Continued further development

Since its introduction in 2004, PROFINET technology has been used by numerous companies in all industrial sectors – whether it be in combination with a fieldbus system like INTERBUS or as an independent solution. Besides the technological advantages, this development is based on the fact that more and more device manufacturers are installing a corresponding interface in their products, which offers more of a selection and less expensive prices.

As with the fieldbus systems, however, the PROFINET system should not be ended there, but should be continuously extended or optimized. For this purpose, the Phoenix Contact group is collaborating with the PROFINET workgroups to further develop the PROFINET standards.

Network-independent device configuration

Field components are becoming more and more intelligent, whereby new functions are usually mapped in software. Since project planners and commissioners are always having to become familiar with new, usually expensive tools, they demand a standardized software interface for integrating the respective device interfaces in the various engineering systems, such as PC Worx or Step7.

FDT/DTM is a communication technology based on XML and COM for the manufacturer-independent configuration and control of field devices. Since the actual parameterization interface is separated from the communication component, it does not matter in the end via which network the device communicates with the engineering system. Based on this technological structure, both device manufacturers as well as users have economic advantages, because the cost and time required for engineering, installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance is drastically reduced.

FDT/DTM offers the possibility to easily integrate device interfaces of both simple and complex components in automation solutions, independent of the communication protocol used.

 [FDT/DTM technology]