I’m in Cincinnati for a PROFINET one-day training class tomorrow (Sept. 10) after last week in Toronto and the week before in Milwaukee, with a stopover in Cleveland. I have some reports from all these places, but first…
Having arrived in town early, I had a chance to visit PTO member Jacobs Automation. I got a demo of their Packtrak technology. You can watch video of Packtrak technology on their website. There is also an article in the Sept. 9th edition of PROFInews North American Edition.
Jacobs Automation evaluated other technologies and zeroed in on PROFINET and PROFIdrive as the only solution they needed. PROFINET is, in fact, the superior technology of all the Industrial Ethernets they evaluated, they said. In the course of developing this communication, they have become quite expert at both PROFINET IRT and PROFIdrive—expert enough to consider offering their SDK as its own product. So if you are considering adding PROFINET and PROFIdrive to your motion control product, give them a call. They are the first organization that I know of to allow a linear drive system to work with a different brand of motion controller.
During our chat, we noted that the technologies really hide in the background and just work. PROFIBUS and PROFINET are enabling technologies after all, not generally in the spotlight. Which reminds me of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but that’s a story for later…
New applications and products
In reviewing events from the last week in August, I see that a number of PROFIBUS application stories have appeared along with some nifty PROFINET new product announcements.
The PROFIBUS application stories:
- Process Dynamics and Siemens SIMATIC PCS 7 – the automatic choice for Parmalat
- Accuweigh supplies coated platform scales to Gold Coast desal plant
On the PROFINET new product front:
- New PROFINET communication option from Parker’s SSD Drives Division
- Siemens Introduces Cost and Time Saving Wireless I/O and Module IWLAN
- Softing’s PROFINET Solution has been Selected by Cisco Systems to Enhance its IE 3000 Series Switch Family
I also saw a clever little video from Endress+Hauser in the vein of my favorite TV show, “How it’s Made”: Production of Liquiline instruments
I “discovered” the video from Twitter when I saw a “tweet” about it from E+H. (You can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/CHenning.) The others appeared for me via Google Alerts and RSS feeds. (I recommend both.)
New Video: “Tell me more about CBA”
One of the follow-up questions on the Boston PROFINET one-day training class (July 23) feedback forms indicated that we should say more about Component Based Automation (CBA). For those who didn’t hear enough about CBA in Boston, you can find more information in Section 15 of “PROFINET Technology and Application.” You can find it on the resource CD from the training manual or you can download it here. I also discovered a video on the Design World website that provides an overview of CBA.
Check out our schedule for one-day training classes to register for a session near you.
Or, to become a certified PROFINET network engineer, attend one of our week-long certification classes, held in Johnson City, Tenn. http://us.profibus.com/training.aspx?pagetype=certified
For more of Carl Henning’s PROFIblog, visit www.profiblog.com.
