Control System World

X2 motion panels deliver intuitive HMI with integrated CODESYS motion and PLC functionality in the same compact hardware. Panels range from ultra-compact 4-inch to 15-inch panels designed for demanding applications. Our lean yet powerful hardware with super-fast EtherCAT communication provides the speed you want with the stability you need.

Strong. Stylish. Smart.:
The X2 motion family is part of the new X2 panel series, the next generation of HMIs from Beijer Electronics. The X2 series include six product families combining great design with strong performance to power your HMI solutions. Create smart integrated solutions boosted by iX HMI software and WARP Engineering Studio.

Integrated CODESYS motion and control:
Applications remain elegantly slim with integrated CODESYS motion and PLC functionality in the
panel. CODESYS runs on dedicated CPU cores in dual or quad core ARM Cortex-A9 processors for safe and fast program execution. Panels have two built-in Ethernet ports as standard for communication with third party equipment. Connect directly to a BSD servo drive, add remote I/Os and you get an elegant, scalable, cost-effective solution.

Prepared for any environment:
X2 motion panels operate in wide temperature ranges of -10°C to +60°C. The panels offer strong IP65 and NEMA 4 ingress protection for any industrial environment. The X2 motion range hold all the certificates needed to perform in the field by UL, CE, FCC and KCC certification and extended classes of marine certifications.

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Siemens is the first company to obtain security certification from TÜV SÜD (German inspection and certification organisation) for an automation system based on IEC 62443-4-1 and IEC 62443-3-3. In August 2016, Siemens had already become the first company to receive the TÜV SÜD security certification according to IEC 62443-4-1 for the general development process for automation and drive technology products, including industrial software, employed at seven German development locations. This has now been followed by the first product certification according to IEC 62443-4-1 and 62443-3-3.

For the product certification according to IEC 62443-4-1 and 62443-3-3, TÜV SÜD tested and verified the security functions implemented in the Simatic PCS 7 process control system. The conformity of development and integration processes was also checked. Regularly repeated audits will also ensure that Simatic PCS 7 continues to meet the required standards and concepts in future, and so retain the right to bear the certification. As a leading automation and software supplier to industry, Siemens is continually improving its products and solutions in terms of industrial security. This also includes certification based on IEC 62443. With this certificate, the company documents its security approach to automation products, and gives integrators and operators a transparent insight into its industrial security measures.

The Simatic PCS 7 process control system from Siemens controls and monitors continuous manufacturing processes, such as those in chemical and cement plants, the water and waste water sector, and the pharmaceuticals industry. As plant downtime in these industries can have enormous effects, both functional safety and industrial security are very important. Simatic PCS 7 provides a large number of functions for industrial security: These include segmentation into zones and security cells, the security of access points and user authentication, secure communication, patch management, system hardening, virus scanners and whitelisting. The comprehensive security measures and functions for Simatic PCS 7 contribute toward safeguarding plant operation, and so avoid plant downtimes and expensive outage times.

The international standard IEC 62443 describes an IT security concept based on the deeply tiered "defense-in-depth" approach, in which device and system suppliers, system integrators and operators are involved and contribute toward the overall solution. On the basis of lEC 62443, companies can examine the potential weak points in their control system and develop effective protective measures.

Schneider Electric, the global specialist in energy management and automation, today announced the launch of its next generation EcoStruxure™ architecture and platform to deliver IoT-enabled solutions at scale for building, grid, industry and data center customers. The enhanced architecture and platform is open, scalable and interoperable, connecting the three core layers of Schneider Electric’s technology stack, from connected products, to edge control, to applications, analytics and services. This next generation EcoStruxure delivers enhanced value around safety, reliability, efficiency, sustainability, and connectivity of IoT-enabled operations.

Next Generation EcoStruxure delivers advanced value:

EcoStruxure enables Schneider Electric, its partners and end-user customers to develop scalable and converged IT/OT solutions that deliver innovation at every level to an organization or enterprise. Leveraging connectivity and data to create controls and actionable business insights, with the combined power of analytics and closed-loop applications, Schneider Electric empowers customers and partners to augment operations to reach new levels of operational efficiency, sustainability, asset performance and people productivity. EcoStruxure fosters open innovation and interoperability and is developed in partnership with leading standards organizations and best-in-class technology leaders.

“EcoStruxure combines our history in pioneering in energy management, automation and deep domain expertise with data-driven metrics and analytics to help us maximize the value of the Internet of Things for our customers,” said Dr. Prith Banerjee, Chief Technology Officer, Schneider Electric. “EcoStruxure gives our customers the platform, architecture and roadmap to quickly and easily implement IoT in an enterprise, extending the benefits of IoT beyond the device layer to create a more intelligent, efficient and secure operation.”

