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SAFETY
 

Safe software solutions according to IEC 61508 (SIL1 up to SIL3)

KW-Software is the leading manufacturer for safe software components in the world, ranging from the simple parameterization of the safety functionality of small controls or drives to freely programmable safety controls for mechanical and system engineering. For good reasons:
   
 

  • We have the know-how.
    KW-Software can refer to more than 20 years of experience in developing automation software and is developing safe software according to IEC 61508 since the year 2000.
  • Certified development process.
    The development process for software components of the safety technology at KW-Software is certified according to IEC 61508.
  • Certified software components.
    The safety-relevant software components by KW-Software are already certified completely manufacturer-independent and can thus be used immediately.
  • We fulfill the PLCopen safety specification.
    We are the first company providing a PLCopen-compliant IEC 61508 safety platform including all PLCopen function blocks as library.
 
  • We are achieving outstanding results in practice.
    Example: Car body manufacturing at Audi AG. Here, SAFEPROG/SafeOS are used for the complete project planning of the Phoenix safety PLC. In this context, SAFEPROG covers the entire safety-relevant planning of the control solution ranging from programming, parameterization, integration of the safe I/Os, validation of the PLC program up to commissioning.
  • We deliver the complete safe software solution.
    Beneath the safe IEC 61131 programming system SAFEPROG for the PC, KW-Software provides the safe runtime system SafeOS for the safety control, including additional firmware services and the required hardware tests for the processor and the memory. Thanks to these components, the software efforts on the part of our customer are confined to a board support package and the further hardware diagnosis. An independent operating system is no longer required. Thus, our customer can focus on the development of his hardware.
 
   
 

Our safety platform: certified and immediately usable for the most different applications

KW-Software provides solutions for the entire range of safety-related applications according to IEC 61508, especially for SIL2 and SIL3: Starting with small safety controls with only a few safe inputs/outputs up to a complex, safety-relevant system.

Due to the comprehensive meaning of the IEC 61508, our safety platform can be used for developing safety-relevant controls for the most different industrial sectors, e.g. for factory automation, process automation, rail vehicles or energy supply.

The KW-Software safety platform includes the following tools, certified according to IEC 61508 (up to SIL3):

  • SAFEGRID - the safe device parameterization tool on a PC for safe switching devices or safe small controls with predefined safety logic.
    As the safe parameterization is also one of the tasks of a freely programmable safety control, SAFEGRID is also integral part of the SAFEPROG programming platform. This way, KW-Software ensures the compatibility of a safe small control and a freely programmable safety control within the product portfolio of a manufacturer.
  • SAFEPROG - the safe programming system in combination with the safe runtime system SafeOS allow the realization of a safety control for complex tasks up to SIL3 with integration into the non-safe area. Among other things, the free programmable IEC 61131 logic and the PLCopen safety function blocks for safe control systems are contained. In addition, SAFEPROG with a reduced functional range can be used for configurable safety controls, i.e. for simply connecting certified function blocks by only a few basic logical functions.
 
 

With these certified software components by KW-Software, a programmable safety control can be realized, requiring significantly less effort and with a considerably reduced time to market.

KW-Software delivers the complete software package for the safety logic. Control manufacturers can fully concentrate on the hardware development, the board support package and the I/O communication.

 [Your steps towards your own safety control]
 
 

Certification according to IEC 61508

KW-Software is the first software company that has been certified by TÜV Rheinland (in 06/2004) with regard to the development process for software components according to IEC 61508.

Our certification - your advantages:

  • Time to Market of your control will be considerably reduced.
    Faster certification of common software projects and of the entire system. By using SAFEGRID, SAFEPROG and SafeOS, manufacturers of safety controls can focus on the development of the hardware, as all safe tools are already certified according to the strict requirements of IEC 61508 SIL 3 (comparable EN 954 -1 category 4). Only the adaptations of the open interfaces must be re-released.
  • High quality safety mechanisms (V model).
  • Great know-how and high qualification for the development of safety-relevant applications.
 
 

 [Information about the Standard IEC 61508]
 
 

Conformity with the PLCopen safety specification

KW-Software is the first company that provides a PLCopen-compliant IEC 61508 safety platform including full support of the PLCopen safety function blocks.

In 2005, several well-known providers of automation solutions, software companies and certification authorities have defined the PLCopen safety specification (TC5).
  This specification defines a unified standard for safety-focused application software and thus a quality standard which was overdue.
   [Details about the PLCopen safety specification]
   
 

The already certified safety-relevant software components by KW-Software fulfill this international quality standard already today. In case of the programming system SAFEPROG, this is realized by the following features:
  • KW-Software provides all PLCopen Safety function blocks as library in SAFEPROG.
  • Color marking of different function blocks.
 
  • Use of safe and non-safe data types.
  • Easy operation of the user interface.
  • Graphical programming languages (LD, FBD).
  • Plausibility checks in the graphic editor.
 
   
 

Changing safety technology

Today, machines and systems are stuck in a rigid concept of hardware-based safety solutions. By using programmable safety controls, entirely new possibilities become available in this area. The most important advantages are the fast implementation in particular (less cabling), improved error diagnosis and the central programming with certified function blocks.
  Acceptance and demand for programmable safety functions increase constantly. However, the development efforts of a safety control are significantly higher compared to a standard product, due to standards and certification. Use of software products which are already certified considerably simplifies realization and certification.
 
   
 
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KW-Software GmbH
Lagesche Straße 32
32657 Lemgo (Germany)
+49 (0) 52 61 / 93 73-0
 info@kw-software.com
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