Control systems get Internet technology
Original article date: March 2000
What is the latest state-of-play with the application of Internet technology, and how will it affect machine builders? Tommy Miller looks at what one player – Siemens Automation and Drives – is doing
Some companies are playing a waiting game, seeing how the use of the internet develops before they decide which approach to adopt. Siemens Automation and Drives is not one of those. Indeed, in many ways this division of the Siemens organisation is streets ahead of its sister divisions.
The first way in which machine builders will notice a difference is via the CD-Rom catalogue (see panel below). Designed to run on Pentium PCs or similar, the CD can either be used as a standalone CD-Rom or, if preferred, it can be installed on the hard disc. Included on the CD are comprehensive details for CNC controls and drives, Simatic machine interfaces, industrial automation systems, communications systems and low-voltage switchgear. The CD allows systems to be configured and the documentation to be prepared for placing orders. It is also possible to export the data to other packages, such as Excel. Siemens intends that the CD-Rom will become an integral element of its e-commerce strategy, which includes on-line pricing, ordering and order-tracking.
To put this into context, the company saw a 22-fold increase in the number of orders taken electronically during 1999, and almost 35% of its business with distributors is now handled electronically.
Another significant area where machine builders will be able to gain from Siemens’ use of the internet is customer support. Although the general trend seems to be away from personal communications towards self-help using the internet, when it comes to technical support, Siemens takes the view that verbal communications between a customer and a product expert are highly beneficial. For that reason the technical helpline is manned with ‘real people’. However, in many cases customers will be directed to web pages where the answer to their technical query can be found – indeed, a system of reference numbers allows the customer to be directed to exactly the right web page in one hit.
E-mail newsletters
Newsletters are also being introduced, based on e-mail, so that customers can be sent hints and tips or information about new products. Recognising that the volume of information could be overwhelming, Siemens has developed a system whereby customers can register their areas of interest and therefore be sent only that information which is of relevance to them.
One of the most exciting developments using internet technology relates to the new communications processors that are now available for the Simatic S7-300 and S7-400 PLCs. Using these add-on cards, the PLCs effectively become web servers, broadcasting live to the web. This allows systems integrators, developers, maintenance engineers and Siemens’ own technical support staff to monitor the PLC remotely. Diagnostics are therefore easier and quicker. But another neat feature is that the PLC can automatically send a plain text message to a mobile phone, pager or e-mail address in the event of a failure or an alarm being raised.
Siemens’ Scada system, Win-CC, is also benefiting from internet technology in that the latest version, 5.0, includes a web navigator. This supports operator control and visualisation via the Internet so that a plant operator can not only access data remotely, but also modify existing parameters from a remote location.
Version 5.0 of Win-CC also includes a DXF viewer so that drawings and diagrams can be viewed, and another feature allows configuration data from Simatic S7 PLCs to be accessed directly from the Scada system. Indeed, the Step7 configuration tool that is used for configuring the PLCs has now been incorporated within Win-CC.
If you thought that internet technology was just a pipe dream, think again. Siemens Automation and Drives has made a major investment in this field, which has to be taken seriously.
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CD-Rom catalogue is free of charge There is a philosophy at Siemens that says that information should be available for free, but that it is reasonable to make a charge for distributing it. Documents printed on paper cost money to produce and also have a heavy impact on the environment, so Siemens has decided to charge for paper-based catalogues and manuals. CD-Roms, on the other hand, are now relatively cheap to produce and distribute, and are believed to cause less damage to the environment. The company has therefore decided to make its latest CD-Rom catalogue (CA01) available free of charge, despite the small but tangible production and distribution costs. By the same token, internet-based information that can be downloaded is also being made available for free, whereas some charges were previously being made for this data. Copies of the CD-Rom catalogue can be obtained (free of charge, of course) by calling the Siemens literature hotline on 0345 705070 or by visiting the company’s web site, which is at:www.siemens-industr y.co.uk. |
- Siem ens Automation & Drives
March 2000