Press reports

Open for more safety: the first freely programmable PLC for safe and non-safe applications

In safety technology, there are less subjects considered more urgent than the integration of safety into the PLC. According to this, many companies work on this subject. Bernstein is the first supplier that has successfully developed the PLC based on open standards for safe and non-safe applications.

Mechanical and system engineering companies know this problem: Most of their customers would be glad to have only one PLC instead of separated PLCs for control and safety. Especially in the case that the PLCs are based on proprietary solutions because these guarantee low investment security with respect to the rapid technical development. In the past, too many systems have turned out to be technological dead ends. This does not apply to programmed systems that are based on open standards.

Due to this, the Bernstein requirement specification contained from the start that, first of all, the solution should integrate safe and non-safe applications and, second of all, should be thoroughly based on open standards. With the introduction of
Safe LogiControl®, Bernstein offers a product that fulfills these requirements and is therefore unique in the market. The first freely programmable PLC that integrates safe and non-safe applications and which allows to build up systems with category 4 according to EN 954-1 and SIL3 according to IEC 61508 respectively. An executable Safe LogiControl® will be the highlight at the Bernstein exhibition stand at the SPC/IPC/DRIVES 2005 in Nuremberg, Germany.

KW-Software is the strategic partner for the development of Safe LogiControl®. Within the scope of this partnership, KW-Software provides the widely used programming system SAFEPROG, the runtime system SafeOS, management and execution services of the safe firmware as well as the safe and certified PLCopen function blocks.

Thus, everybody who uses Safe LogiControl® for the adaptation to the own applications can fall back on a well known programming environment according to IEC 61131 that is widely spread in the market. And with the advantage that no new programming user interface has to be learned and no employees have to be trained. Furthermore, safe and non-safe programming can be done with only one user interface. The created application program can be downloaded via Ethernet connection or loaded using a pluggable memory card.

But Safe LogiControl® also meets the further requirements of the system manufacturers and providers. For example, the low size supports the trend towards small switch cabinets and decentralization. The complete PLC can be integrated into a small standard bus enclosure with a height of 120 mm. The width of the enclosure depends only on the expansion stage. Safe LogiControl® is thoroughly structured modular. Due to the expansion to a maximum of 16 modules, the PLC can be adapted to nearly any application and extended, if required. Each module contains 16 input/output points (for example 12 safe inputs and 4 safe outputs). With respect to the connection to the I/O level, Safe LogiControl® supports all important standard fieldbus systems. The complete system is designed in the way that reaction times of less than 10 ms can be guaranteed also in case of full expansion.

Due to a pluggable wiring plane, all modules can be replaced without any problems. This simplifies troubleshooting in case of problems as well as easily changing the programming using another memory card. In this way, standstill periods of the machine can be considerably reduced in case of malfunctions. The required diagnostic information can be displayed as clear text on the graphical display or read via TCP/IP and processed by the superior control system.

Safe LogiControl® is a thoroughly innovative safety concept: By combining modular structure, forward-looking safety control and the programming system SAFEPROG, Bernstein offers a solution that not only provides a wide portfolio of functions but also increased benefits at low engineering costs compared to already known systems.

The efforts required for planning and acceptance are very low due to the certified individual components of Safe LogiControl®. This also applies to maintenance and modification planning.

In questions concerning the approval, Bernstein can count on two further strong partners: With the company Innotec, a competent consultant could be found in questions concerning conception and documentation as well as for the development process and the support for approval of Safe LogiControl®. As a recognized authority, the TÜV Rheinland/Berlin-Brandenburg is responsible for the approval of the Bernstein safety technology.

Mechanical engineers engaged in different branches can now use the PLC for which they waited for so long time. Because Safe LogiControl® has already passed the prototype status and is nearly ready for series production. The product will be available already in autumn 2006.

Bernstein AG is a leading manufacturer and system partner for industrial safety solutions in the fields of sensors, switches and enclosures. Now the company completes its product portfolio with Safe LogiControl®.

 [Homepage: Bernstein AG]