Rockwell Automation has launched new safety variants of its Allen-Bradley 1768 CompactLogix L43 and L45 process automation controllers (PAC).
Its two new safety-capable, mid-size PACs are set to revolutionise safety installations in small- to medium-size applications, in much the same way that GuardLogix PACs did for larger applications.
The products fit neatly into Rockwell’s compact machine solutions offering and are ideal for use with Point Guard I/O and CompactBlock Guard I/O. Due to our commitment to providing interoperable, scalable solutions, the learning curve for the new safety-enabled PACs is also extremely low. Existing users of CompactLogix and ControlLogix will see the same RSLogix 5000 programming environment; the major addition being high integrity add-on instruction sets for safety routines. This means programmes can be simply and easily migrated from one unit to another – both across the range and up or down to/from GuardLogix.
By embedding safety functionality (to SIL 3) we are giving our users the ability to dramatically simplify their automation and safety infrastructures. With one communication infrastructure, one programming language and one master control unit, all the additional hardware, wiring, training and complexity associated with discrete safety systems is removed.
But this is not achieved by sacrificing core PAC capabilities. There are no imposed restrictions to language, motion or communications, and by using EtherNet/IP, users are still able to use the PACs for discrete control and motion applications – in the exactly the same way as their non-safety equivalents. Indeed, the Compact GuardLogix L43 and 45 processors offer control of up to eight axes, can incorporate multiple communication cards to deal with multiple protocols and offer market leading performance thanks to their high-speed Logix engine and their ability to cater for multiple I/O configuration.
Rockwell Automation
0870 242 5004
www.rockwell.com