Digital communication networks that enable major advances in manufacturing were showcased at a free seminar held recently at Glyndwr University in Wrexham, North Wales
With Industry 4.0 set to transform the UK economy over the next few years, Wrexham Glyndwr University was delighted to be able to host a highly-focused PI UK event during the last week of September.
56 delegates from the region’s many manufacturing companies were present to learn how digital communication networks are a key factor when developing Industry 4.0 solutions. Central to the discussion was the use and practical application of PROFIBUS, PROFINET and IO-Link in industry. These three networks offer a complete solution for industrial automation in process and manufacturing plants.
As well as being introduced to the technologies, managers and engineers attending the event were able to catch a glimpse of Wrexham Glyndwr University’s engineering labs, including an intelligent control panel which controls equipment and instrumentation using PROFIBUS. The presentations were accompanied by an exhibition of new products from PI UK members, and the Siemens PROFINET demonstration truck was also at the event for all to visit.
James Robinson, Industrial Engineering programme leader, said: “We were delighted to welcome PROFIBUS and PROFINET International to North Wales.
“Their technologies are leading the way in industrial communications globally, and asset managers, design engineers and maintenance engineers all benefited from the seminar.
“Wrexham Glyndwr University has worked hard to develop its laboratories so students on our industrial engineering degree programmes have access to industry-standard equipment from Helmholz, Softing Industrial, Siemens, WAGO and Procentec. These were all demonstrated on the day.”
Industry 4.0 is one of the largest drivers which will transform manufacturing globally over the coming years; reliable, high-speed digital communications networks are crucial to its success. The UK government have recently announced an increase in funding for Industry 4.0 of £4.7 billion by 2020-21.
James was joined at the event by fellow Wrexham Glyndwr University lecturer and cybersecurity expert Dr Paul Comerford, who gave a presentation on cybersecurity for Industrial Ethernet.
System design and safety considerations through to fault-finding and maintenance with PROFIBUS, PROFINET and IO-Link in key application areas such as mechanical handling and logistics, robotics, automotive engineering, electrical and electronics assembly, control systems and energy management, pulp & paper, chemical, utilities, pharmaceutical, packaging and printing were also addressed.
Further information
For more information about industrial engineering courses at Glyndwr University contact James Robinson on james.robinson@glyndwr.ac.uk
More information about the exhibition …
Learn how to get up and running with Industry 4.0 and IIoT
Industry 4.0 is set to transform the UK economy over the next few years and will be the focus of the event at Wrexham Glyndwr University on Tuesday 26 September.
As well as being introduced to the technologies, managers and engineers attending the event will be able to catch a glimpse of Wrexham Glyndwr University’s engineering labs, including an intelligent control panel which controls equipment and instrumentation using PROFIBUS. A Siemens PROFINET demonstration truck will also be on show.
“Wrexham Glyndwr University has worked hard to develop its laboratories so students on our industrial engineering degree programmes have access to industry-standard equipment from Helmholz, Softing Industrial, Siemens, WAGO and Procentec. These will all be demonstrated on the day.
Sponsored by a European Interreg Project named “Industry 4.0 via Networked Control Applications and Sustainable Engineering” – aka INCASE, 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 to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Industry 4.0
Since 1988 HMS Industrial Networks has helped companies get connected. Three decades later, trends such as the Internet of Things and Industry 4.0 require more industrial machines to become networked and HMS’s products provide a fast and easy way to do so via our product portfolio that includes software stacks, embedded boards, and gateways, through to cloud-based monitoring and control solutions.
Hitex will be showing a range of Tools for Connecting and testing, PROFIBUS & PROFINET including the new OPC suite with support for REST and NoSQL databases such as MongoDB which is ideal for IoT and industry4 applications.
Hi-Port will be demonstrating PROFIBUS and PROFINET equipment from Procentec……and our own HP-25 PROFIBUS Cable Testers. On display will be ProfiTrace PROFIBUS Analyser and Trouble-shooting tools, and a wide range of versatile PROFIBUS repeaters and PROFINET switches plus the new Procentec Atlas Industrial Ethernet Diagnostic tool. Hi-Port also offers help with on-site fault-finding, advice on device selection, and training on commissioning and maintenance.
Belcom Cables are a specialist cable distributor based close to Stansted Airport in Essex. Our stock holding of PROFIBUS and PROFINET cables is probably the most comprehensive in the UK. We stock the cables as either soft skin or dataguard SWA for added protection, solid or stranded conductors are available with PVC or LSZH jackets. Our services allow for cable to be cut to length, printed if required and shipped for next day delivery across the UK.
The stand consists of 2 parts: a number of racks show measurement and diagnostic technologies for PROFINET, incorporating redundant network parts using MRP, PRP and HSR. In the 2nd part, EMI is injected in a controlled way on the physical layer of one of the redundant paths; measurements with an Ethernet decoding oscilloscope show signals and characters on different points, and measure the network recovery time and introduced latency. 
WAGO will be displaying their new PFC200 PROFIBUS master mounted on a demonstration board fitted with 4ch IO-Link master, and interoperating with PROFIBUS and CANopen slaves; graphics display via a free WAGO app on IOS – also available for Android. They will also be showing a selection of rail mounted terminals, power supplies, Jumpflex, relays and the XTR extreme range of I/O -40°C to +70°C.
Proficloud is a cloud based solution from Phoenix Contact offering professional cloud services for customers using Profinet Controllers from any PLC Vendor. This is by virtue of the fact that the Proficloud Cloud Coupler is a Profinet Device with its own certified GSDML description file. Phoenix Contact will be speaking on and demonstrating this Industrial Internet Of Things concept.
Sponsored by Glyndwr University and featuring a presentation from cyber security expert Dr Paul Comerford, this free-to-attend event addresses the key practical issues arising from the use of digital communications technologies in automated manufacturing and process industry applications with particular attention to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Industry 4.0
On tour throughout Europe, The PROFINET Truck will present the central themes associated with using PROFINET for automation and will introduce the associated components and solutions from Siemens. The truck focuses on PROFINET functions and applications. Visitors to the truck will learn more about how to benefit from using PROFINET, how to integrate PROFINET in factory and process automation through the TIA Portal and SIMATIC PCS 7, and what Siemens current products can do for them. 
Delegates will also get the chance to view Wrexham Glyndwr University’s engineering labs, which includes industry-standard PROFIBUS equipment from Helmholz, Softing Industrial, Siemens, WAGO and Procentec as used on the university’s industrial engineering degree programmes.
Control Specialists Ltd are the UK Approved Solutions Partners of Indu-Sol GmbH for sales and technical support. Their monitoring and diagnostic tools for PROFIBUS, PROFINET and AS-I as well as those associated with EMC measurements for industrial networks will be on display.
iTech is a system integration company based in Troon. Today on our table top we are showcasing mainly PROFIBUS and PROFINET Technologies in the form of:
AJM Engineering Management provides PROFIBUS and PROFINET Design, installation and test expertise and high-quality equipment to the automation world. We distribute products for Helmholz, Insevis, Schildknecht, Atop, Vivace Process Instruments, Metalwork and Pilz, and will be showcasing the diversity of our product inventory at this year’s event at Wrexham University.
