FDT Specification Extension Expands the Functionality of SERCOS III


Santa Rosa Beach, Florida - At the recent SPS/IPC/DRIVES 2010 show the SERCOS vendor organizations announced the availability of the FDT specification extension for the SERCOS III Real-time Ethernet Communications System. SERCOS III is thus the first high-performance real-time Ethernet communication standard to support FDT Technology, used by many manufacturers to connect field devices to a wide range of software environments.

FDT technology standardizes the communication interface between field devices and engineering tools. It includes the FDT tool which already contains annexes for a range of different fieldbus systems. Extending the FDT specification to SERCOS III allows users to configure SERCOS III devices via FDT's powerful DTM device drivers. DTMs offer special functionality for detailed device configuration and analysis via a graphical user interface. The DTM application opens a window for the start-up, parameterization and diagnostics of field devices, thus reducing the complexity of the application and increasing transparency for users and service technicians.

"The FDT/DTM specification is another important step on the way to making SERCOS III a universal real-time network for all automation applications. The combination of these two open standards, supported by many manufacturers, reduces start-up times and increases the security of investments," states Peter Lutz, Managing Director of SERCOS International e.V.

The FDT/DTM specification for SERCOS III was developed by a joint working group of SERCOS International and the FDT group and has been verified by two independent implementations of SERCOS III manufacturers.

More about SERCOS
SERCOS, SErial Realtime COmmunication System, is among the leading digital interfaces for communication between controls, drives and decentralized peripheral devices. SERCOS has been used in machine engineering for 25 years and is implemented in over 2.5 million real time nodes. With its open, manufacturer independent Ethernet-based architecture, SERCOS III is a universal bus for all automation solutions.

For additional information visit www.sercos.com or www.sercos.de

More about the FDT Group
The FDT Group is a non-profit corporation consisting of over 70 leading worldwide companies active in process and factory automation. The major purpose of the FDT Group is to provide an open and non-proprietary interface for the integration of field devices with engineering, automation and asset management systems. In this environment, end users, manufacturers, universities and research organizations are working together to develop the technology; provide development tools, support and training; coordinate field trials and demonstrations; and enable product interoperability.

For additional information visit www.fdtgroup.org.

For additional information contact:

Ronald Larsen, Managing Director
SERCOS North America
405 Loblolly Bay Drive
Santa Rosa Beach, Florida 32459
800/573-7267 Tel & Fax: 850/269-0908
E-mail: info@sercos.com www.sercos.com

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