Electricity + Control August 2015

CONTROL SYSTEMS + AUTOMATION

ROUND UP

Modernising and migrating Industrial CommunicationTechnology The number of communications protocols used in industrial automation is staggering…and still growing. No company can afford to re-engineer or rip out their existing pro- cesses every time they add a new machine or want to collect data into their existing network from some legacy device that is still working well but not connected to the network. Re-engineering is not the answer because no matter how careful you are, there will be problems, interruptions and downtime. And downtime does not pay the bills, cover the payroll or produce any profits. What you need is a plan that will allow you to layer new data communications technology over the top of what you already have. Then you can gradually migrate your existing equipment and devices into your network, providing you with the ability to collect new kinds of data that will increase your profit margin.You can start your phased migration by deciding and prioritising what data you really need to collect or measure for your specific operation. Once you have this list you can begin your phased migration.There are numerous protocol gateways on the market today that will allow you to quickly (and cost-effectively) integrate a new machine into your network or collect data from a legacy device. These gateways act as translators from one protocol to another.They are relatively easy to install and once up and running, they allow your controller to ‘talk to’ devices that speak a different protocol as seam- lessly as if it were all one network. Enquiries:Visit www.prosoft-technology.com

Ethernet products for harsh environments

Netshield South Africa has introduced a range of Industrial Ethernet products, designed to assist industrial customers where networking equipment is exposed to extreme elements and environmental factors. The use of Industrial Ethernet (IE) devices is specifically required for businesses that require a more resilient solution because of the environment in which their Ethernet network runs. To this end, IE devices are fully equipped with rugged connectors, and boast switches that can withstand extended temperature, ideal for those in industrial environments as well as automation or process control. “South Africa has a large industrial focused industry where we see factories, smelters, heat treatment plants, manufactur- ing lines and even furnaces and packing plants,” states Inus Dreckmeyr, chief executive officer at Netshield. “The compo- nents used in the plant process areas of these companies, must be able to function in environments where there are extreme temperatures, humidity as well as vibrations that exceed the ranges information technology equipment can usually work under. “The use of fibre Ethernet in these IE environments reduces the problems usually associated with electrical noise and ena- bles electrical isolation, which in turn helps prevent equipment damage,” adds Dreckmeyr. Enquiries:Tel. 012 841 0320 or email sales@netshieldsa.com

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