Delivering Innovation at Every Level of the Technology Stack:

EcoStruxure builds on Schneider Electric’s long-standing product and system leadership to provide the industry’s most comprehensive portfolio of interoperable and cloud-connected and/or on-premise technologies organized around its three layers of technology innovation:

The first layer builds on Schneider Electric’s core competency in developing connected products with embedded intelligence, such as sensors, medium and low voltage breakers, drives and actuators.
The Edge Control layer gives organizations the critical capability to manage their operations on-premise as well as from the cloud depending on their needs. This includes connected control platforms with remote access, advanced automation and operator override capabilities. Local control and firewall protection is included to maximize the benefits especially for mission-critical applications.
Schneider Electric’s focused investment in R&D and product development in the critical areas of software, analytics and services, coupled with the integration of recent acquisitions such as Invensys, Telvent and Summit Energy forms the third layer of the stack – a portfolio of apps, analytics and services. EcoStruxure enables the most extensive breadth of vendor-agnostic apps, analytics and services on open IP protocols in order to work with any hardware, system, or control.

“Our innovation technology stack is critical to our open innovation approach, designed to deliver the most innovative IoT-enabled solutions to our customers,” added Banerjee. “Introducing a comprehensive suite of apps, analytics and services built on the capabilities from within Schneider Electric and our network of partners and developers, enables our customers to benefit from open, interoperable and future-proof solutions that maximize the value, performance, reliability and efficiency of their entire operation and enterprise over time.”

Kepware Technologies, a PTC business, today announced the release of KEPServerEX® Version 6 software. A major release of the flagship industrial connectivity platform, Version 6 strengthens Kepware's core product offering for global corporations requiring increased operational scalability, security, and support. Enhancements include a new method for remote configuration, additional languages that support critical industrial automation markets, and significant updates to the user interface and licensing experience.

“Since the launch of Version 5 in 2009, the need for industrial connectivity has grown tremendously. As the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to influence industrial architectures, companies require a comprehensive solution that can communicate and analyze a greater volume, variety, and velocity of data to a wider, more diverse set of client applications,” said John Harrington, Vice President of Product Management, Kepware. “We’ve incorporated important usability and architectural enhancements that support these evolving industry standards into KEPServerEX Version 6. Enterprise-ready, IT-friendly, and secure, Version 6 is a direct response to our customers’ expanding and evolving needs.”

KEPServerEX Version 6 features significant enhancements to the core server functionality and user experience that deliver an IoT-friendly industrial connectivity platform, including:

Programmatic Changes via the Configuration API: The new REST-based API enables off-site users to remotely apply programmatic changes to the configuration via third-party client applications. Now customers can easily configure multiple KEPServerEX instances from their enterprise software, enabling improved security and collaboration between Operations and IT.
Localization for Japanese and German Markets: Core features and top-tier drivers have been localized to improve the accessibility, productivity, and safety of KEPServerEX for local customers in Japan and Germany as well as global multinationals.
Native Development of OPC UA Technology: Native development of core OPC UA technology provides improved performance, enhanced diagnostics, and a solid foundation for continued OPC UA functionality enhancements.
Streamlined Licensing: Updates to KEPServerEX, the License Utility, and My Kepware improve the user experience and simplify license management—providing customers with more streamlined tools to deploy, manage, and update their servers.
Improved User Interface (UI): An enhanced user interface streamlines project setup and deployment, enabling more effective and efficient interactions with KEPServerEX. The updates also promote a safe user experience, enable increased productivity, and improve accessibility.
Robust Security: Now included as a complimentary core server component, the Security Policies advanced plug-in complements an industrial defense-in-depth strategy by enabling customers to assign security access permissions on individual objects based on user role.

“With the release of KEPServerEX Version 6, Kepware is able to provide a secure, truly enterprise-ready connectivity layer to the market,” said Tony Paine, Platform President, Kepware. “Our customers will benefit from an easy migration path that maximizes uptime—allowing them to meet productivity demands today while preparing for the requirements of tomorrow.”

The AWK-4131A IP68 outdoor industrial AP/bridge/client meets the growing need for faster data transmission speeds by supporting 802.11n technology and allowing 2X2 MIMO communication with a net data rate of up to 300 Mbps. The AWK-4131A is compliant with industrial standards and approvals covering operating temperature, power input voltage, surge, ESD, and vibration. The two redundant DC power inputs increase the reliability of the power supply, and the AWK- 4131A can be powered via PoE to make deployment easier. The AWK- 4131A can operate on either the 2.4 or 5 GHz bands and is backwardscompatible with existing 802.11a/b/g deployments to future-proof your investments in wireless networks.

