SIMATIC Factory Safety

Benefits

Reduction of stock-keeping by saving components

• One controller for standard and safety automation
  

  -	Coexistence of standard and safety programs on one controller possible

• One PROFIBUS or PROFINET transmitting medium for standard and safety communication to SIL 3/Category 4
  

  -	One distributed I/O configuration with standard and safety I/O modules

Fast system configuration and commissioning

• Better system integration
  

  -	Uniform engineering for standard and safety control component
  -	Use of existing PROFIBUS or PROFINET transmitting medium even for safety communication
  -	Simple expansion of existing PROFIBUS archtictures about PROFINET, p.ex. via IE/PB-Link (SIMATIC NET)

More flexibility

• The logic of the safety functions is software-based rather than hard-wired
  

  -	More easily modified, expanded and documented
  -	Implementation of complex safety functions

Faster reproducibility

• In contrast to the hardware solution, the software solution can be easily reproduced
• Approved, certified solutions can often be used as self-contained blocks

Better retent of plant availability

• Early fault detection thanks to better diagnostic functions

Investment security

• Easy migration from PROFIBUS to PROFINET