SPS IPC Drives 2018: Softing showcases solutions for digital data exchange
Softing Industrial Data Networks is showcasing products and solutions for digital data exchange and OPC UA development at this year’s SPS IPC Drives.
Softing Industrial’s Data Networks business unit will present solutions for network management, digital communication in process automation, and OPC UA development on embedded systems.
Reliable and stable data exchange for network management and diagnostics
The trade fair highlight for Plant Asset Management and network monitoring is TH Link Profibus.
The device provides control-independent access to Profibus networks and the data of the integrated Hart devices. The included TACC software allows direct integration into the Emerson AMS suite. TH Link Profibus is easy to operate and can be integrated without interfering with the operation of existing installations.
For management and diagnostics of Profibus networks, Softing presents Analyzer Pro, the new enhanced version of the proven commissioning and diagnostic tool Analyzer IE.
The device includes a TAP (Terminal Access Point) called “profiTap” which records network communication such as jitter, load ratio and device update rate. These so-called passive parameters cannot be determined via actively communicating to devices.
With the help of profiTap, all packets traveling to and from the controller are analyzed and network communication is recorded. Eventually, the parameters are integrated in the acceptance report and add an additional layer of information which provides more detailed insights into the Profibus network.
Digital communication for process automation
At the fair, Softing will be presenting smart field converters for quick and easy field device connection, for integrated, digital communication in process plants. The device family includes PROFI technologies (pnGate PA and pnGate PB), Modbus (mbGate PA) and Ethernet / IP (epGate PN).
With the mobiLink device for parameterization, Softing is the first company to offer access to the three most important protocols for the process industry – HART, Foundation Fieldbus and Profibus PA – via a single interface.
MobiLink communicates via USB or Bluetooth and is ideally suited for the mobile commissioning and maintenance of field devices. Since September 2018 the device is listed in the Rockwell Encompass Partner Program.
Embedded performance
Softing’s uaToolkit Embedded is designed for fast and platform-independent implementation of embedded OPC UA servers with client/server and publisher/subscriber communication.
Since June this year, it is certified by the OPC Foundation. The toolkit is based on the ANSI C standard and features a low memory footprint as well as minimal requirements for computing power.
This makes it particularly suitable not just in firmware development for sensors and field devices but also for use in control or I/O systems with limited resources.
Softing will be exhibiting in Hall 5, Booth 260 and at the Profibus & Profibus International Pavillion in Hall 5, Booth 210.
