WE DON'T ELIMINATE THE COMPETITION.
WE INTEGRATE THEM.
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Why is is important?
How?
Who's done this already?
All-encompassing
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20% reduction in labor hours; 30% reduction in labor costs. Just 2 of benefits one System Integrator achieved through using PROFINET. The result? A complex project completed on time and a well-satisfied customer with far greater management control over productivity, product quality and assets. That means 'profitability': in other words, everyone wins with PROFINET.

The integration of existing fieldbuses is a key part of this story. Most of our competitors have a ‘sister’ Ethernet solution. That's easy to achieve but it’s restrictive, because it cuts out all the others! What’s much more difficult is to find a solution which embraces them all. Only PROFINET can do this.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

It’s important for North America automation users because engineers here often face multiple networks when combining different systems into a cohesive production line. How to integrate and manage them is a major – and growing - challenge.

PROFINET is the only Industrial Ethernet solution able to easily and quickly integrate all the world’s most important networking solutions. Think about the legacy protection that offers you, and the ease with which plants can be updated and new production operations deployed. No need to obsolete old equipment, or lose hard-earned experience and skills. So, bring the world’s best and most powerful Industrial Ethernet solution to bear on your next automation challenge without fear or favor.

HOW?

PROFINET PROXY SOLUTIONIt’s done using a ‘proxy’ – which is basically a ‘black box’ interface that transparently connects PROFINET with traditional fieldbuses. PROFINET already has proxies for DeviceNet, Interbus, PROFIBUS and AS-Interface. HART and FOUNDATION Fieldbus will follow soon. For process automation applications this will have dramatic implications – as you can read here.

As you can see from the diagram above, there are also proxy solutions for Serial and ModBus communications, broadening PROFINET's scope still further.

WHO'S DONE THIS ALREADY?

Check here for a great example of how PROFINET’s unique capabilities helped a cigar factory solve this problem, cutting costs and deployment time dramatically. Another great example of PROFINET in action is at a well-known DVD production plant where the proxy power of PROFINET helped integrate DeviceNet-based machines and PROFIBUS systems.

"ALL-ENCOMPASSING"

There are few more-respected world authorities in automation than ARC Advisory and they saw the unique selling points of PROFINET immediately. ‘All-encompassing’ is what they added to our lexicon, referring not just to the easy integration of other fieldbuses, but to just about every other aspect of automation and management too.

  • TCP/IP connectivity - get data up into MES/ERP networks fast; make use of global tools like the World Wide Web and Internet; capitalize on powerful device, system and network diagnostics for better asset management and lower cost of ownership.
  • Real Time performance down to 1mS – control plants and processes easily.
  • Advanced multiple axis Motion Control down to 1uS accuracy and better – future proof drive systems.
  • Common application profiles with PROFIBUS, including PROFIsafe and PROFIdrive - utilize existing skills and engineering.
  • Global support from over 1400 members around the globe.
  • Managed and led by PI, the largest, most influential, independent organization the world has ever seen in industrial networking.

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