Safeguards for the World’s Most Powerful Laser

Designing the world’s most powerful lasers is no mean feat. But researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory are equally proud of a complementary system they’ve created, one that protects humans from the powerful beams. The Berkeley Lab Laser Accelerator (BELLA) system set the record when it delivered a petawatt of power in a pulse just 40 femtoseconds long at a pulse rate of one hertz in July. If delivering 1015th watts of power in a quadrillionth of a second isn’t... Read More

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Steel Mill Executes No-Risk Control System Conversion

Prism Systems explains how a phased, rack-by-rack implementation kept the mill’s PLC-and-PROFIBUS network up and running. When a major steel manufacturer found its operations hampered by a highly customized automation system provided by multiple integrators, it turned to Prism Systems and Siemens to rectify the situation. Mobile, Ala.-based Prism Systems has been a Siemens Solution Partner for more than a decade, specializing in controls for the food and beverage, marine,... Read More

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Compact Distributed I/O for Plant and Machinery Construction

Siemens Industry, Inc., expands its SIMATIC ET 200 distributed I/O product family with a new generation of devices. With its compact design, the distributed I/O system Simatic ET 200SP takes up less space in the control cabinet and is especially user-friendly in operation. Users in plant engineering and machine manufacturing benefit from the variable station setup, fixed wiring, and improved device and module identification features. The SIMATIC ET 200SP with IP20 degree of protection... Read More

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Compact Distributed I/O for Plant and Machinery Construction

Siemens Industry, Inc., expands its SIMATIC ET 200 distributed I/O product family with a new generation of devices. The highly compact design of the SIMATIC ET 200SP reduces the space required in the control cabinet; the device features user-friendly operation. Users in plant engineering and machine manufacturing benefit from the variable station setup, fixed wiring, and improved device and module identification features. The SIMATIC ET 200SP with IP20 degree of protection supports... Read More

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Controllers Add Features to Simplify System Configuration

As machine level communications become increasingly important in industrial facilities, design flexibility and enhanced functionality become essential. Siemens Industry, Inc. continues to advance with this in mind, simplifying automation system configuration by adding Shared Device, Intelligent Device (I-Device) and Media Redundancy Protocol (MRP) Profinet functionality to its SIMATIC S7-300 and S7-400 controllers. The enhancements deliver leaner and more versatile topology architectures... Read More

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SIEMENS IO-LINK: Completely integrated in Totally Integrated Automation (TIA)

IO-Link is a point to point open communication technology designed to reduce installation and commissioning costs for OEMs while providing increased diagnostic and parameterization capabilities for end users. IO-Link was originally designed for use directly out on the machine to connect smart sensors and actuators. However, Siemens is the first and only manufacturer to provide IO-Link devices for use inside the control cabinet. IO-Link has been seamlessly integrated into the... Read More

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New Modules Connect Optical and Electrical PROFIBUS Networks

Siemens Industry has released two new optical link modules specifically designed for PROFIBUS networks. The new modules, the OLM P22 which is designed for use with plastic fiber optic cables (FOC) and the OLM G22 which is compatible with glass FOCs, make it possible for users to employ more redundant and reliable network topologies, such as rings and stars, that ensure higher network availability, says Paul Ruland, Siemens marketing manager. “They also offer enhanced diagnostics... Read More

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Simatic S7-1200 Firmware Update Expands Communications Capabilities

Siemens Industry has dramatically expanded the communications capabilities available on its Simatic S7-1200 controllers with new PROFINET, PROFIBUS and telecommunications service giving end users more flexibility with their control system architectures and driving more efficiency into manufacturing processes through greater integration. Says Brian Shebs, Siemens product marketing manager, new CPU firmware enables communication with PROFINET IO devices while two new communication... Read More

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Transitioning from Fieldbus to Ethernet: Benefits and Requirements for the Plant Floor

Ethernet long ago became the de facto network standard for enterprise office networks on the strength of its performance, wide availability, openness and cost-effectiveness. For many of the same reasons, Ethernet has been finding its way to factory floor networks, a fact that may give pause to plant engineers who have long relied on fieldbus technology to foster communications among their various machines and devices. While any kind of change can be cause for concern, the transition... Read More

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New SIPLUS Extreme Controls Block Dust, Moisture Out

Siemens Industry Automation Division has considerably expanded the range of applications of its ruggedized SIPLUS extreme control and communication products. The devices are now also certified for use in toxic atmospheres according to ISA-S71.04 GX, which addresses airborne contaminants. The new parts are now certified for offshore deployment in environments with salt mist and for environments with high mechanical active substances in dust atmospheres often referred to as “Arizona... Read More

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