Press releases

February 2008:
High-performance PC communication for Industrial Ethernet and Profibus

The Siemens Industry Automation Division has developed two new PC communication boards. The CP 1623 is used to connect a PC to Industrial Ethernet and the CP 5621 is used to connect a PC to Profibus.

July 2007:
New modules for establishing optical Profibus networks

Siemens Automation and Drives (A&D) has fundamentally overhauled the Profibus optical link modules (OLMs) in the new Version 4.0 and equipped them with additional functions.

Juni 2007:
Reliable IWLAN radio networks for indoor and outdoor areas

Two new access point lines for industrial wireless LANs (IWLAN) are now available from Siemens Automation and Drives (A&D). The devices in the Scalance W-786 family are particularly suitable for installation in outdoor radio networks, for instance in public areas, mass transit systems, ports, offshore equipment, or container logistics. With its compact, space saving design, the Scalance W-784 line is specifically targeted at indoor radio networks and can be installed, for example, in a control cabinet or directly in a machine. A&D also has a series of new client modules for integrating one or more nodes in an IWLAN radio network.

May 2007:
Graded Industrial Ethernet switches for diverse applications

Siemens Automation and Drives (A&D) has developed an entire range of new Industrial Ethernet switches. The new Scalance X-300 product line consists of compact switches that offer functions from the IT area as well as having properties for industrial use. The primary area of application is found in high-performance plant networks with connection to a corporate network via Gigabit Ethernet. The new switches of the product families Scalance X-100 and Scalance X-200 are now equipped with a high port density of up to 24 RJ-45 ports per module. They are suitable for setting up Industrial Ethernet networks with data rates of 10/100 megabits/second, and they have a rugged metal housing for space-saving installation in the control cabinet. In addition, the X-200 switches have an integral redundancy management function.

March 2007:
Real-time Ethernet controllers for high-speed communication between control units

Siemens Automation and Drives (A&D) has equipped two of its communications processors with Ertec real-time Ethernet controllers. The CP 343-1 has an Ertec 200 controller and connects Simatic S7-300 control units and Sinumerik 840D powerline control units using Industrial Ethernet. The CP 443-1 for the powerful Simatic S7-400 control units communicates via Ertec 400 controllers. The two CPs relieve the controller CPUs of communication tasks and offer a variety of connection services in multi-protocol mode such as Industrial Ethernet communication via TCP/IP and UDP, Profinet IO (input/output) and also communication compatible with programming devices/operator panels, S7 and S5.

November 2006:
Ethernet controller brings control devices into line

Siemens Automation and Drives (A&D) have equipped the CP 343-1 Lean communications processor for the Simatic S7-300 controllers with Ertec-200 Ethernet controllers. Via two ports on the processor, the controllers can now be connected in one line without an additional Ethernet switch. The CP 343-1 Lean works at data rates of up to 100 megabits/second in multi-protocol mode, for instance with Profinet-IO, TCP/IP and UDP protocol.

September 2006:
Communication interface links AS-i level with Profinet

With the new IE/AS-i Link PN IO router, Siemens Automation and Drives (A&D) offers a compact connection between the Profinet level and the AS-Interface level. As an AS-Interface master, the device provides users integrated exchange of information and diagnostics data. At the same time, the communication interface links higher-level systems even more efficiently with the lowest field level. With the link to Profinet, AS-Interface can now be even better integrated into the world of Totally Integrated Automation.

September 2006:
Low-cost telecontrol of plants using GPRS

Siemens Automation and Drives (A&D) has developed two telecontrol systems based on high-speed, low-cost GPRS (General Packet Radio Services) data transmission. The Sinaut Micro communication system for simple telecontrol tasks is based on the Simatic S7-200 micro controller as well as the GSM/GPRS MD720-3 modem and the Sinaut Micro SC OPC server. With up to 256 controllers per server, several thousand remote stations can be connected to the central control station by radio. For the telecontrol of larger automation tasks with Simatic S7-300 and 400 controllers, Sinaut MD740-1 is used - equipped with an Ethernet connection as well as a GPRS wireless modem, VPN (Virtual Private Network) router and a firewall. Both new systems allow communication between the GPRS stations.

March 2006:
Optical Profinet structures using plastic fiber-optic cables

Fiber-optic cables are used in industrial communication networks for installations subject to electromagnetic interference or when zero radiated emission is desirable, if there are potential differences or for outdoor installations. Siemens Automation and Drives (A&D) is now supplementing its range of Profinet cabling components with plastic fiber-optic cable technology for optical communication. Glass fiber-optic cables are already being used for longer transmission links, but from now on plastic fibers - either polymer optic fiber (POF) or polymer clad fiber (PCF) - are also being used for short distances. The advantage of plastic over glass is the much easier assembly of connectors on site.

February 2006:
Plan WLAN networks efficiently and simply

With Sinema E (Simatic Network Manager Engineering), Siemens Automation and Drives (A&D) has developed a software tool for efficient planning, simulation and configuration of industrial WLAN applications in accordance with the 802.11 a/b/g standard. It allows you to design and simulate entire IWLAN networks at your desk. The new software for industrial and office networks, including outdoor areas, is suitable for network engineers in the field and planning engineers.

January 2006:
NEC Electronics and Siemens Announce Partnership in Real-time Ethernet Products

Joint Marketing to Boost Sales in Growing Field of Industrial Network Device