Softing Industrial Data Networks
Presents Connectivity Solutions for the
Process Industry
S
ofting Industrial Data Networks
will show smart gateways for
multi-protocol process control
and a mobile plug & play solution for
configuration and maintenance of field
devices at the trade show SPS smart
production solutions from November
26 to 28, 2019, in Nuremberg, in Hall 5,
Booth 346.
With smart gateways and mobile
enterprise solutions, Softing Industrial
Data Networks presents itself at the
SPS 2019 trade show in Nuremberg as
a partner for the process industry on its
way to digitalization.
GATEWAYS FOR MULTI - PROTOCOL
PROCESS CONTROL
In many process plants control systems
of different manufacturers and different
generations are in operation due to long
running times. The resulting different
communication interfaces make it
difficult to exchange production and plant
data across systems when implementing
industry 4.0 applications. Softing’s
smartGate product family supports users
in integrating disparate protocols, ensures
end-to-end digital data exchange and
thus creates the prerequisites for greater
efficiency and flexibility in production.
In addition to the pnGates for PROFINET
and the mbGates for Modbus/TCP, Softing
will present the new Ethernet/IP to
PROFIBUS gateways epGate DP, epGate PA
and epGate PB at the fair. This completes
the smartGate product family which now
supports all Ethernet protocols relevant
to the process industry: PROFINET,
Ethernet/IP and Modbus/TCP. The epGates
enable the convenient connection
of PROFIBUS devices to Ethernet/IP
controllers, e.g. from Rockwell, Schneider
Electric or Emerson.
There is also news for the Modbus/
TCP to PROFIBUS gateways. At the fair,
version 1.20 of mbGate DP, mbGate
PA and mbGate PB will be on display,
which has been extended by the “High
Availibility” option. It allows the operation
of a redundant system with two Modbus/
TCP controllers and two Modbus/TCP
gateways. In this way, system availability
is ensured even in the event of a
connection failure. The mbGates enable
the direct integration of PROFIBUS PA and
DP segments into Modbus/TCP systems.
They act as Modbus server and PROFIBUS
master and connect up to four PROFIBUS
PA segments as well as one DP segment
with Modbus TCP.
All gateways allow use of the existing
power supply in technology upgrade
projects, which significantly reduces
engineering costs. Configuration and
asset management can be carried out
using industry-standard tools.
MOBILE ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS
Modern process plants require digital,
mobile, networked and standardized
solutions that make data from
plants, machines and field devices
easily accessible and streamline
maintenance procedures for configuring,
commissioning and troubleshooting the
devices. This is where Softing’s mobile
interface mobiLink comes in. It provides
access to the three most important
communication protocols in process
automation – HART, FOUNDATION
Fieldbus and Profibus PA – via a
single interface. The connection to the
mobile device can be made via USB or
Bluetooth. With the newly available FDI
Communication Server it is now possible
to use mobiLink with FDI applications.
The DevCom app for Android or
Windows adds an application for device
parameterization to the offering. A new
version – mobiLink Power – will be
available at the beginning of 2020. This
will allow field devices to be supplied
with power, which is obtained via the
USB port. An external power supply for
the field devices is no longer necessary.
Softing Industrial Data Networks will be
exhibiting at SPS 2019 together with its
Data Intelligence division in Hall 5, Booth
346.
About Softing Industrial Softing connects
disparate automation components to feed
data from the shop floor to the cloud
for control and analytics. The company’s
products enable the monitoring and
diagnosis of communication networks
and thus ensure a reliable data flow. In
this way, they create the basis for the
optimization of production processes.
For more information:
www.industrial.softing.com/en
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