Changing perspectives in automation
4th Quarter 2017, News & events

At the recent African product launch in Pretoria, head of Siemens Process Automation, Mikhail Vakhutinskiy explained; “With Version 9 of its Simatic PCS 7 process control system, Siemens is opening up scope for new perspectives to plant operators in the process industries. This represents another important step forward by Siemens towards digitalisation. In addition, Version 9 of the process control system Simatic PCS 7 supports the leading industrial Ethernet standard Profinet with two new distributed I/O lines for greater digitalisation down to the field level and a range of software innovations.

Delegates at the PCS 7 V9.0 launch.

Despite its space-saving design – the width of the new module has been reduced by almost half – it allows the operation of up to 16 channels. The number of modules per head assembly or per station has been increased from 12 to 56, corresponding to just under 900 I/O signals instead of the previous 96 (when using 8-channel modules).

Another benefit is its consistently modular and flexible structure, which allows modules to be conveniently hot swapped while running in operational mode. The Simatic ET 200SP HA stations can be easily extended as requirements change, since the permanent wiring and use of uniform terminal blocks enable control cabinets with a standardised structure.

The Simatic Compact Field Unit (CFU) opens up new scope for the integration of field devices since the field distributor connected over Profinet is able to overcome the restrictions of conventional I/O concepts, providing consistent decentralisation coupled with flexible structures.

“This version significantly enhances the performance of the Simatic PCS 7 process control system in order to fulfil the continuously increasing demands of the process industry,” concludes Vakhutinskiy. “Thanks to its new hardware and improved software features, PCS 7 can now be used for an even larger spectrum of applications. It simplifies processes and saves costs as well as space and time. Plants thus become more flexible, more efficient and easier to modernise.”

For more information contact Jennifer Naidoo, Siemens Digital Factory and Process Industries and Drives, +27 (0)11 652 2795, jennifer.naidoo@siemens.com, www.siemens.co.za

Further reading:

• The next giant leap
  1st Quarter 2018, Technews Publishing, News & events
  The adventure of the century The thrill of space exploration never goes away, and the next stage could be the most exciting ever as plans are made to put people on Mars. Apart from stories on a 50 ton ...
  
• A hybrid-electric passenger plane
  1st Quarter 2018, Siemens Digital Factory & Process Ind. & Drives, Electrical switching & drive systems & components
  What the companies have in mind is a 100-seat passenger aircraft in which one of the four conventional turbines has been replaced by a high powered electric motor. Such an aircraft is expected to make ...
  
• Hytec engineers new qualification
  1st Quarter 2018, Hytec (Afripower), News & events
  Hytec has become South Africa’s first company to receive full accreditation as a training provider to qualify ‘fluid power fitters’. The company received full accreditation with programme approval from ...
  
• Easy, high-performance servo drive system
  1st Quarter 2018, Siemens Digital Factory & Process Ind. & Drives, Electrical switching & drive systems & components
  Today, machinery construction OEMs are facing special challenges. The goal is to produce even more quickly at lower cost, while at the same time satisfying the highest quality demands. As a consequence, ...
  
• New specialist for Dosco Precision Hydraulics
  1st Quarter 2018, Dosco Precision Hydraulics, News & events
  Dosco Precision Hydraulics, a Division of Hudaco Trading, is about to enter new territory in the hydraulics environment. Rob Masterton will be joining the company from the 1st of February 2018. Rob is ...
  
• Megadyne accelerates international growth
  1st Quarter 2018, Megadyne SA, News & events
  Megadyne has further strengthened its growth on international markets through the acquisition of some important players in the field of power transmission. Founded in 1957, this Italian company is a world-leader ...
  
• BMG’s winning farming initiative
  1st Quarter 2018, Bearing Man Group t/a BMG, News & events
  BMG has announced the winner of the Boer Slim/Smart Farming competition, held in conjunction with Facebook recently. “The rules were simple. To enter the competition, we needed a photograph of the contestant ...
  
• SKF Zambia kicks off on a high note
  1st Quarter 2018, SKF South Africa, News & events
  SKF Zambia recently joined forces with Mopani Copper Mines in hosting the prestigious Mufulira Sevens Rugby Tournament. The event saw the community of the Zambian mining town of Mufulira bristling with ...
  
• Massive motors installed by M&C
  1st Quarter 2018, News & events
  Marthinusen & Coutts recently executed the sub-assembly of six gearless mill drives for Minera Panamá’s remotely situated Cobre Panamá project in record time. Minera Panamá, the Panamanian subsidiary ...
  
• Appointments
  1st Quarter 2018, News & events
    
  
• Digitalisation in mining
  1st Quarter 2018, Siemens Digital Factory & Process Ind. & Drives, News & events
  The global mining industry faces major challenges and, in order to stay competitive, companies have to become leaner, stronger and more innovative. In this context, digitalisation plays a crucial role ...
  
• Festo Didactic training: February to April 2018
  1st Quarter 2018, Festo, News & events
  The following courses are available from Festo Didactic       Pneumatics (1) Basic PN111:    Johannesburg: February 21-23, March 27-29, April 24-26    Durban: March 14-16, April 24-26    East London: February ...