To help process plant operators more easily integrate their devices into their automation systems, Endress+Hauser launched its Open Integration partner program at the recent SPS IPC Drives event in Germany. The program promotes cooperation between providers of industrial automation systems and fieldbus communications by using open communication standards such as HART, Profibus, Foundation fieldbus, EtherNet/IP and Profinet, as well as open integration standards such as FDT, EDD and FDI.
This cooperation will start with reference topologies worked out jointly by Open Integration partners, and then each reference topology will be tailored to the applications and field communication technologies used by each customer. Depending on industrial segment and market, a topology's focus will be on typical requirements, such as availability, redundancy or explosion protection, and followed by selection of system components and field instruments. This combination will then be tested and documented before it's published as a joint recommendation, giving customers validated suggestions for automating their plant.
So far, eight companies have joined the program, including AUMA Riester, HIMA Paul Hildebrandt, Honeywell Process Solutions, Mitsubishi Electric, Pepperl+Fuchs, Rockwell Automation, R. STAHL and Schneider Electric.
"By working closely with our partners, we want to make sure that a relevant selection of products can be easily combined and integrated for common target markets," explains Michael Ziesemer, COO, Endress+Hauser. "We're open for more cooperation partners. Every market stakeholder who, like us, consistently relies on open standards is invited to join the Open Integration program."