CC-Link is a family of open network technologies that have a 10 year pedigree of growth in the global market, having now reached an installed base of over 8 million devices. A key part of this family are the CC-Link IE (Industrial Ethernet) variants, being the only open Ethernet based networks that offer gigabit performance.
CC-Link IE Field was introduced in 2009 to offer gigabit Ethernet performance between controllers and field devices such as I/O, inverters, HMI and other machine components. The CLPA has now announced a significant extension to the capabilities of CC-Link IE Field, by adding a fully IEC 61508 SIL 3 compliant safety protocol layer. This means that with a single open Ethernet based network, system designers can integrate conventional and safety control. Further, compatible safety devices can connect directly to the network, reducing cost and increasing flexibility. Rather than having to implement a costly independent safety network, designers can now simply add safety devices as required, using the existing CC-Link IE Field network infrastructure. To maintain the vital safety control, the safety devices are operated by a dedicated safety controller that works independently of the main network controller.
John Browett, Acting General Manager of CLPA Europe commented, “CC-Link IE Field is a groundbreaking technology that puts CC-Link ahead of the market by virtue of its unmatched gigabit performance. The addition of the safety capabilities further maintains that leadership position. In any safety application, dependability and performance are paramount. Machine builders and system designers can choose CC-Link IE Field knowing that its response to emergencies will be immediate. When life or limb is at stake, milliseconds can make the difference between a narrow escape and a serious or even fatal injury.”
Browett further commented, “While IEC 61508 does not attempt to completely eliminate risk from a system, it attempts to mitigate it to the lowest possible level based on what is considered acceptable for the application. CC-Link IE Field provides a flexible safety solution that meets the needs of a wide range of applications, independent of their level of risk.”

“We usually try to promote CC-Link as being “The Non-Stop Open Network™, to explain how its technical features translate directly into business benefits by being able to maintain productivity even in adverse operating conditions. However, this new safety technology demonstrates that sometimes it’s just as important to stop rather than go.”

The safety capabilities further demonstrate CLPA’s commitment to developing CC-Link’s core technologies. CC-Link IE has shown a steady history of advancement. Originally launched in 2007 for controller level networking (CC-Link IE Control), since then CLPA has shown a track record of driving gigabit performance to all levels of the hierarchy. Further developments are planned for the near future, including an Ethernet based motion control network.

CC-Link is accepted as being the leading technology for the Asian market. As demand for safety functions increases in this market, it’s clear that European companies will also be implementing it to allow them to compete in that vital region.

A Ukrainian winemaker is using CC-Link to help automate and expand the production of its world class wines and spirits. With domestic consumption booming, and export markets opening up, the Shabo vineyard in the Odessa region is combining high technology with the delicate art of fine wine production.
Grapes have been cultivated in Shabo since the arrival of the ancient Greeks. Five hundred years ago the region was colonised by the Turks, then Swiss immigrants brought their artisan skills from about 1822. The mild climate, warm air of the Steppe, sandy soil and unique microclimate of the Black Sea coast provide perfect conditions for grape cultivation. Like Bordeaux and Burgundy Shabo is on the “grape latitude” – between 46° and 47° North.
In 2004 the winery was completely converted with modern European equipment which has been combined with ancient cellars and wine storages with the objective of producing wines and brandies as fine as any within the last 200 years.
An ongoing programme of investment has seen the creation of full-cycle production: from cultivation of grapes, through storage and seasoning to bottling, as well as distillation for spirits and mixing for vermouth. Currently it has capacity to process 20 thousand tons of grapes in a season, producing up to 45million bottles of wine and 25million bottles of brandy, using the delicate ‘cold bottling’ method.
All stages of Shabo wine production are focussed on preserving the grapes’ taste, colour and aroma in the wine. So harvesting is by hand, allowing selection of the best. Then the grapes are subjected to the various processes of winemaking, maturing blending and bottling.
However the viticulturists at Shabo are keen to embrace the most modern automation technologies to ensure their increasing production is both efficient and quality focussed. In October 2011, for instance they installed a high tech system to maintain preset temperatures in both the production and maturing areas and also to measure the level of wine in the holding tanks. As well as this, the new system monitors the pumping activities of the refrigeration stations and coolant temperature. This automates a previously manual task that was time consuming and required considerable concentration to ensure accurate recording and thorough analysis.
The opportunity was also taken to integrate several processes that were already individually automated into one unified system. For data signaling and communication around the system CC-Link was chosen because of its ability to communicate easily with devices from a wide range of manufacturers. It was also noted CC-Link can be quickly installed and is highly reliable; two points that meant disruption to production would be minimized.
The architecture of the system is based on a supervisory level computer equipped with twin monitors and operator panels running a SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) program. This is supported by a production management control system based on five PLCs (programmable logic controllers) communicating via two CC-Link networks.
These collect and process data from numerous process floor sensors monitoring temperature, humidity, tank levels and valve settings. In total there are 256 analog and digital inputs and 152 outputs (all digital) in the CC-Link system. And it is planned that the system will be regularly expanded in stages in the coming years.
One of the key advantages of CC-Link in this situation is that if a section of the system is taken off-line , the data signals will automatically re-route themselves through alternative wiring routes so that overall control is never lost. Similarly, the system can be expanded simply by plugging new devices or sub-systems into the existing wiring; signal routing is instantly and automatically optimized and communications are never interrupted.
The winemakers already have plans to increase the number of holding tanks fitted with monitoring sensors and automated pumping stations as production is increased in order to meet growing demand.
The wine market is promising for Ukrainian producers, because consumption volumes are steadily growing. Currently, the wine market in the Ukraine is about 17.6m decalitres of wine or US$ 800m. Experts believe that annual growth of wine consumption for the next several years will be around 17.5%. This is attributable to the increasing adoption of European lifestyle choices, namely a switch from vodka to wine, and to the growing wealth of the region.
Additionally, export opportunities are opening up rapidly. Wine drinkers around the world are keen to try wines from new regions; Shabo has recently opened a Ukrainian Wine Cultural Centre, and has been included in Europe’s first wine cultural routes development map as drawn up by the Council of Europe, European commission, UNESCO and representatives of European wine industry.

