The EtherCAT Terminal system has proven successful over a period of many years in automation applications where a temperature range of 0…55 °C is sufficient. For requirements beyond that, the operating temperature range of selected EtherCAT Terminals and Couplers has been extended to -25…+60 °C. The storage temperature of these ET components (Extended Temperature Range) has also been adapted and is now -40…+85 °C. The exact definition of the operating conditions in temperature ranges outside 0…55 °C, any installation requirements that possibly deviate from the standard and, if applicable, deviating technical data can be found in the EtherCAT Terminal documentation.

The following EtherCAT Terminals represent a selection of the products that are suitable for the extended temperature range. The extension of the temperature range is marked accordingly on the data sheet and is also available for any variants with a pluggable wiring level (ESxxxx).

Product Webpage

The Fieldbus Foundation has announced the postponement of its 2014 General Assembly in Rotterdam due to travel and security restrictions associated with the upcoming Global Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) in The Hague, The Netherlands.

Originally planned for March 25-28, the Fieldbus Foundation’s global FOUNDATION™ fieldbus end user seminar will be rescheduled for the fall of this year somewhere in Europe (location pending), while its End User Advisory Council (EUAC) meeting and business meeting will be conducted electronically on the original dates of March 26 and March 28, respectively. The EUAC session will be the first in a series of such meetings to be held electronically this year.

Fieldbus Foundation President and CEO Rich Timoney explained the change of plans: "We were recently advised that the global community will be holding a major nuclear summit in The Hague during the same week as our General Assembly. The Dutch government has announced the highest level of security protocol for all modes of transportation to, from and within the tri-city region of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague. As such, it was necessary for us to cancel our end user conference, relocate our board meeting and conduct a WebEx business meeting for the membership, which is required annually."

The Fieldbus Foundation's General Assembly offers an overview of FOUNDATION fieldbus developments across the globe. It includes updates by leading fieldbus experts on the latest advancements in fieldbus technology, as well as presentations by major end users who have installed FOUNDATION fieldbus in their industrial operations.

Yokogawa Electric Corporation announces that it has received the Frost & Sullivan 2014 Global Enabling Technology Leadership Award in the wireless solutions category. The Enabling Technology Leadership Award is presented to companies around the world that are best-in-class in a specific category.

Field wireless systems enable a plant’s field devices and host-level monitoring and control systems to communicate wirelessly with each other. This has numerous advantages such as allowing the placement of field instruments or analytical sensors in difficult to wire locations, which eliminates the need for cables to connect devices and reduces installation costs.

Yokogawa released the world’s first ISA100.11a*1 compliant wireless system devices and wireless pressure and temperature transmitters in July 2010, and the company continues to enhance its lineup of wireless solutions. In accordance with the Wireless Anywhere concept, which was announced in April 2013, Yokogawa is seeking to promote the plant-wide use of field wireless systems by developing new ISA100 Wireless™*2 devices. In December 2013, the company started providing a wireless communications module with a built-in antenna that can help field device manufacturers significantly shorten the time needed for developing wireless solutions. Later this year, the company also plans to release a multi-protocol wireless adaptor that will enable wired field instruments or analytical sensors to be used as ISA100 Wireless devices.

Frost & Sullivan selected Yokogawa for this award because of the company's efforts to develop ISA100 Wireless solutions that enable high-reliability, openness, and interoperability. In selecting the award recipient, Frost & Sullivan evaluated companies based on whether they enabled the creation of new products, enhanced current products, enabled new applications, had potential for market acceptance, and had a breadth of access to technology. Yokogawa was recognized for making a superior contribution in developing innovative field wireless solutions.

The Fieldbus Foundation has announced that its 2014 General Assembly would be held in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, on March 25-28. This annual event is open to Fieldbus Foundation members and non-members, and will be attended by leading FOUNDATION™ fieldbus suppliers, end users and other industry participants from around the world.

This year's General Assembly will be hosted by STC-Group, a leading provider of educational services to the shipping, transport and process industries worldwide, and a partner in the Fieldbus Foundation's FOUNDATION Certified Training Program (FCTP). STC-Group's Brielle facility was one of the first educational institutions worldwide to offer fieldbus training courses certified under FCTP. This program establishes uniform standards for fieldbus educational curriculum around the globe, and defines acceptable levels of learning for students of the technology.

The General Assembly will offer an overview of Fieldbus Foundation developments across the globe. It will include updates by leading fieldbus experts on the latest advancements in FOUNDATION technology, as well as presentations by major end users who have installed FOUNDATION fieldbus in their industrial operations.

"FOUNDATION fieldbus is a technology that’s driving efficiency in the delivery of the world’s energy resources, so it only makes sense that our 2014 General Assembly would be held in Rotterdam, The Netherlands – one of the key centers of the global oil & gas and petrochemical industries," said Rich Timoney, Fieldbus Foundation president and CEO. "The Port of Rotterdam is home to more than 45 chemical companies and five refineries, and our annual meeting will attract a wide spectrum of the fieldbus community throughout the region. We strongly encourage all end users of FOUNDATION technology, and those looking to become users, to actively participate in this event."

Note by Editor: Please see another news Fieldbus Foundation 2014 General Assembly Postponed