Like for many other exhibitors as well, the Siemens presence at Hannover Messe 2013 focuses on the increasing integration of all technologies in the industry branch. "Siemens has a complete integrated portfolio consisting of hardware, software, services, and comprehensive industry expertise. This basis helps industrial companies achieve very high productivity and efficiency," said Dirk Hoke, CEO of Siemens' Customer Services Division, reported at during the pre-fair press conference that the company convened ahead of this year's Hannover Messe.
Integrated Drive System
The associated recipe for success from the Siemens perspective is Totally Integrated Automation (TIA). In Hannover, for the first time, Siemens is showcasing the concept of the "Integrated Drive System" (IDS), a TIA-based integrated portfolio that covers almost all tasks of electrical drives. According to the supplier, it enables an optimum configuration of the drive train for each specific task.
In technological terms, the IDS concept is based on three-fold integration: horizontal integration, vertical integration, and life cycle integration. Horizontal integration of the drive train ensures smooth interaction and optimum dimensioning of all subcomponents - from the converter to the motor and gear unit, as well as the couplings. Second, based on vertical integration, these systems are also optimally and intelligently engineered, configured, and networked through TIA, all the way to the control level. And third, IDS comprises suitable industry software solutions for integration throughout the life cycle of an application (lifecycle integration). This is decisive for a short product development time and sustainable cost-effective operation of the relevant application. The range that Siemens is exhibiting at the Hannover Messe covers everything from design to planning, engineering, and commissioning and operation, as well as integrated Industry Services.
In industrial automation, too, Siemens is at the forefront of technology developments at the Hannover Messe. "The IT penetration in industry will continue to increase. As the complexity of our customers' products and plants grows, software-based support of the engineering process is and will remain the most important productivity lever," Eckard Eberle, CEO of the Industrial Automation Systems Business Unit explained. "Our new products and services are important steps on the way to integrated product and production lifecycles that make our customers even faster and more efficient."
Industrial monitor with multi-touch
For gesture and multi-touch operation, the company has come up with an industrial monitor with projected capacitive touch technology (PCT). Simatic IFP1900 MT is the first device of this type that the company has marketed and it expands its range of rugged HMI (Human Machine Interface) monitors with widescreen format. The device for built-in installation features a scratchproof 100% glass front with high resistance to chemicals and is offered with a 19-inch display diagonal. The highlights of the new industrial Flat Panels are the special industrial anti-glare surface and automatic detection of spurious touching and operator actions, for example, touching with the ball of the thumb or soiling. Simatic IFP1900 MT is used as an HMI on or around the machine and at distance up to 30 meters in distributed solutions with connection to industrial PCs. It can also be used for existing applications with single-touch operation.
Safe automation
The automation specialist has expanded its hardware and software for safe automation. Safety functions have been added to the Simatic S7-1500 controller, ET 200SP distributed I/Os, and the TIA Portal V12 engineering framework.
For safety-related automation tasks, Siemens has integrated the Step 7 Safety Advanced engineering software into the TIA Portal V12 engineering framework, after a considerable rework, with performance boosted by an optimized compiler. The new features include expanded function blocks with safety functionality and autonomous setting of prioritization and timing.
The new fail-safe input/output modules of the compact distributed ET 200SP I/Os are certified per EN 61508 and approved for use in safety-related applications up to SIL 3 per IEC 62061 and PL e per ISO 13849. The fail-safe modules feature a module width reduced by up to 50 percent, load group formation without power modules, and simple handling, including tool-free wiring with push-in terminal connections.
The new fail-safe Simatic S7-1500F controllers are based on the standard controllers, which have been expanded by safety functions. They are certified per EN 61508 and are suitable for use in safety-relevant applications up to SIL 3 per IEC 62061 and PL e per ISO 13849. Both standard and fail-safe applications can be implemented with the same controller.
DC uninterruptible power supply
With Sitop UPS1600, Siemens is presenting a DC uninterruptible power supply (DC-UPS) with Ethernet interfaces. Via the two Ethernet interfaces, Sitop UPS1600 can be integrated into an Ethernet network or via Profinet into a TIA (Totally Integrated Automation) environment. Standardized S7 function blocks for Simatic controllers make integration into user programs easy and ready-made WinCC faceplates provide visualizations for Simatic panels or industrial PCs. The devices are quickly and conveniently parameterized, diagnosed, and integrated into Profinet through the TIA Portal engineering framework. Battery management also selects the optimum temperature-controlled charging characteristics and constantly monitors the charging condition and battery life.
Other new products shown in Hannover include all-steel couplings, geared motors, process controllers, an online tool for configuring control cabinets, and a condition monitoring system for plants.
