Which Ethernet communication method is best for you?

Are you unsure about which Ethernet communication method is ideal for your project?

Determining the best communication method to use depends on your application's requirements, and if you choose the wrong one, you could face future problems, affecting your bottom line. ProSoft can help – in their new video, they give sample applications, and explore the positives and negatives of the communication methods to help you determine the best choice for your application! 

For further information please email info@routeco.com

Introducing ProSoft connect - Make the IIoT work for you

As you hear more and more about Industry 4.0, you’re probably wondering: How can I use this to make my operation that much more efficient? 

ProSoft Connect is a Cloud-Native Platform designed to address the current and future needs of businesses that want to get full value from their IIoT deployment.

ProSoft's initial offering will enable you to easily and securely access your remote machines via a cellular gateway, as well as manage all your cellular gateways from a single location. Future enhancements will enable you to improve machine productivity and decrease maintenance costs by centrally collecting and monitoring operational and diagnostic data from your worldwide facilities in real time.

This highly secure tool can help you utilise the Industrial Internet of Things to your advantage, optimising your resources and connecting your enterprise from anywhere.

With ProSoft Connect, a secure, cloud-native platform for the Industrial Internet of Things, you can now securely and remotely access your ICX35 Industrial Cellular Gateways – wherever you are. This intuitive system will eventually help you get full value from your IIoT deployment. 

ProSoft Technology are preparing for the future of Industry 4.0 – and looking forward to helping you make the most of its technologies!

For more information on how Routeco can help you move into an IIoT world please email info@routeco.com or visit ProSoft's website. 

What to Consider When Starting Your Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) Journey – part one

The term ‘Industrial Internet of Things’ or IIoT seems to be everywhere at the moment! But what does it actually mean?

ProSoft Technology define it as: “The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is about intelligent devices like overloads, photo eyes, variable frequency drives, or PLCs providing data that we use to make our processes more efficient.” 

ProSoft have also looked at some of the ways old-school automation engineers are making use of IIoT concepts to improve their operations, and what considerations all of us should keep in mind.

Remote Monitoring and Equipment Access

• In the old days, remote access meant installing a serial modem connected to a dedicated phone line, so the machines made remote access-capable were limited to the most critical operations.
• What’s changed in the IIoT world is the proliferation of wireless connectivity, especially cellular networks and wireless LAN. Now, all that data deemed not important enough to transmit can be made available from remote sites. 
• Remote access to industrial equipment has become more accessible for more people throughout the organisation
• Finally, machine builders and control engineers responsible for widely dispersed global operations can build reliable connectivity into their systems without the need for custom infrastructure and integration at the end site.
• For mobile equipment, access is available just about anywhere the equipment goes. This simplifies the design and maintenance of the system, and enables the machine OEM to build high-value applications that make use of an “always connected” machine.

Machine and Process Control

• IIoT technology is not just about cellular connections to remote machines. 
• Major automation vendors like Rockwell Automation have been offering industrial Ethernet connectivity for PLCs and related devices for more than a decade. Industrial Ethernet protocols like ODVA’s EtherNet/IPTM provide the kind of performance required for automation systems, while also enabling interoperability with the massive Internet Protocol-based network infrastructure found in virtually every organisation. 
• Today’s automation engineers are taking advantage of the Internet Protocol-based industrial technologies to design more reliable networks for moving equipment. 
• Wireless LAN products designed for the harsh industrial environment and optimised to handle protocols like EtherNet/IP allow engineers to eliminate the cost and downtime of frayed cables, yet still take advantage of high data rates and application-specific requirements like machine safety and time synchronisation.

Asset Mobility

• One area of automation where IIoT technology is creating new opportunities involves taking the network connection anywhere in the plant. 
• Old systems offered only so many places to “plug in.” 
• Automation systems are now benefiting from the same “network everywhere” mindset as our home and office environment. 
• Using industrial hotspots, control engineers can connect to the automation system easily from anywhere in the plant. The same wireless network allows maintenance applications running on smart phones or tablets to access and update equipment records, capture and store photos, and even help maintenance technicians troubleshoot machines. Operators and supervisors can view the status of a machine from anywhere, and even control the machine.

Next week in Part Two: Things to consider about how your system can fit into this new world of connected machines. Make sure you’re subscribed to our blog and the part two will go straight into your email inbox. In the meantime, please email info@routeco.com if you require more information. The full whitepaper from ProSoft Technology can be found here.

