We were really hoping that we will be able to present this live seminar with technology demonstrations and tabletop exhibitions in 2020. But the fates have conspired against us and we have now been forced to move it to Spring of 2022, exact date yet to be determined subject to the many factors brought about by Covid 19.

Hopefully, we will be able to present this event live and in person, since it will be of great value to Designers, Production/System Engineers, Instrument Technicians/Engineers and C&I Engineers involved in the design, operation and maintenance of modern automated factories and process plant.

If you would like to reserve a place and be kept updated, please do register. 

The Event 

This free-to-attend seminar addresses the key practical issues arising from the use of digital communications technologies in automated manufacturing and process industry applications, with particular attention being paid to Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).

Covering key application areas such as control systems and energy management, pulp & paper, chemical, utilities, pharmaceutical, packaging and printing, mechanical handling and logistics, robotics, automotive engineering, electrical and electronics assembly, it focuses on the practical aspects of using PROFINET, PROFIBUS, and IO-Link, from system design and safety & security considerations through to fault-finding and maintenance.

Agenda - subject to change

Time                          Item                                                                                                                

09:00 – 09:15          Welcome and introduction to exhibitors - Mark Freeman, Siemens

09:15 – 09:35          Introduction to PI Group including highlights of new supported technologies  - Mark Freeman

• An overview of the Group’s structure and global representation, taking a look at the protocol basics and their benefits to UK industry.

09:35 – 10:20          Network gateway technology  - Peter Thomas, Control Specialists

• Presentation and demonstration of network gateway technology, PROFINET to Profibus DP, PA, IO-Link and OPC UA

10:20 – 10:50          Coffee and exhibition                                                                                 

10:50 – 11:35          PROFINET Network Design -  Andy Williams, Siemens

• The fundamental principles of good network design and the main factors that must be considered at the design stage of an automation system.

11:35 – 12:20          Industrial network commissioning and testing - Dave Tomlin, Hitex and Xing Ye, Ideal Networks

• Learn how to simplify the process of testing, how to prevent network failures and resolve cable and network issues faster.

12:20 – 13:05          EMC for Networks -    Peter Thomas

• The ever-increasing use of high-frequency switching devices in industrial automation can result in intermittent communications problems. This presentation will discuss the issues and explain the relevance of the recently released PI guidelines “Functional Bonding and Shielding for PROFIBUS and PROFINET”.

13:05 – 14:00          Lunch and Exhibition                                                                                   

14:00 – 14:45          Industrial networks safety & security - Peter Brown, CSA Group

• The basics of legislation and responsibilities for cybersecurity, safety and functional safety for Industrial Automation.

14:45 – 15:30          Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) - Derek Lane, WAGO

• Explanation of IIoT, IND4.0 and Big Data, and how PROFINET is placed as the ideal network to fulfil the above.

15:30 – 15:35          Questions & close  - Mark Freeman, Siemens

Important Notice:

Due to Covid-19 we have postponed this event to October 29th from the originally planned June date. Please note that if this event needs to be further postponed, we will let all registered attendees know as soon as we know. So please do not let that deter you from registering!

If you would like the option to receive the presentations that were due to be given and be kept informed of any new event dates, please register and be sure to tick the box "please add me to your mailing list".

Also, if you'd like to get into direct contact with any of the presenters, please tick the box:  "The presenters and exhibitors at this event would also like to provide you with relevant information. If you would like us to pass your contact details to them for this purpose, please tick to confirm."

Click here for more advice on the Coronavirus

Live Demonstrations

Supported by an exhibition with demonstrations of actual tools used in configuration and maintenance, the seminar will be of great value to Designers, Production/System Engineers, Instrument Technicians/Engineers and C&I Engineers involved in the design, operation and maintenance of modern automated factories and process plant.   

Places are limited so don't delay - book today!

