Industrial Data Xchange

Today was the last Procentec training day for 2015 and we have a packed class of 10 attendees from companies such Sick Automation, Columbus Stainless and Xaloo Technologies.  There is no charge for the training, but its recommended that one has done the certified PROFIBUS Installer Course or is already experienced with PROFIBUS.   The the course is broken into three main sections: 1) PROFIBUS network components 2) Troubleshooting with ProfiTrace 3) Preemptive maintenance with COMbricks PROFIBUS network components is really about the cool stuff that system integrators and end-users of PROFIBUS don't know about. How to correctly wire a repeater  (a common problem we find when doing callouts), using multi-channel repeaters ( ProfiHub ), when to use active terminators and running segment at different baud rates with ProfiSwitch  is all part of the section. Learn to design your networks in a more robust manner using ProfiHubs! Troubleshooting with ProfiTrace starts off with

Anybus® CompactCom™ 40-series awarded “Best Network Technology” in Automation Inside’s Readers’ Choice Awards 2015 The Automation Inside Portal (www.automationinside.com) is a leading global resource for the automation industry, connecting buyers and suppliers in the field. Their annual Readers’ Choice Awards for 2015 has selected the Anybus CompactCom 40-series as the winner of the Best Network Technology category. About the awards The Automation Inside Readers’ Choice Awards 2015 gathered 30 nominated solutions from 24 automation companies and after voting by Automation Inside’s readers in 35 countries, Anybus CompactCom 40-series was recognized as “Best Network Technology 2015.” About Anybus CompactCom 40-series The Anybus® CompactCom™ 40-series is the latest embedded networking solution from HMS Industrial Networks. It is available in three form factors – Chip, Brick and Module – and offers multi-network connectivity through a single development project, li

The IXXAT brand of HMS Industrial Networks has just undergone a revamp their website. Designed with responsiveness, you can now easily browse from your tablet, smartphone or PC for solutions in: Functional Safety for Industrial Devices Communication Solutions for Machines Solutions for Automotive Test Systems Visit the IXXAT homepage at www.ixxat.com or if you you are in the Southern Africa region, contact the local HMS distributor, Industrial Data Xchange (IDX).

Upon landing in Kenya Nairobi, we were invited with very open arms by a humble conglomerate of industry professionals. We dropped off our bags at the Intercontinental and proceeded to the convention center (fortunately 300m from our hotel) in order to set up our stands. The KICC Expo center was very heavily guarded, every attendee entering, went through rigorous physical and identity checks. This took me somewhat by surprise, however i did humbly abide as it made everyone feel a lot more comfortable for the safety of the venue and all participants attending. On Thursday morning the excitement kicked off quite abruptly as a hoard of fascinated delegates started sweeping from stand to stand. I had the welcoming opportunity of picking off each and every person who got within grabbing reach of the IDX stand in order to spread our offerings, marketing rather enthusiastically. I found each and every visitor and delegate was humble and welcomed the influx of information each exhi

Wow, one moment one is planning for a future event and the next moment it has arrived and is very quickly over. Along with the other South African Electro-technical Export Council stands Kyle spent Wednesday afternoon and early Thursday morning getting set-up. Above: Original shell scheme of the IDX stand in preparation for the event. Right: The South African Electrotechnical Export Council's stand (Kyle Roos - thinking to himself after getting ready) Hey, I am all set-up - "Hey, everyone out there (where-ever you are hiding?) come visit our stand, if you are weary you can even sit on a chair!" Kyle Roos seen chatting to some delegates who now know that if they need to get devices connected and information flowing they must simply "IDX it!". Kyle chatting to some delegates who now know that if they need to get devices connected and information flowing they must simply "IDX it!". When evening comes, and the light starts to fa

Contact  kyler@idx.co.za  If you would like to book some time for a meeting, or find out more information on this event .

Access your equipment from anywhere via your existing WiFi With this time-limited Netbiter Remote Management package from HMS, you can: Monitor and Control your equipment remotely Log data Get alarms when certain levels are reached Do remote machine programming and debugging                   Application example: Here’s how it works :  An Anybus Wireless Bridge is attached to the outside of your control cabinet for optimal WiFi coverage and it is then connected to your existing WiFi network. The data is forwarded to a Netbiter EasyConnect310 gateway inside your cabinet via an Ethernet cable. The Netbiter EC310 gives secure access to your equipment and the Netbiter Argos Remote Management system where you can log, access and control your equipment online ( www.netbiter.net ). There is no need for fixed IP addresses or expensive cellular network subscriptions.

