Phoenix Contact picks Profinet as preferred Interbus-to-Ethernet solution

Scottsdale, AZ; Harrisburg, PA - The Profibus Trade Organization (PTO) reports that Phoenix Contact will support Profinet as its preferred Ethernet solution for Phoenix’s Interbus protocol. This means that Interbus will be adapted to integrate with the Profinet environment. Phoenix reportedly made its decision in response to demands from the automotive industry and other large user groups, who reportedly are convinced of the advantage of a standardized, Ethernet-based solution.

“Phoenix Contact has decided to direct its efforts consistently toward Profinet technologies, and to work in close cooperation with PNO and its member companies to further develop this technology. In this way, the two standardized fieldbus technologies will be consolidated into one Ethernet platform,' says Roland Bent, of Phoenix Contact. He adds that a recent call from Germany’s automotive industry association, VDA, asked manufacturers to develop a standardized Ethernet-based solution. The association reportedly stated that, “Only in this way do we see a real advantage to the end-user.'

Consequently, Phoenix will now “extrapolate” the advantages of Interbus to the Profinet world. Product implementation will occur in Phoenix’s gateways and proxies, as well as in its control systems and I/O modules, which will couple directly with Profinet. Engineering tools also will be developed.

'This supports our original decision to make Profinet an open technical solution able to embrace any fieldbus technology and its underlying philosophies. Profinet also recognizes the decentralized nature of today's automation structures and the critical need to integrate easily and securely with standard IT systems,” says Edgar Kuester, Profibus International’s chairman. “We’re delighted to have the support of Phoenix Contact and Interbus and it's clear that Profinet is now poised for a major leap forward.'

With 10 million installed Profibus nodes and 6.5 million installed Interbus nodes, PTO adds that Profinet is positioned to become the dominant industrial Ethernet solution. The organization adds that Profinet is a modern standard for distributed automation standards and is based on Ethernet. It integrates existing fieldbus systems, specifically Profibus, simply and without change, according to PTO. Using established Ethernet-based IT technologies enables connecting the automation/plant level with the corporate management level, including direct exchangeability of order and production data, while Internet connectivity can make it possible to initiate orders and carry out remote servicing and maintenance measures.

Interested individuals can download a new Profinet Technology and Application Guide at http://us.profibus.com/profinet.

Control Engineering Daily News Desk
Jim Montague, news editor
jmontague@reedbusiness.com

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