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Still buddies

ControlGlobal.com
02/27/2009

By Andrew Bond, Industrial Automation Insider

Rockwell and Endress+Hauser have further strengthened their relationship by releasing a new set of device integration tools to give access to the isolated diagnostics within Endress+Hauser instrumentation from the PlantPAx process automation system, and provide step-by-step guidance on connectivity, configuration and commissioning. The tools are based on the two companies’ preferred approach to integration based on Common Industrial Protocol (CIP)-based networks such as EtherNet/IP at the controller level and HART, Foundation fieldbus and Profibus PA at the device level. Claimed to enable faster system engineering, reduce risk and protect plant assets, they include pre-engineered controller code, pre-configured operator faceplates and integration documentation for the most commonly used Endress+Hauser process instrumentation.

“These new tools for device integration will help significantly ease implementation,” said Rockwell Process Market Development director Steve Pulsifer, while Endress+Hauser general manager Todd Lucey added that “They also will enable the PlantPAx system to gather and visualize previously isolated process instrumentation diagnostics.”

The two companies claim that the use of such tools reduces the time required to engineer a system to a matter of minutes and eliminates many special training requirements by step-by-step guidance on connectivity, configuration and commissioning. At the same time they provide access to diagnostics which have always been available, but have hitherto seldom been used. Operations and maintenance personnel are thus better able to monitor device performance, identify faults and take corrective actions for increased operational performance.