Unless you have a facility that uses only one industrial protocol (and if you are, congratulations, I have some questions for you too!) you are well aware of the need for protocol converters.
They are the difference between real-time data transfer directly to your PAC and many manual ways of data retrieval and some major operational problems.
ProSoft has been in the protocol conversion business for more than 30 years, first with in-chassis modules, and later also with gateways. Not to boast humbly, but it is something we are known for and regularly asked for advice on.
Our product suites cover a wide range of protocols, with overlaps between the in-chassis and gateway solution families. Wondering which one is best for you? As you might expect, it depends on the needs of your application.
We have recently met with our protocol conversion experts to find out the benefits of each protocol.
In-Chassis
- Streamlined integration into your existing PLC infrastructure: configuring communication for only one protocol (as opposed to at least two for gateways) saves time and costs during installation. In addition, Add-On Profiles and Add-On Instructions for quick configuration.
- Reduced cost and installation: Choosing an in-rack solution eliminates cabling to an external power supply, which can increase installation time, saves additional Ethernet cabling to the PLC and requires less panel space, which reduces costs.
- Security: End users are increasingly trying to link control data to their business systems. If cyber security is a concern, in-chassis solutions can be ideal as they offer fewer attack opportunities.
Gateways
- Built-in diagnostic tools: For end users and system integrators, ProSoft gateways' diagnostic tools can provide time and cost savings, including less downtime during troubleshooting. With these built-in tools, you can troubleshoot any problems without using PLC programming software or other external tools.
- Less wiring: Gateways can be installed closer to the devices you are trying to connect. Especially for serial connections, this can shorten the wiring distance.
- Additional and segmented gateways: ProSoft offers a range of gateways with up to four serial ports, allowing customers to increase performance in applications with a large number of devices. Ethernet gateways with two ports allow network segmentation for any protocol. This helps you save time: You can pass data between the subnets of the two protocols without changing the IP address of each device.
For more information: https://www.routeco.com/nl-be
