Manufacturers globally are using Siemens TIA (Totally Integrated Automation Portal), to perform automation and drive tasks quickly, as well as facilitating entire digitised automation, including digital planning, integrated engineering and transparent operation to help on their path to industry 4.0.
With the pace of change and what seems like no glass ceiling, manufacturers have got to constantly optimise automation to ensure it continues to help shorten the time to market, increase plant productivity and provide broader flexibility.
With the new version of the TIA Portal V15, Siemens is extending its engineering framework to include a range of new practical digitalisation functions to shorten engineering times. The main features of the innovations are extension of the application possibilities, expansion of the digitalisation portfolio and standardisation to achieve higher engineering efficiency.
Enhanced capability applications
Highlights of the expanded application possibilities include high-level language programming, integration of additional drive systems, including a safety acceptance test, the integration of handling functions and 2D to 4D kinematics into Simatic S7-1500 controllers, as well as the connection and programming of robots.
Digitalisation to improve virtualisation and simulation capabilities
The expansion of the digitalisation portfolio concentrates on OPC UA functionalities and virtual commissioning. These functionalities improve and simplify the standardised vertical and horizontal communication between machines and devices in the plant. Virtual commissioning allows virtual validation of the interaction between control components and the mechatronic system of a machine or system. Many controller functionalities can now also be simulated and virtual system models can be controlled to synchronise automation and mechanical engineering at a very early stage in the product life cycle to shorten development time.
Diagnostics enhancements to reduce downtime and increase productivity
Teamwork and enhanced diagnostics of machines and systems support standardisation and higher engineering efficiency. The automatic marking of changed objects and the offline mode, together with the enhanced change management in the multiuser server, improves the system-supported synchronisation of changes in the team. For the diagnostics of machines and systems and visualisation of machine sequences, the Simatic ProDiag diagnostics package and the Human Machine Interface has been extended.
