Fail-safe controllers are one of the fundamental requirements for achieving high system availability. They process and monitor critical closed-loop controls and applications to ensure that modern production plants fail safely. Until now, these types of controllers have often been installed and operated separately from the process control system. That meant that they were frequently overlooked when it came to modernization.

Siemens has now developed the Gateway CM104 TSAA to bring both the process control system and the safety engineering up to the state-of-the-art at the same time. It facilitates continuous communication between the Triconex, Trident or Tricon fail-safe controller – depending on the application – and the Siemens automation system. The Gateway is completely integrated into the PCS 7, and can be laid out as a single or fully redundant link between the systems. It uses the Triconex TSAA protocol for this purpose. The Gateway is based on standard Industrial Ethernet components, and also contains diagnostic functions with alarms visualized in PCS 7.

The new Siemens Gateway is used in the modernization and migration to PCS 7 to form a link with existing Triconex fail-safe products. It can also be used in projects requiring communication to PCS 7 controllers. The engineering is carried out with the aid of a standard PCS 7 or STEP 7, thus enabling existing systems to be expanded or modernized inexpensively, step-by-step with Simatic.

The Siemens Industry Sector (Erlangen, Germany) is the world's leading supplier of production, transportation, building and lighting technologies. With integrated automation technologies as well as comprehensive industry-specific solutions, Siemens increases the productivity, efficiency and flexibility of its customers in the fields of industry and infrastructure. The Sector consists of six Divisions: Building Technologies, Drive Technologies, Industry Automation, Industry Solutions, Mobility and Osram. With around 222,000 employees worldwide Siemens Industry posted in fiscal year 2008 a profit of EUR3.86 billion with revenues totaling EUR38 billion. www.siemens.com/industry

With the business activities of Siemens VAI Metals Technologies, (Linz, Austria), Siemens Water Technologies (Warrendale, Pa., U.S.A.), and Industrial Technologies, (Erlangen, Germany), the Siemens Industry Solutions Division (Erlangen, Germany) is one of the world's leading solution and service providers for industrial and infrastructure facilities. Using its own products, systems and process technologies, Industry Solutions develops and builds plants for end customers, commissions them and provides support during their entire life cycle. With around 31,000 employees worldwide Siemens Industry Solutions achieved an order intake of EUR 8.415 billon in fiscal year 2008.