Growing demand for EtherNet/IP devices in process automation

Endress+Hauser UK 18/05/2012

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ODVA (the Open DeviceNet Vendors Association) based in Michigan, USA, has announced that Endress+Hauser, one of the world”s leading suppliers of measurement, automation equipment and solutions for the process industries, will become a principal member, joining leading suppliers Bosch Rexroth, Cisco Systems, Rockwell Automation, Omron and Schneider Electric.

Endress+Hauser”s increased participation in ODVA builds on its long-term support of open industrial networking technologies, including the company”s portfolio of mass flowmeters designed for the EtherNet/IP network. “ODVA is one of the world”s largest consortiums advancing open, industrial networking standards through commercially-off-the-shelf (COTS) technology and a media-independent network protocol,” said Katherine Voss, executive director, ODVA. “We welcome Endress+Hauser in this consortium as we have a shared vision for leveraging EtherNet/IP to simplify an end user”s network architecture.”

With leading industrial automation suppliers, such as Endress+Hauser, as principal members, ODVA is one of the first associations which strive to support Industrial Ethernet down to the field level in process automation. This will help provide manufacturers a complete, plant-wide network infrastructure for process, motion, safety and discrete applications – from plant-floor to IT systems.

Traditionally, devices measuring and controlling process variables rely on a field network to transfer information, while other devices within the plant use completely different networks for data communication. By improving this complex multi-tier networking strategy with one standard network architecture, namely EtherNet/IP, users have a simplified network structure as well as better access to plant-floor information. This enhances the ability to monitor overall performance, troubleshoot out-of-margin conditions and minimise downtime.

“Our customers demand open, interoperable solutions such as EtherNet/IP, as it enables higher-level software such as ERP systems, process historians, control loop tuning programmes and asset management systems to access data from process instrumentation,” said Raimund Sommer, managing director of Endress+Hauser Process Solutions AG. “We look forward to continuing our work through ODVA to help users achieve seamless integration of our instruments into system architectures.”

Endress+Hauser made its first major commitment to ODVA technologies in 2009 when the company launched the Promass 83 – the world”s first Coriolis mass flowmeter with Ether-Net/IP connectivity – capable of measuring mass flow, density and temperature, featuring an integrated Web Server that allows authorised users to remotely conduct diagnostics, configure the instrument or perform process optimisation. The company also recently launched its Promag 53 electromagnetic flowmeter with EtherNet/IP connectivity. By using EtherNet/IP, up to 10 measured variables can be configured and transmitted, including volume flow, calculated mass flow and totalised flow.

ODVA will introduce Endress+Hauser as a principal member at its 2012 Industry Conference and 15th Annual meeting, to be held 16-18 October 2012 in Stone Mountain, Georgia, USA.

For further information, please visit www.uk.endress.com

Charlotte Urwin
Public Communications Assistant
Endress+Hauser Ltd
Floats Road
Manchester M23 9NF
United Kingdom
E-mail:   charlotte.urwin@uk.endress.com
Phone   +44 161 286 5000
Fax     +44 161 286 5093

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Endress+Hauser UK

About us

A strong partner worldwide

Endress+Hauser is a global leader in measurement instrumentation, services and solutions for industrial process engineering. We provide process solutions for flow, level, pressure, analytics, temperature, recording and digital communications, optimising processes in terms of economic efficiency, safety and environmental impact. Our customers come from various industries, including chemical, food & beverage, life sciences, power & energy, primaries & metal, oil & gas and water & wastewater.

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Net sales of 2.4 billion euros – a strong partner
More than 13,900 employees worldwide – a reliable employer
Equity ratio of 71% – solidly financed
Continuous annual investments of approximately 160 million euros – future-oriented
Nearly 7,800 patents and patent applications – innovative and creative

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UK Ireland, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, South America, North America

Industries we supply to

Automation, Chemicals, Consultants, Components Electronics, Energy and Power, Food and Beverage, Glass Ceramics Cement, Metals and Minerals, OEM, Paper and Pulp, Pharmaceutical Cosmetics Toiletries, Plastics and Rubber, Recycling, Textiles, Tobacco, Water and Wastewater