The Siemens Industry Automation Division (www.siemens.com) has included a Simocode pro V Profinet basic unit that comes with two RJ45 interfaces to its modular Simocode pro motor management system. The addition allows the system to control other systems like Simatic PCS 7 or to be connected through Profinet to higher-level controllers, including Simatic S7.

Providing media redundancy functions, Profinet ensures the connection of a network with ring topology despite the failure of one communication channel, effectively increasing the availability and, ultimately, the productivity of the plant.

Aside from simple communication between drive systems and higher-level plant control, the Profinet compatibility of the basic unit enables it to deliver more control and far-reaching diagnostic functions. The Simocode pro, for instance, offers integrated web diagnostics and a server for OPC UA, which is the communication standard in automation of multi-vendor. With an Internet browser, all service and diagnostic data relevant to the motor feeders, such as measured values, status information and statistics and service data, can be called up through the web server and a network connection.

Meanwhile, its integrated OPC UA server can also call data from higher-level Scada system through field level HMI panels.

Simocode pro’s basic unit with Profinet interface has also been integrated with Profienergy. The motors, which are centrally controlled through Profinet, can be turned off during breaks. Using the Profienergy protocol, the status information and measured values can be called up, allowing efficient load and energy management, and resulting to reduced costs and energy requirements for the plant.