Industrial Ethernet: First safety I/O node with EtherNet/IP capability

Milwaukee, WI —

Rockwell Automation

offers the

Allen

, said to be the industry’s first safety I/O module with EtherNet/IP industrial Ethernet protocol connectivity. The move expands safety offerings and supports open networks to protect personnel and machinery, the company suggested.

Allen

The release allows companies to use the widely recognized industry standard EtherNet/IP protocol in conjunction with an Allenhe traditional approach of using hard-wired safety relays, the company said. Safety networks allow manufacturers to distribute the safety I/O, reduce wiring and installation costs, and make diagnostic information available to the standard control and HMI system.

CompactBlock Guard I/O on EtherNet/IP detects failures at the I/O and field-device level, while enhancing operator protection in many applications including robotic, point-of-operation, guard-monitoring and remote control applications. It communicates over the EtherNet/IP network using the industry standard CIP Safety protocol, making it compatible with standard Ethernet infrastructure devices, including wired and wireless products. Manufacturing and process customers can control and monitor the equipment’s safety devices with one of the CompactBlock Guard I/O modules, using the same data network for general automation control and factory-floor business systems, the company said in the December announcement.

Rockwell Automation’s Guard I/O family includes a full suite of products that connect to

DeviceNet

from Allen

ControlNet International Ltd

. DeviceNet is a trademark of Open DeviceNet Vendor Association.

—Edited by Mark T. Hoske, editor in chief Control Engineering Products( Register here and scroll down to select your choice of eNewsletters free .)

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