and Automation and Drives (A&D) have agreed to exchange technology and engineering support to jointly develop interfaces, thereby expanding the deployment of global fieldbus standards.
The move to extend both companies’ systems and software aims to offer greater global interoperability and functionality. First products are expected to be available in mid-2007.
Both companies have previously worked together with user-supplier consortiums to deliver fully open and interoperable field instrumentation and electric drives, using the global standard Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL).
Siemens will add interfaces to its Simatic PCS 7 process control system and Process Device Manager to support Foundation fieldbus standards, in addition to Profibus and Hart. This will enable Siemens to connect to Foundation fieldbus instruments and valve controllers from Emerson, as well as devices from other companies who support Foundation fieldbus.
Emerson will similarly expand its DeltaV and Ovation control systems, as well as its AMS Suite: Intelligent Device Manager application, with an interface for Profibus DP and Profinet standards, in addition to the Foundation fieldbus and Hart standards. This will enable Emerson to connect to Siemens devices, as well as those from other companies who support Profibus DP and Profinet.
Emerson and Siemens will also use the pending OPC UA (OLE for Process Control Unified Architecture) standard from the OPC Foundation in their host systems.