Features and Benefits:

• 2x2 MIMO 802.11a/b/g/n AP/bridge/client
• Seamless roaming with Client-Based Turbo Roaming
• Wireless redundancy with AeroLink Protection
• Rugged industrial design with integrated antenna and power isolation
• IP68-rated weatherproof housing designed for outdoor applications and -40 to 75°C operating temperatures
• Avoid wireless congestion with 5 GHz DFS channel support
• 802.11a/b/g/n compliant AP/bridge/client for flexible deployment
• Software optimized for long distance (LoS, 1 km) wireless communication
• with external high-gain antenna (available on 5 GHz)
• Supports 60 clients connected concurrently
• DFS channel support allows a wider range of 5 GHz channel selection
• to avoid existing wireless infrastructure and interference

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Yokogawa Electric Corporation announces that it has completed the acquisition of Soteica Visual Mesa (SVM), a leading energy management technology provider, further delivering on a number of key objectives of Yokogawa's Transformation 2017 mid-term business plan, namely, expansion of Yokogawa's advanced solution business, focusing on customers and creating new value.

This announcement marks completion of the SVM acquisition as a wholly-owned subsidiary and initiation of the integration of SVM and the cloud-based Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) provider Industrial Knowledge (IK) into KBC Advanced Technologies (KBC), which was acquired by Yokogawa in April 2016. The IK business unit was established to enhance the cloud-based advanced solution business based on the technology of Industrial Evolution (IE), which was acquired by Yokogawa in December 2015. A pioneer in the use of cloud-based solutions in the process industries, IE developed a market-leading real-time DaaS solution that is deployed at many of the world's major energy and chemical companies.

Yokogawa's acquisition of SVM follows an earlier minority equity investment in SVM made in December 2012. SVM has a solid track record in the energy management solutions (EMS) field, and provides production accounting and scheduling solutions to the refining industry.

After acquiring KBC, Yokogawa formed a post-merger integration team that has been charged with the task of identifying various measures and setups that will create synergy and derive maximum benefit from the integration of the companies' operations, and thereby enhance our ability to offer new value to our customers. As a result of their deliberations, Yokogawa has decided to integrate the operations of Soteica, a leading company in the EMS field, and Industrial Knowledge, a business unit with expertise in advanced cloud solutions, with those of KBC.

By leveraging KBC's premier energy consulting and Visual Mesa, SVM's best-in-class real-time energy optimization technology, it is anticipated that the combined entity will be able to expand its position in the rapidly growing EMS market in the process industries.

In the immediate term, SVM's advanced Visual Mesa utility optimization software combined with KBC's premium energy consultancy will provide comprehensive and best-in-class energy management solutions, underpinned by leading technologies and human performance improvement. Over the longer term, this acquisition supports KBC's vision of seamlessly integrating utility system and supply chain optimization into KBC's industry-leading process simulation platform for hydrocarbon processing facilities, Petro-SIM™.

KBC, SVM, and IK will be led by KBC Chief Executive Officer, Andy Howell, and will be integrated under the KBC brand. This will significantly enhance KBC's solutions portfolio and the energy management solutions business, enhance KBC's ability to develop new cloud-based services, and accelerate KBC's efforts to create and sustain new value for customers.

In today’s increasingly competitive business market, all enterprises are looking for ways to distinguish themselves. The introduction of new technology that updates the current management model is necessary to not only enhance operating performance, but also project a professional corporate image that boosts customer satisfaction. In recent years, the Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud platforms have become popular trends that promise to deliver increased management efficiency and reduced costs.

Consider an automobile financing company that owns numerous garages for storing pledged vehicles as an example. The company hoped to leverage the automatic data collection, real-time display, and remote monitoring advantages of the IoT in order to replace conventional guard-based security management with centralized security management that could be remotely controlled from their head office.

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Air Precision 2017

Yokogawa Electric Corporation announces that it has established the Architecture Development Division California, an organization that is dedicated to the development of architecture for the industrial IoT (IIoT). This division commenced operations on November 1.

To improve operational efficiency and productivity by using the IIoT, a robust and flexible architecture is required. For this purpose, Yokogawa has set up the Architecture Development Division California to pursue the development of core technologies, and it will function as a unit of the Marketing Headquarters' Business Development Center. To keep up with new technologies developed every day in the field of the IIoT and to facilitate close coordination with partner companies, the new division is based on the West Coast of the United States, which is a center of research and development activity by numerous technology firms. The new division is staffed by engineers from Yokogawa who have an extensive knowledge of Yokogawa systems and services, and locally recruited engineers who are conversant in a range of IT fields. To start, the division is located at the engineering office of a partner company, and it is scheduled to open its own office in April 2017.

The division will later add functions for planning services that use the IIoT and cloud computing, and it is expected that the number of staff will be increased to around 50 over the next five years. With this new division, Yokogawa will accelerate its development of cutting-edge IIoT architecture with the aim of offering its customers safer and more user-friendly solutions.