Industry is advancing in giant strides towards digitalization and the utilization of IoT functions and applications. With MindSphere, Siemens has developed a cloud-based open IoT operating system with high performance capability to meet this growing demand.
To provide optimum support for companies facing individual, industry-specific challenges surrounding the digital transformation, January 24, 2018 saw the launch of a worldwide IoT initiative by MindSphere users and Siemens.
Scandinavia is the first region in the world to rely increasingly on battery-powered and thus environmentally-friendly technologies in the shipbuilding industry. After "Ampere", the world's first electrical ferry in Norway, and a follow-up order of the Finnish shipping company FinFerries, Siemens has now received an order from Norwegian ferry operator Fjord1. Ampere was put into operation in Norway in May 2015, and has traveled a distance equivalent to more than 1.5 times around the equator. With the change from diesel propulsion to battery, Norwegian ship owner Norled has reduced the cost of fuel by 60 percent. Now Siemens has tailor-made a suitable technical solution for Fjord1. With this contract, the first four battery-driven ferries in the world will run on technology developed and manufactured by Siemens.
"Elektra" - the newest member of the electric ferry fleet: In June 2017, the Elektra began regular operation between Nauvo and Parainen in the Turku archipelago. Battery packs, which are charged via the land-based charging stations in the harbor for use by the ferry, serve as the primary source of energy, with Diesel engines used as emergency power units. The Elektra is also Europe's largest car ferry. At nearly 98 meters long and 16 meters wide, the Elektra can transport up to 90 cars per trip. The ferry purchased by FinFerries will now be traveling this route every 15 minutes. The batteries will be charged in roughly five minutes while cars move off and onto the ferry. The two lithium-ion batteries each have a capacity of 530 kWh.
- Simit Unit Administration integrated into the Simit user interface
- Simplified configuration of PLCSIM advanced coupling
- Bulk engineering using Chem Basic Library spreadsheet calculation – for chemical and pharmaceutical plant simulation
- Data transmission now also via OPC UA client coupling
Siemens has upgraded its Simit simulation platform for virtual commissioning and operator training with a new release. Version 9.1 enables Simit to also be used for virtual commissioning and operator training in modular plants, speeding up actual commissioning by as much as 60 percent and reducing unwanted standstill periods to a minimum, particularly during plant conversion and migration processes. Simit can also be used to implement a realistic operator training system. Version 9.1 comes with an array of innovations designed to improve operating convenience, support simulation modeling and contribute towards improved efficiency, openness and flexibility.
- New MindSphere Version 3.0 on Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides access to Siemens APIs and AWS cloud services for faster development
- Simotics IQ: New IoT concept for motors
- New partnership financing service to boost the implementation of Industrie 4.0
- Study affirms annual productivity increase due to digitalization of up to 9.8 percent
Increasing demands by consumers for individual, high-quality products at favorable prices are posing new challenges for industrial enterprises which can only be resolved by digitalization. "With the Digital Enterprise portfolio, the technical conditions have been created for Industrie 4.0. To ensure successful implementation of Industrie 4.0, what we now need is an extended model for cooperative partnership based on mutual respect: Large-scale corporations supply platforms and components, medium-sized enterprises develop their own solutions and business models on this basis, and end customers integrate these into their digital value chain," explained Klaus Helmrich, Member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG at the SPS IPC Drives. Siemens will be showcasing a range of innovations at the show designed to shorten the time to market and to improve flexibility, efficiency and quality in the process and manufacturing industries. They range from the new Version 15 of the Engineering Framework TIA Portal through the IoT concept for motors Simotics IQ to the new Version 3.0 of the open cloud-based IoT operating system MindSphere. Siemens is also offering financing services such as pay-per-use models designed to simplify the implementation of digital solutions, aimed in particular at medium-sized enterprises.
Digitalization is changing our world – and the world of industry – in tangible ways. The digital transformation is creating new competitive advantages and business models in many companies in the manufacturing and process industry. Machine builders and plant engineers can also take advantage of this development and make it usable for their customers. For digital enterprises systems and processes can be comprehensively and uniformly optimized throughout the entire lifecycle of products and plants. At the SPS IPC Drives in Nuremberg, Germany, from November 28 to 30, 2017 – which took place this year under the motto "Discover the value of the Digital Enterprise" – Siemens presented in hall 11 specific examples of applications to show how this can be done.