Save over R2 000 on a Profihub B5+ now! Now selling for only  R12 900.99 The ProfiHub B5+ enables wide-ranging RS 485 star/tree segments and long spur lines for PROFIBUS DP installations in IP 20 environments. The B5+ is a robust and highly valuable network component to design reliable, flexible and object oriented networks. Save over R1 700 on a COMbricks Standard Monitoring kit! Now selling for only  R19 999.99 COMbricks kit for monitoring 1 PROFIBUS DP segment on data and signal level. The kit can be used as start up kit for monitoring and/or repeating in a PROFIBUS DP network and can be expanded with all COMbricks modules. Save over R2 500 on a ProfiSwitch X5 now!    Now selling for only  R18 499.99 ProfiSwitch is a transparent PROFIBUS hub that is able to create baud rate customization per channel. Normally, the transmission speed is fixed for the entire network and becomes an obstacle when PROFIBUS segments require their individua

This year IDX took part at AUW 2015 at the Convention Centre in Cape Town. We were part of a group of emerging export companies that belong to the SOUTH AFRICAN ELECTROTECHNICAL EXPORT COUNCIL  and had a stand plus access to shared meeting area (see below).  Our stand was very simple but after doing AAF 2015 at the Dome in Johannesburg the previous week it was a pleasure to not have lots of equipment to handle.  Set-up was on Monday 11th, the conference and exhibition were Tuesday to Thursday.  Then on Friday we did some arranged trips to interesting "power or clean energy" projects. Power to dwellings comes from here (a) The "backyarder" project - visited an area where municipal houses are rented and there are 1 to 3 shacks in the backyard with each having an independent pay-as-you-go single phase electricity supply. The meter is mounted on a pole outside the property and the backyarder tenant just has a keypad to enter his electricity voucher de

What is Building Automation? Let’s define building automation, Automation refers to the capability to program and schedule actions for the devices on the network. The programming may include time dependent commands, for example having your lights turn on or off at specific intervals each day. It can also include non-scheduled or time dependent events, such as turning on all the lights in your home when your security system alarm is triggered, or turning on a specific light in a room when you enter it. What kinds of things can be part of a home automation system? In theory, anything that can be connected to a network can be automated and controlled remotely and from a central location. However in actual practice, outside of research labs and the homes of the rich and famous, home automation most commonly connects simple binary devices. This includes "on and off" devices such as lights, power outlets and electronic locks, but also devices such as security sensors which hav

Spreading the word of the PROFIBUS to a new group of potential Certified PROFIBUS Installers at Rand Water in Vereeniging, South Africa. You can just see their confidence (and competence) in PROFIBUS growing!

This week, members from PROFIBUS and PROFINET Associations, Competence Centers, Training Centers and Test Labs meet in Ireland to celebrate the 25th year the PROFIBUS International Organisation has been in existence. The meeting has of course a more formal purpose and is split up in four parts: The Regional PROFIBUS/PROFINET Association (RPA) Chairperson's meeting where the Chairpersons of RPAs from all over the world meet to discuss the direction of PROFIBUS and PROFINET. The Test Labs meet to discus certification processes for new PROFIBUS and PROFINET devices.  The Training Centers from around the world consolidate how training should be done The Competence Centers discuss and share new advances in the PROFIBUS and PROFINET Technologies.  Hot topics for this year include:  Where does PA fall into the PROFINET family ? Building machines with PROFINET - build with a modular approach. Watch this video Industry 4.0 and Industrial Internet of Things The accreditation

Save over R7 000 on ProfiTrace now! Now selling for only R48 000,   ProfiTrace is the most powerful mobile analyzer for PROFIBUS networks. Thousands of users benefit daily from this great tool because it is easy to use and combines all required elements in one to detect most PROFIBUS faults trough it's  busmonitor, oscilloscope, bar graph and statistics scan . This outstanding tool that fits in your pocket, boosts the capabilities of service, maintenance and engineering technicians. You can now check and troubleshoot the complete PROFIBUS network with 1 software package and 1 piece of hardware (ProfiCore™ Ultra). Typical issues such as  noise, reflections, voltage drops, termination problems, double addresses, wire breaks and configuration faults are easily identified . The results can be exported to  detailed reports .  "Being able to quickly identify and solve  PROFIBUS faults can save thousands,  even millions, for every minute your  network is do

If you're interested in certified Profibus and Profinet training, network test equipment, remote monitoring solutions or protocol converters, then come find out more by visiting us at our booth at the Africa Automation Fair at Northgate dome this week...We'd love to meet you!