"Companies that wait until production is running to tackle production-related challenges cannot sufficiently tap their potentials for savings and improvements," explained Thomas Schott, head of Factory Automation at Siemens, recently at the pre-Hannover Messe press conference in Nuremberg. "Utilizing our complete portfolio, and beginning as early as the product design and production planning stages, we exploit significant potentials for improving productivity and energy efficiency."
In keeping with its motto of "Connecting Productivity and Efficiency," Siemens wants to demonstrate at world's largest industrial trade show how its customers can achieve both economic and environmental goals. Therefore, the automation specialist will introduce a series of new products.
Widescreen HMI devices
The company has expanded its Simatic HMI Comfort Panels for local machine operator control and monitoring to include devices with 15, 19 and 22 inch color displays. The panels are operated by means of touch screens. There is also a version with key operation for the 15-inch format. The new 15 to 22-inch devices have a third Profinet interface for integration into an additional network. The product portfolio of widescreen format Comfort Panels now includes devices with display diagonals of 4, 7, 9, 12, 15, 19 and 22 inches.
The most striking features of the Simatic HMI Comfort Panels are the long-life display, freely configurable display area, high resolution, and readability at angles of up to 170 degrees from all directions. The LED background lighting can be dimmed by up to 100 percent either manually or via standardized Profienergy communication. This reduces energy consumption, extends service life and allows brightness to be adjusted to match application requirements. The touch devices can also be installed vertically for applications in restricted spaces.
CPU with more Profinet communication and user memory
Siemens has also Division extended the top end of its Simatic S7-1200 controllers portfolio with the addition of the Simatic S7-1215C. At 100 kilobytes, the user memory has twice to four times the capacity of existing devices. The new CPU also has a second Profinet interface, two analog outputs as well as fast outputs for controlling up to four stepper motors. Processing speed has also been increased: for example the Boolean execution time is 0.085 microseconds per operation. The new Simatic S7-1215C CPU offers the user 14 digital inputs, 10 digital outputs, two analog inputs and two analog outputs. As with the other CPUs, the basic unit is available in three versions: DC/DC/DC, AC/DC/relay and DC/DC/relay.
RFID readers for difficult environments
Another step towards increased productivity are the new functions Siemens has added to the latest generation of RFID readers in its RF600 UHF system to optimize them for use in industrial production. The new functions ensure robust operation, even when several RFID readers are located in close proximity to each other. The readers use new algorithms to detect, read and write data storage media reliably, even in a difficult radio environment. This enables the Siemens UHF system to meet the specific requirements a production environment places on long-range, radio-based systems.
The Simatic RF200 RFID system, on the other hand, has been extended to include three devices with an IO link. The interface allows the new readers to be easily integrated into machines and systems to extend applications by adding an identification system. The IO link is a multi-vendor standard which provides switching devices and sensors with a uniform point-to-point connection to the control level. Process, parameter and diagnostic data can also be transmitted through these channels at the same time.
Extended energy management
In terms of improved energy efficiency, the supplier has equipped its modular, industry-independent Simatic B.Data energy management system with new functions and approved its use with Windows 7 (64 bit). The new Version 5.3 of Simatic B.Data offers an energy management dashboard with which energy quantities and costs can be clearly displayed in both tabular and graphic form. Simatic powerrate, the energy management add-on for the Simatic WinCC visualization system and Simatic PCS 7 process control system, has also been released in a new Version 4.0 SP1 for Windows 7 (64 bit). With the new advance process library (APL) design, Simatic powerrate now slots seamlessly into the user interface of the control system.
New range of geared motors
The Siemens Drive Technologies Division introduces Simogear, its new range of geared motors. The Simogear family includes geared motors in various designs such as helical, parallel shaft, bevel helical and worm gear units. With outputs ranging from 0.09 kW to 200 kW and with output torques up to 50,000 Nm, these new motors will be introduced to the market in a staged process. By offering additional frame sizes, Siemens can now supply a complete portfolio of geared motor designs. With their high gear ratios in the two- and three-stage ranges, finer torque grading, high power density and outstanding efficiency, the new models are especially well-equipped to meet the requirements of modern conveyor systems. By virtue of its connection dimensions in conformity with market standards, the new motor range is completely compatible with existing installations.
In addition to that, the Sinamics S120 modular drive system is now available with the new Safety Integrated function SLP (Safely Limited Position). This feature allows range limits in positioning applications, handling systems and other motion control applications to be monitored without installing additional hardware limit switches, providing protection for both workers and machines.
