reACTION technology for ultrafast safety applications from B&R

With this advancement, B&R is extending the use of reACTION technology into the area of safety-critical applications. This technology makes it possible for time-critical subprocesses to be executed directly in the I/O modules, which enables drastic reductions in response times. What's more, no expensive special hardware is needed to use reACTION technology, and programming is just as easy as it is for conventional control systems.

Another technology developed by B&R also saves an impressive amount of time: mapp technology, with its networked and flexible function blocks, makes it possible to reduce the time needed to develop application software by an average of 67 percent. The 70 mapp components presented in the fall of 2014 generated quite a buzz at the time. Now, B&R is planning to introduce an additional 30 functions at the Hannover Messe.

Markus Sandhfner, general manager of B&R Germany, explains: "Smart factories require additional flexibility across all plant systems, which goes hand in hand with the digitalisation of information exchanged between all networked equipment. The Scalability+ concept allows our customers to successfully implement these changes quickly and easily." Maximum flexibility and openness have been buzzwords for automation systems at B&R for decades, laying the foundation for the 100 per cent networked production facilities of the future. The end result is the utilisation of fewer resources, increased productivity and the possibility of manufacturing individual products in series production runs.

This year's partner country of the Hannover Messe is India. B&R has been active on the subcontinent since 1998 with a subsidiary that has since grown to five offices. The company has made a name for itself in Indian industrial circles as a supplier of innovative and high-quality products. Market leaders in the Indian plastics, pharmaceuticals, textiles and automotive industries put their trust in B&R.

P.V. Sivaram, general manager of B&R India, explains: "India is working hard to join the ranks of the industrialised countries, which means that rapid progress in the production and services sector is essential." In order to handle the rapidly growing domestic market and aid expansion, India is not only planning large investments in infrastructure, but also substantially upgrading existing production capacity. Sivaram says: "The market for automation technology is expected to grow exponentially. B&R India is ready to meet these needs."

For more information about programmable safety technology, visit www.br-automation.com.