HIMA and Deuta launch SafeHMI solution

HIMA and Deuta jointly launched Oct. 21 their SafeHMI, which combines HIMA’s safety systems and function block libraries with a safety-related, human-machine interface (HMI) panel based on Deuta’s IconTrust technology. This HMI offers context-sensitive alarm management, safe operation and display monitoring in accordance with SIL 3 (IEC 61508), and is designed to meet functional safety requirements.

"With Deuta, we have a technology partner with decades of experience in safety-related displays, especially in the rail and transport sectors," says Jörg de la Motte, CEO of HIMA Group. "SafeHMI makes functional safety in industrial environments visible, controllable and digitally manageable."

SafeHMI’s core is its dynamic-alarm display, which reduces the burden on operators during fault situations. Relevant alarms are automatically prioritized, along with concise instructions for action, and limited to a maximum of four simultaneous entries. This ensures that an overview is maintained, even in critical moments, while operating errors are avoided. SafeHMI also lets users make inputs, acknowledgements or safe overrides directly through its touch panel, which is tested, documented and validated according to SIL 2/3. This carries out maintenance functions or recipe changes digitally, and documents them in an auditable manner.

"With SafeHMI, we’re taking display and operating logic to a new level of safety,” adds Bernd Schäfer, product manager at HIMA. “In critical situations, operators not only receive information, but also get clear instructions for action, and they can rely on what they see as accurate."

A key safety feature is Deuta’s IconTrust software that continuously monitors screen content, and detects deviations between displayed and expected values. This makes SafeHMI an active safety element that’s certified up to SIL 3. In addition, SafeHMI is integrated with HIMA’s Safety Platform. Configuration, modifications and enhancements are carried out using standardized function blocks, which are offered as part of a certified library.

"By partnering with HIMA, we can provide generic safety technology for operating and display units used in the railway sector with more than 30,000 units for new fields of application for which no comparable solution has been available to date,” adds Dr Rudolf Ganz, CEO of the Deuta Group and Deuta-Werke. “In combination with HIMA’s safety system, the application possibilities are almost limitless."