Abstracts

Introduction to PI Group – including highlights of new supported technologies

Mark Freeman, Siemens

An overview of the Group’s structure and global representation, taking a look at the protocol basics and their differences, plus showing the progress of the number of installed devices from the group’s supported technologies and relating these figures to their market share.

Network gateway technology

Peter Thomas, Director, Control Specialists

A vendor-independent overview of how to connect PROFINET networks to existing fieldbuses and expose the data to IIoT technologies using OPC-UA. This presentation, including live demonstrations, will take a “how it’s done” approach using products from several well-known manufacturers and will include:

• Profinet - Profibus DP
• Profinet - Profibus PA
• Profinet - CANOpen
• Profinet - IO-Link 
• Profinet - OPC UA

PROFINET Network Design

Andy Williams, Siemens

It is widely accepted that the most important decisions are made at the design stage of a project. This presentation examines the fundamental principles of good network design for PROFINET systems, although many of the ideas are applicable to PROFIBUS and other networking systems. The presentation will discuss the main factors that must be considered at the design stage of an automation system. Practical examples will show how facilities for health checking, fault-finding and maintenance can have a crucial impact on plant availability. The presentation will also examine how properly thought out network monitoring and redundancy can drastically affect plant up-time and thus profitability.

Industrial network commissioning & testing

Dave Tomlin, Hitex

Take a walk through the process of certifying a new PROFINET (or any other industrial Ethernet) against the standards and see how easy it can be, then look at a few gotchas that can easily be avoided by careful planning. Learn how to simplify the process of testing both cabling and networks in Industrial Ethernet networks that utilise the PROFINET protocol, how to prevent network failures and resolve cable and network issues faster.

EMC for Networks

Peter Thomas, Control Specialists and Chairman of the PROFIBUS and PROFINET International (PI) Training Centres

The ever-increasing use of high-frequency switching devices in industrial automation can result in high-frequency currents circulating in an equipotential bonding network that was not designed for this purpose. The absence of a proven low-impedance bonding network can result in these currents taking alternative and often undesirable routes. Occasionally these will be the shields of industrial network cables such as PROFIBUS and PROFINET that in turn can lead to intermittent communications problems. This presentation will discuss the issues in more detail and will explain the relevance of the recently released PI guidelines “Functional Bonding and Shielding for PROFIBUS and PROFINET”.

Industrial networks safety & security

Peter Brown, CSA Group

The concept of Industry 4.0 and Smart Manufacturing has gained plenty of traction in the marketplace. What does this greater acceptance of Industry 4.0 mean for Functional Safety and Cybersecurity in Industrial Automation and Control Systems (IACS)? In this presentation, we will quickly discuss the basics of Functional Safety and Cybersecurity for PROFI based applications and then we will consider the impact on these areas from Industry 4.0 in the short and medium-term. What should System Integrators and Product Manufacturers be doing now and what can you expect to be seeing from PI in the not too distant future. We will also consider the impact of open architectures/systems, common technology, international standards and last but not least trust in technology.

Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)

Derek Lane – Process Automation Manager - WAGO Ltd (Deputy Chairman – PI-UK)

A short journey to explain IIoT, The Industrial Internet of things, IND4.0 from IND1.0 and Big Data. How PROFINET is placed as the ideal Industrial Fieldbus to fulfil the above, how it is implemented and why you should consider it. Some of the myths explained.

PI's Technologies

With over 80 million nodes installed worldwide, PROFINET, PROFIBUS and IO-Link are truly market leaders, providing state of the art digital communications addressing all the needs of manufacturing and process industries, significantly lowering capital expenditure on installation, commissioning and maintenance. They offer unprecedented integration of automation, control, monitoring and safety systems using standardised and widely supported communications and networking solutions.

This seminar is ably presented by specialists from PI UK member companies. Attendance is free of charge to pre-registered delegates from the User community, i.e. companies that own, operate, design, build or maintain automated process plant and manufacturing facilities. The event will provide delegates with an excellent networking opportunity and the ability to speak to experts.

Places are limited so don't delay - book today!