Need to communicate an ever-growing quantity of data at ever-faster speeds? We cannot do anything to prevent framework conditions from becoming more and more complex. However, we can offer you a reliable and secure complete solution for industrial data transmission, perfectly tailored to these framework conditions, based on our many years of expertise and experience.
As an enabler from data to value, we offer you a comprehensive, end-to-end modular system and state-of-the-art components that enable the realisation of a wide variety of use cases, both in greenfield and brownfield applications.
Cyber attacks are one of the biggest threats to a company's expertise and the uptime of a system. At the same time, more and more systems are being connected to the internet in order to increase efficiency with IIoT applications. The EU has recognised this risk to its economy and is implementing guidelines to increase cyber resilience. The NIS2 and the Cyber Resilience Act are an important measure to increase the security of the network.
Weidmüller products offer various functions to increase network security, from simple to complex. Managed switches increase physical protection, offer network segmentation and, above all, authorisation and monitoring functions. Protection can be extended with security routers; they segment the physical network and filter unnecessary data traffic with their stateful inspection firewall.
In industrial applications, it is essential that information is in the right place at the right time. However, this is often disrupted by other messages, meaning that processes no longer work and systems come to a standstill. This can happen with irregular communication such as a firmware update or due to too many system messages.
Communication can be controlled as required using various functions in a switch. This gives important messages priority over unimportant ones. Interfering system messages can also be limited or filtered. This dramatically reduces the network load and ensures that the network and therefore the control system function properly. Weidmüller switches offer corresponding functions and certifications for the most common Ethernet-based real-time protocols (Profinet, EthernetIP).
Machines and systems are the most important components of value creation in many sectors. Without smooth communication, they can no longer produce these days, which means a direct loss of business. These interruptions are often due to hardware influences, such as defective devices or severed or worn cables. Software influences can also be responsible, such as an error in the control programme.
Redundancy mechanisms can compensate for hardware or software failures. Depending on the application, errors can be restored within a few milliseconds or even completely without any loss of information. Weidmüller devices offer a wide range of standardised and proprietary software redundancies or hardware-supported redundancy. The spectrum ranges from STP, RSTP, MSTP and MRP to Turbo-Ring, Turbo-Chain, O-Ring, O-Chain, PRP and HSR. This works for different topologies such as rings, lines or trees. RIP or OSPF redundancies can also be created across network segments.
Machines and systems are becoming increasingly complex and therefore more error-prone. This is why more experts are needed for set-up and troubleshooting. However, in times of a shortage of skilled labour, experts are rare and business trips eat up a lot of time and money. It can therefore be difficult and expensive to get different experts on a system network at the same time. With an extensive portfolio of secure service access options, this is child's play.
The u-link system from Weidmüller covers all requirements: Physical access via a lockable service interface, flexible access via a secure WiFi network through to remote access. Locally connected programmers can work seamlessly with mechanics in the plants and application experts from the office or from home. All information and options are always to hand.
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The remote maintenance of machines and plants is often complex and time-consuming. Additionally, there is also the demand for a targeted and safeguarded functional connection to the associated IT systems.
For many users, these two issues make the connection of plants around the world a major obstacle.
With u-link remote maintenance is child's play - easy - secure - efficient
If machines or systems are to be integrated into a production network, all network addresses must be changed according to the customer's specifications. In this way, the manufacturer ensures that communication from the machine and system network to the production network works. If the systems are modular and communication takes place from machine to machine, everything becomes even more complex. Changing the addresses and the application can take a lot of time and be error-prone. In addition, many plant operators still have a single, large production network. This causes a lot of interference in network communication.
With security routers from Weidmüller, the local addresses remain as they are. For integration into the system network, the entire network can either be virtually redirected centrally using 1:1 NAT or only individual services can be released using SNAT (also known as forwarding). This saves on modifications and increases the stability of the system. It also protects the system from interference in communication and expertise. Static or dynamic routers can also be used for machine-to-machine communication without extensive network adjustments.
Networks are highly diverse in terms of their requirements and size. Finding the right product is not easy and can take a long time. Many companies do not respond to queries or support requests, especially if the purchasing volume is small and the product selection is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Once you have found what you think is the right product, the next hurdle is configuration.
With a suitable product selection filter in our online catalogue and an Industrial Ethernet portfolio tailored to the industry, choosing the right device is very easy. Weidmüller offers deep integration into customers' engineering environments with 3D data and EPLAN. If you have any queries, a contact person is always available for advice.
Configuration is also possible for non-IT specialists using the clear web interface. The tool also transfers configurations and can restore them if required.
The average factory generates an impressive 1 terabyte of data every day, but less than 1 per cent of this is actually used profitably. There is an untapped potential of 99% waiting to make machines more efficient and to better predict failures.
What is the easiest way to get started? And how can data be transformed into real added value?
Take a look at our short animation to find out more and get started on your way to using your data efficiently.
Keith Atkinson
Automation Sales Engineer