Using safety control systems to achieve safe control technology: An overview

In which direction is safety technology developing? Which control systems provide the highest user benefits? How will the various disciplines of safety, control, motion, CNC and visualization work together in future? Will it be possible to implement economical solutions, despite the increasing complexity? Even in future there will be a number of different approaches to take to resolve requirements. One potential approach is to modularize plant and machinery into functional units. This is already happening today, albeit primarily for the mechanical part of plant and machinery. This approach has only partially been used in control technology as yet.

Whether the issue is safety-related or automation functions: The demands on plant and machinery continue to grow, so there's an increasing need for techniques which will allow applications to be well structured and therefore manageable. The requirement for minimum effort and associated cost reductions is increasingly the focus. The aim is to reduce engineering times still further.

The graphic below illustrates the compromise that has previously been reached between minimum costs, maximum quality and rapid implementation:

However, excellent support during the engineering phase, through an appropriate programming model, a user-friendly programming environment and an extensive library, can lead to higher quality in shorter time and at a lower overall cost.