ProSoft Flow Computer solutions for Oil and Gas applications

Are you looking for compatible Rockwell Automation flow computer solutions for oil and gas applications? ProSoft Technology have a number of technologies to help you…

In-Chassis Flow Computers help optimise oil production

It used to be that you’d need multiple RTUs and standalone flow computers for your multi oil well pad operation, with long wiring runs to the control house and individual programs for everything. With ProSoft Technology’s in-chassis flow computer for Rockwell Automation® PACs, you can simplify your operation, decreasing your capital spend and maintenance costs. This integrated solution helps you reduce your support costs, optimising your resources.

LACT Systems

In Lease Automatic Custody Transfer (LACT) systems, accurate delivery of your product to customers is crucial. ProSoft Technology’s CompactLogix™ flow computer gives you a scalable cost effect solution to track product being delivered to your customer’s pipeline, tanker trucks and tank cars. For larger applications, distributed POINT I/O™ can be used to reduce your wiring costs.

Control house

With an integrated design, you can decrease the size of your control house and the costs associated with integrating RTUs and standalone flow computers with your PLC. The scalable design of Rockwell Automation controllers and ProSoft Technology’s in-chassis flow computers allows you to optimise your setup, ensuring a cost-effective design for your application. Using Rockwell Automation distributed I/O saves you space in the control house and reduces your wiring. The wireless solutions can help you remotely monitor operations (cellular), as well as support distributed I/O applications (WiFi) to help you reduce your wiring costs.

Pump jacks

ProSoft Technology’s wireless capabilities allow you to get remote access to your pump jacks and cut down on your wiring and trenching that this connection would traditionally require.

Wellheads, separator monitoring, tank level

By deploying distributed POINT I/O and ProSoft Technology’s Modbus® modules, users are able to reduce long wire runs to the control house. Using a wireless solution, you can eliminate the network wiring back to the control house.

If you wish to discuss your flow computer requirements with one of our team of Technical Specialists, please contact us by email info@routeco.com or call 0370 607 1000

For more information please click here 

Need to upgrade your legacy Remote I/O™ system?

Components for legacy Remote I/O™ systems are becoming out dated as new control systems usually run on Ethernet networks. Running a new Ethernet network with switches and fibre cable can be a costly endeavour.

ProSoft Technology’s innovative migration gateways and Industrial Media Converters allow you to run Remote I/O™ and EtherNet/IP™ simultaneously over your existing Belden® 9463 Blue Hose® cable. You are now able to upgrade your legacy Remote I/O™ control systems in phases, eliminating the extended downtime required to upgrade your system.

The EtherNet/IP to Remote I/O or DH+ (AN-X2-AB-DHRIO) Gateway from ProSoft Technology is designed to help customers initiate a phased migration approach to replacing or upgrading legacy Remote I/O, HMI's or Drives. The AN-X2-AB-DHRIO gateway has multiple operating modes that are selected during configuration.

For more information click here to view a video or visit the manufacturer's website.

To view stock availability and price please visit our online store.

If you wish to discuss your migration requirements with one of our team of Technical Specialists, please contact us by email info@routeco.com or call 0370 607 1000.

ProSoft launch new Profibus modules for CompactLogix

ProSoft has announced the launch of a new product – the new ILX69 modules for CompactLogix, a cost-effective PROFIBUS solution.

ProfSoft Technology’s new PROFIBUS DPV1 Master and Slave modules promise the convenience and functionality of an in-chassis PROFIBUS interface at the cost of a gateway.

With these modules, CompactLogix™ processors can easily communicate with slave devices supporting PROFIBUS DPV0 and DPV1 protocol. The module acts as an input/output module between the PROFIBUS network and the processor supporting complete Master specifications according to IEC 61158.

Master Features:

• AOI: Module integrates with RSLogix 5000 using a sample Add-On Instruction (AOI), reducing configuration time
• Autoscan: The new Autoscan feature reduces configuration and start up times by scanning the PROFIBUS network and uploading slave device addresses and configuration information. (Reads and maps nodes automatically to the module.)
• ComDTM: Allows remote Ethernet connectivity for Asset Management Software to significantly lower your maintenance costs. You can configure, commission, maintain and diagnose your fieldbus devices throughout their entire lifecycle with this comprehensive, fully integrated engineering and maintenance environment
• SD card slot (SD card optional) is used for storing configuration files in the event of a disaster

Slave Features:

• Ethernet port allows remote configuration and maintenance
• Supports both I/O control and messaging
• Explicit ladder logic CIP message blocks provide slave status diagnostic data and acyclic messaging
• Module appears to the CompactLogix controller as a standard I/O module allowing it to be configured via RSLogix™ 5000
• Equipped with a diagnostic interface and rotary switches for setting of the bus address

For more information please contact us at info@routeco.com or visit our website at www.routeco.com