PROFINET

PROFINET in the process industry

PROFINET combines the advantages of PROFIBUS, the most popular fieldbus system worldwide, with modern Ethernet technology. PROFINET supports easy setup of flexible communication networks and ensures integrated, reliable and secure communication throughout the plant – in real time!

Greater flexibility, efficiency and performance in industrial communication – PROFINET has proven itself for many years in the manufacturing and machine environment and is the preeminent global standard in automation.

PROFINET more than meets the special requirements of the process industry regarding availability, flexibility, real-time capability and ruggedness. At the same time, the Ethernet-based technology provides easy handling.

• Ethernet at the field level
  • Integrated vertical and horizontal communication
  • Transmission of large amounts of data in real time
• Maximum availability if required
  • Changes during runtime
  • Freely scalable redundancy enables large cost reductions thanks to optimized custom solutions
• More flexibility
  • One shared plant network ensures free assignment of the devices to the controllers and makes it easy to expand the plant
  • Topologies are based on requirements and plant specification, which can result in savings of 60% and more in cabling!
  • "One cable for all purposes" means better cost efficiency
• User-friendly
  • Simple device integration and fast device replacement during operation
  • Installation wizards and integrated device/network diagnostics
• Investment protection
  • Integration of existing structures and technologies
  • Gradual transition from PROFIBUS DP to PROFINET

PROFINET completely adheres to the Ethernet standard in accordance with IEEE 802.3, which makes it the reliable future-proof standard that paves the way for digitalization in the process environment.

Combine investment protection with security for the future: on the one hand, the open Industrial Ethernet standard supports the integration of existing plant parts and technologies. Appropriate solutions and products, such as the IE/PB LINK for integration of PROFIBUS DP and the SIMATIC CFU PA for integration of PROFIBUS PA, are available for this. On the other hand, worldwide standardization in accordance with IEC 61158/61784 and consistent ongoing development ensure the use of PROFINET over the entire life cycle of the plant and beyond.

Wired communication is also easier and more cost-effective with PROFINET: The slogan "One cable for all purposes" supports parallel operation of profiles such as PROFIdrive and other TCP/IP protocols without impacting basic plant communication.

There is also greater convenience: the PROFINET diagnostics available by default simplify installation and provide support for plant servicing. Network problems and device conflicts are reliably detected and can be quickly remedied. This also forms the basis for preventive maintenance. These benefits are worth the investment over the service life of the plant.

Customized to your requirements

PROFINET allows you to freely scale the availability of your plant based on your requirements. In addition to media redundancy (MRP), two forms of system redundancy are also available:

• Simple system redundancy (S2)
• Modular system redundancy (R1)

Flexible architectures can potentially allow significant savings in wiring. This is confirmed by reference projects. In one case, 27 km of wiring (with PROFIBUS DP) could be reduced to 9 km through the use of PROFINET. Flexible architectures also support easier plant expansion without the need for spares.

The new hardware components use the BusAdapter technology, which enables easy and flexible connection to the PROFINET network either with copper cables (RJ45 or FastConnect) or fiber-optic cable.

Digitalization in the process industry significantly increases the amount of data (big data), requires continuous communication all the way to the field and needs flexible and secure communication networks. PROFINET is the answer:

• The best of both worlds
  • Compatible with PROFIBUS
  • Integrated device/network diagnostics
  • High data rates for more data, digital and in real time
• Standardization
  • Based on standard Ethernet according to IEEE 802.3
  • Preeminent open field bus standard worldwide
  • Supports IT services, for example TCP/IP
• Straightforward handling
  • Support during planning, operation and commissioning with automatic addressing and name assignment
  • Easy device replacement without additional tools with automatic neighborhood detection
  • Clear and simple installation guidelines