How can field instruments and components be easily integrated into automation systems? The answer to this question is becoming increasingly important as industrial production digitalisation progresses.

The Endress+Hauser Open Integration partner programme unites 13 manufacturers that want to ensure the streamlined interaction of their products. Softing Industrial Automation joined the partner network at the beginning of the year.

The Open Integration cooperation partners test and document the interaction of their products for typical process automation applications. Users profit in two ways, by being able to combine the best products for each application and through fast and smooth commissioning.

Hilz ... helping partners with the connectivity of their sensors

Automation technology suppliers value the advantages of the Open Integration programme as well. For these companies, it’s important to be able to detect potential problems early and solve them prior to installing their products at the customer site.

"We go well beyond the established test methods within this programme by scrutinizing the functionality of complete system architectures in a lab environment," explains Jörg Reinkensmeier, Marketing Manager at Endress+Hauser. "We do that for specific fields of application or customer solutions. After successful completion of the tests, the so-called reference topologies are published in the form of mutual recommendations."

Thirteen companies currently belong to the programme. All the partners are suppliers of control technology, fieldbus infrastructures, measurement technology or actuator technology: Auma Riester, Bürkert, Festo, Flowserve, Hima Paul Hildebrandt, Honeywell Process Solutions, Mitsubishi Electric, Pepperl+Fuchs, Phoenix Contact, Rockwell Automation, Schneider Electric, Turck and recently Softing Industrial Automation.

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Reinkensmeier ... connectivity increasingly important for IIoT

Softing Industrial Automation is a leading provider of software and hardware products designed to integrate technologies and data in factory and process automation environments.

"Our companies have enjoyed many years of successful cooperation, which has now manifested itself in our decision to join the Open Integration partner programme," says Thomas Hilz, Vice-President Strategic Accounts at Softing Industrial Automation.

"The reliability and outstanding quality that we know from Endress+Hauser is also a top priority at Softing Industrial Automation. The company, and I personally, are looking forward to the coming years in which we will be helping our partners with the connectivity of their sensors."

"Softing Industrial Automation strengthens our partner programme with further expertise in the area of data exchange and providing information at the field level," says Reinkensmeier.

"Apart from networking process control technology, connectivity is playing an increasingly important role for IIoT solutions. Our aim is to exploit this potential together with all of our Open Integration partners."

Endress+Hauser is a global leader in measurement and automation technology for process and laboratory applications. Its devices, solutions and services are used by customers to gain valuable knowledge from their applications. This enables them to improve their products, work economically and at the same time protect people and the environment. The company jas 8,000 patents and applications to protect its intellectual property.