CONTROL & AUTOMATION
IO-LINK
BURKERT
Simplifying industrial process automation
Industry 4.0 continues to gather pace
as more manufacturers are looking to
benefit from the ever-expanding array of
automation tools and products available.
At the heart of every system are network
and communication protocols that connect
sensors and devices to controllers; sites
often combine industrial ethernet with
fieldbus systems such as CANopen,
AS-Interface, PROFIBUS, CC-Link or
DeviceNet, so where would a new I/O
solution sit.
Kieran Bennett, Field Segment Manager
.hygienic – Food & Beverage, looks at the
latest communication protocol, IO-Link,
and the advantages it offers for industrial
process control.
Most production sites will already have
some degree of automation infrastructure
- which will have an influence on how the
network is extended, while others may
be looking at the best place to start. One
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thing is for certain though, investment costs
will be on the agenda when assessing the
most appropriate solution. be used, because this can influence the
choice of products that are compatible with
the automation solution.
REDUCING INSTALLATION COSTS One of the more recent communications
protocols to become established is IO-
Link, which has been designed to connect
actuators and sensors in the field to the
first tier of digital communication. One of
the advantages of this technology is that
it is standardised under IEC 61131-9, which
means the connections, identity codes,
parameters and diagnostics are all the
same, regardless of the manufacturer.
Automation has the potential to reduce
operational costs and improve efficiency as
well as reliability. However, to achieve these
improvements, the design and installation
of the new equipment needs to be properly
planned and implemented. Decisions about
centralised or decentralised control, data
recording, maintenance and reliability will all
affect the cost of installation.
For the food and beverage industry,
automation offers many advantages that
can be enhanced by the most effective
choice of equipment. At this point, selecting
control valves, sensors and actuators
would appear to be the next logical step.
However, it is important to establish the
communication protocols that are going to
PLUG-AND-PLAY
Using 3- or 5-wire connections between
sensors or actuators and a local IO-Link
master, both power and signal data can
be connected easily. These cables use
standard M12 connectors and can be pre-
assembled and tested, making plug-and-
play installation very simple.