- Stand-alone Safety Instrumented System for use in critical areas in process industries
- Customized solution for functional safety for small to medium-sized plant projects
- Pre-configured packages based on proven Simatic components
- Connection to any process control system via Modbus/TCP
The Simatic SIS compact system from Siemens offers a new, stand-alone and flexible Safety Instrumented System for use in critical areas in the process industry. The combination of hardware and software components provides safety functions based on proven automation technology. The Simatic SIS compact system allows easy design of dedicated safety systems, the so called Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS), for monitoring potentially hazardous processes in the process industry and for protecting people, the environment, and the process plant. SIS monitor these processes and automatically intervene as soon as a permissible operating range is exceeded, such as too high pressure or temperature; alternatively, they can notify operating personnel to intervene. This minimizes the risk of potentially hazardous conditions.
- Sinamics G120 converter series in new frame size FSG
- Extended push-through heat sink variants for Power Module PM240-2
- Intelligent Operator Panel IOP-2 for Sinamics G series with added functions
Siemens is extending its portfolio of Sinamics G120 converters to include a new frame size, the FSG with voltage ranges from 380 to 480 volts (V) and from 500 to 690 V. This addition means that the innovative PM240-2 Power Modules now cover the entire power range up to 250 kilowatts (kW). The extremely compact design and standard integrated optional features such as integrated DC link reactor or integrated filter to achieve category C2, enable substantial space and cost savings in the control cabinet. The new frame size also allows cable lengths of up to 450 meters to be achieved without the need for additional options. Depending on the application, the Power Module can be configured individually to customer requirements using the correct control unit and matching components.
- Real-time transmission over Profinet and Pulse Train
- Absolute single-turn encoder with resolution of up to 21 bits for greater efficiency
- New motor design for better connectivity
The user-friendly servo drive system Sinamics V90 from Siemens is particularly suited as a solution for highly dynamic applications. The system comes not only in the form of a high-inertia variant with 400 volts (V) for applications requiring smooth operation, but also as a 200 V version with low inertia motors where highly dynamic performance is called for. Fitted with either Pulse Train (PTI) or Profinet, the motion/process data and diagnostic data can be transmitted in real time between Sinamics V90 and Simatic PLCs. The low inertia motor now features an additional absolute single-turn encoder with a resolution of up to 21 bits, allowing it to determine unequivocal position values and so ensure the great positioning accuracy in the applications.
- Siemens demonstrates consistency of the digital twin using Easysnap application at the SPS IPC Drives 2017
- "Digital Enterprise Suite" features tools for creation of the digital twin
- Apps facilitate the use of plant data collected in MindSphere
At the SPS IPC Drives 2017, Siemens will be demonstrating the consistency of the digital twin over the entire machine life cycle using the example of a packaging machine manufactured by machine builder Easysnap. To achieve this degree of consistency, all the engineering tools required for design, configuration and commissioning interact seamlessly with each other to enable truly integrated engineering. Siemens supplies a comprehensive range of different tools embedded in its "Digital Enterprise Suite" solution portfolio which are designed to enable the creation of a digital twin and so bring about substantial improvements along the value chain. The digital twin can be created using tools such as the Mechatronics Concept Designer, which enables kinematic simulations, and the Sizer configuration tool which uses this data as the basis for determining the required electrical drive values and relevant products.
- Simotics SD Add low-voltage motors reduce drain on the grid due to low start-up currents
- Compliance with sector-specific specifications in the process industries
- Global certificates for worldwide usage
- Reduced acquisition costs coupled with extended service life
With the introduction of its new Simotics SD Add low-voltage motors, Siemens is extending the application scope of the next-generation Simotics SD low-voltage motor series it launched at the beginning of this year. This marks another step taken by the company towards the expansion of its portfolio of scalable standard motors for use in challenging ambient conditions. By offering low start-up current levels, the characteristic product feature of the Simotics SD Add low-voltage motors, this new addition to the series is opening up greater application scope: for instance, to comply with sector-specific requirements in the process industries, or in fields requiring enhanced grid stability by reducing grid loads in the event of voltage dips. The availability of country-specific certificates means that these motors can be used without restrictions in all regions and markets of importance around the world.