Rugged Siemens Industrial Ethernet switches for the process industry

Jun. 3, 2018 – Siemens brings new versions of Industrial Ethernet switches onto the market. The firmware functions (Profinet S2 device, H-Sync and configuration in Run/CiR/H-CiR) in interaction with the Simatic PCS 7 process control system make the new products suitable for the flexible, reliable and high-performance networking of process automation devices.

Siemens explains they support system-wide diagnostics, configuration changes and plant expansions during operations as well as the construction of redundant networks to improve reliability.

The new versions of the Scalance X-200, Scalance XF-200BA, Scalance XC-200EEC and Scalance XP-200EEC managed product line have all the hardware properties required in the process industry: lacquered PCBs (conformal coating), extended temperature range (-40 to 70 degrees C), installation altitude up to 4,000 metres and conformity with Namur NE 21. Special bus adapters, such as the BA 2xRJ45VD HA, allow existing Profibus cable infrastructures to continue to be used, and Profinet devices can be connected to the Profibus network from a distance of up to 1,000 metres without additional amplifiers, it adds.

The Scalance XF204-2BA switch has a flat type of construction and versatile bus adapters for a flexible network structure with copper or fibre optic cables. Meanwhile, Scalance XF204-2BA DNA Y-switches have a flat type of construction and are suitable for connecting Profinet S2 devices to a redundant controller (AS) as an R1 system. The gigabit-capable Scalance XC-200EEC switch is used as a service bridge for protected access from a system bus to a field bus, for the construction of structured networks in the field area with line, ring or star topologies, and for connecting multiple electrical or optical Profinet devices. According to Siemens, the gigabit-capable Scalance XP-200EEC switch is suitable for cabinet-free use and for supplying PoE-capable terminal devices, such as IP cameras.