT solutions for harsh environments.
printer friendly version