Endress+Hauser Launches Open Integration Partner Program

In the future, operators of process plants will be able to more easily integrate their devices and components into their automation systems. Endress+Hauser has launched the Open Integration partner program that promotes the cooperation between providers of industrial automation systems and fieldbus communication. To date, eight companies have joined the program: AUMA Riester, HIMA Paul Hildebrandt, Honeywell Process Solutions, Mitsubishi Electric, Pepperl+Fuchs, Rockwell Automation, R. STAHL, and Schneider Electric.
 
“By working closely with our partners, we want to make sure that a relevant selection of products can be easily combined and integrated for common target markets,” said Michael Ziesemer, chief operating officer of Endress+Hauser. This is done by using open communication standards such as HART, PROFIBUS, FOUNDATION Fieldbus, EtherNet/IP, or PROFINET, and open integration standards such as FDT, EDD, or FDI.

“We are open for more cooperation partners,” said Ziesemer. “Every market stakeholder who, like us, consistently relies on open standards is invited to join the Open Integration program.”

Reference Topologies Are Key
Cooperation starts with what are known as reference topologies, which are worked out jointly by the Open Integration partners. Each reference topology is tailored to the customers’ applications and the field communication technologies used in these applications. “To fill the program with life in terms of content, we are going to target specific customers who might be interested in joining us,” said Ziesemer.

Depending on industrial segment and market, the focus will be on typical requirements such as availability, redundancy, or explosion protection, followed by the selection of system components and field instruments of practical relevance. This exact combination will then be tested and documented before it is published as a joint recommendation, giving customers concrete and successfully validated suggestions for automating their plant.

“With this joint validation as part of the Open Integration, we go well beyond the established conformity and interoperability tests that we have carried out for many years with all relevant process control systems,” said Ziesemer.

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