Signal Boards Provide Speed Without Requiring Additional Space
Digital signal boards from Siemens let industrial users add functions and improve speed yet the units don’t require any expansion of installed hardware. The boards for the SIMATIC S7-1200 compact controller work with both 24V and 5V DC sensors and actuators. Six high speed signal boards are small enough to fit onto the front of installed controllers so users don’t have to add width or otherwise alter form factors. Three members of the line are configured for 24V DC version... Read More
It’s Time to Upgrade Those 10-Year-Old HMIs
Web-based tools make it easy to modernize HMI/SCADA systems and gain many new benefits. Many systems and components have been upgraded over the past decade, but it’s common for a plant’s HMI/SCADA systems to remain untouched. Many have become inefficient and ineffective not doing the jobs they could be doing. Many HMI/SCADA systems were last changed in the late 1990s when fear of Y2K glitches prompted major capital investments. Updating to an optimally configured HMI/SCADA... Read More
Safety Systems: To Integrate or Not to Integrate
Combining safety and production can save money, space in many applications. Safety has always been an important aspect for industrial facilities, but tighter regulations have pushed it even higher in the requirement lists for industrial automation systems. At the same time, the need to maximize efficiency has prompted developers to turn away from architectures that use discrete systems for production and safety functions. Dedicated safety equipment adds significant cost and complexity.... Read More
Flattening Switch Systems
Flat enclosure shrinks network packaging. A flat enclosure design expands the SCALANCE X Switch line, letting systems integrators provide IP20 degree of protection and Profinet-compliant connections in slim control boxes in combination with ET200S systems. They’re designed for operation in redundant electrical ring with integrated redundancy and high availability networks. The Siemens Automation switch family, the SCALANCE XF-200 (XF204, XF208, XF204-2, XF206-1), has RJ45 and... Read More
Protecting Your Plant’s Data Against Viruses and Hackers
Security for production network is now a critical issue. Over the past few years, security for industrial facilities has expanded from simple physical protection to include safeguards for data and networks. In this era of enterprise-wide Internet connectivity, protecting industrial networks has become at least as important as protecting front office systems. Now that Ethernet and TCP/IP dominate industrial sites, networks are no longer protected by the isolation that came when... Read More
Starters Offer Increased Protection
Motor starters from Siemens provide a broad range of features and functions, letting users find exact sizes, while also simplifying field replacements. The NEMA starters undergo a high level of testing that ensures long lifetimes even in the rugged environments. These starters are solidly built to withstand the most severe and demanding industrial and continuous duty commercial applications. Siemens Enclosed starters and MCCs are now rated for Type 2 Coordination; in addition... Read More
Complete System Simulation Integrating both HMI and PLC – Part 3
Video Tutorials: Combined HMI and PLC Simulation This is part three of a four part series showcasing the time and cost saving benefits of the STEP7 PLC-SIM software.Have an Inquiry for Siemens about this article? Click Here >> Read More →
SIMATIC Safety Modules
Siemens Industry has increased the performance capabilities of its popular ET series of fail safe modules for the SIMATIC ET 200M I/O station, including the addition of PROFINET capabilities. With the upgrade the new modules (ET 200M 24 F-DI, ET 200M 8 F-DO and ET 200M 10 F-DO) are now able to meet the requirements of the safety levels SIL 3/ Cat. 4 and PL e in mixed operation with standard modules, without the need of a safety protector. “For us, safety is viral. It’s spreading... Read More
S7-1200 Temperature Signal Modules
Siemens Industry is further simplifying temperature measurement and control for manufacturing applications with the release of two new signal modules for its Simatic S7-1200 compact controller family. “Temperature control can be tricky and can require some complicated math and we wanted to address that,” says Siemens’ Paul Ruland. “There are several different kinds of sensors out there for different temperature bands and in the past, PLC users often had to buy and install... Read More
Motor Starter Controller with IO-Link Connectivity
Siemens Industry has released a new set of IO-Link-enabled compact starters – part of its SIRIUS 3RA6 family. IO-Link is a new, vendor agnostic point-to-point connection protocol for sensors and actuators compatible with existing I/O standards. Numerous industry vendors, including Siemens, are supporting the new protocol giving customers enhanced flexibility and control when it comes to design. The 3RA6 family is a three-in-one device, combining the circuit breaker/MSP, the... Read More