Simple Interoperability and High Performance for Control Systems with Distributed I O Needs

GE Intelligent Platforms (USA) has launched PACSystems® with integrated real-time PROFINET, a global open protocol over standard Ethernet. This new product combines open standards into a solution that creates significant value in reliability, connectivity and performance. PACSystems with PROFINET provides flexible deployment that minimizes hardware and configuration issues, improves application uptime with minimal cost and satisfies user demand for high performance, distributed systems.

PACSystems with PROFINET is made for businesses moving from centralised control systems to Ethernet based distributed structures. A high speed network with the ability to drop large amounts of I/O without compromising performance, PACSystems with PROFINET can operate in high-noise areas and cover large distances in real time with an elegant redundancy capability to maximise uptime.

“Companies today value solutions that control critical infrastructure and manufacturing operations at the highest levels of performance,” said Bernie Anger, Vice President, Control & Communication Systems for GE Intelligent Platforms. “The new PACSystems with PROFINET helps our customers increase production uptime, increase asset performance and improve their reliability.”

Utilising PROFINET combined with PACSystems, GE is providing all of the benefits of an Ethernet system without the complexity. Name-based configuration enables solutions in just minutes. Built-in switches with a choice of copper or fiber cable types for direct connection means that no extra hardware is needed for connectivity, allowing long distances between I/O nodes and increased reliability. The adoption of MRP (media redundancy protocol) in a ring topology allows customers to take nodes offline for maintenance without ever shutting the application. In the event of a wire cut, the system redirects traffic in as low as one millisecond without disrupting I/O. PACSystems is known for its outstanding high availability offering and the PROFINET extensions add significantly to that capability.