ENDS

The CC-Link Partner Association (CLPA) has just released a new “Gateway to China” (G2C) programme video; based on the recent webinar of the same subject, it should be of great interest to any company selling into China or planning to approach the market.

The webinar video is hosted by John Browett, CLPA Acting General Manager, who provides a fascinating overview of the Chinese automation market from its potential, to background on the Asian network of choice, CC-Link, growth sectors and practical advice on how to make headway in the market. This advice includes information on how the G2C campaign will assist with product development, technical support and local sales opportunities.

Watch it here: (Click)

Although at first glance it may seem to be the case, membership of the CC-Link Partners Association is not restricted to vendors of CC-Link equipment.

Other interested parties such as users can join the association free of charge as Registered Members. These make up a growing and significant proportion of the membership.

Like all other members, users gain free access to the latest versions of all the CC-Link specifications, and are kept up to date on all the latest news about the standard and about the association itself.

Add to this the extensive training opportunities available to Registered Members, together with the chance to see all the latest CC-Link equipment in action at numerous seminars and trade shows, and the benefits of membership begin to mount up.

Even if you are only considering using CC-Link for your next industrial networking project, why not consider signing up?

You have nothing to lose!

The CC-Link IE standard boasts an ever-growing list of partner products, offering builders of industrial Ethernet networks increasing flexibility in creating standards-compliant installations capable of gigabit-per-second performance.

The CC-Link IE Controller Network has been designed specifically for high-speed (1Gbit/s) deterministic Ethernet communications. And to help realise this aim, network designers can use the latest state-of-the-art Mitsubishi iQ controllers equipped with a dedicated CC-Link IE Controller Network interface module to create high-speed and high-capacity networks. Multiple suitably equipped iQ systems can be used together, enabling the construction of networks that exploit CC-Link’s increased reliability brought about by decentralised control.

Alternatively, for those who do not require the functionality afforded by a state-of-the-art PLC, industrial PCs can be used to control the network (either alone or in tandem with PLCs) so long as they are equipped with a Mitsubishi CC-Link IE Controller Network board. These PCI form factor boards come complete with their own CC IE Control utility that allows settings such as channel numbers and station numbers to be configured simply in the familiar PC environment.

Rounding out the options for the CC-Link IE Controller Network, Mitsubishi also produces a communications module for its GOT1000 HMIs, offering users a graphical dimension to network control, with additional network diagnostics embedded for increased reliability.

As the CC-Link IE standard is based on Ethernet, both the CC-Link IE Controller Network and the CC-Link IE Field Network can make use of commercially available Ethernet components, such as cables, connectors, hubs etc. However, there are a number of CC-Link Partner Products that have been produced and tested to ensure that they enhance the reliability of networks, as you might expect of the CC-Link network technology.

These include indoor and outdoor optical fibre cables from Mitsubishi and Nihon Electric Wire & Cable, optical patch cords from Belden Electronics Division and industrial grade switching hubs from Mitsubishi. All these products have been tested and proved to comply with the rigorous performance and quality standards expected of CC-Link Partner Products.

The full list of CC-Link IE Partner Products is continually growing, and can be accessed from the CC-Link Partner Association website.

The announcement of the CC-Link IE Field Network with its 1Gbit/s communications capability was widely welcomed. But some asked: “Who needs gigabit-per-second networking in industrial applications that have traditionally been served by communications speeds at least ten-times slower?”

The short answer is “everybody”. Just as communications speeds have accelerated in all other areas of information technology and networking – both wired and wireless – it was inevitable that Industrial Ethernet would catch up. And, just as commercial Ethernet is moving on into the 10Gbit/s era, the original proponents of Gigabit Ethernet were met with the same cries of “who needs it?” more than a decade ago. Now, no company could contemplate running its IT network at any slower speed.

The advantages of faster communications in an industrial network fall into several different categories. And the most obvious of these is determinism. While it may be acceptable for an office Ethernet to respond in this second or the next, this cannot be accepted for production machinery running at hundreds (if not thousands) of units per hour. With today’s extremely high speed systems, response times in the millisecond or less range are not only the norm, they are expected. Since greater bandwidth provides higher levels of determinism, CC-Link IE’s gigabit performance ensures that even the most demanding systems can be accommodated.

Secondly, as production systems have become ever more sophisticated, the amount of data they are handling in real time has also increased. No longer are a few bits and bytes going back and forth to interlock different production machines. Now thousands of items of data are exchanged as the need to improve flexibility and quality increases. Hence the network technology needs to also offer the bandwidth to cope with this. Once again, CC-Link IE’s gigabit speeds provide a solution.

Finally, reliability is of course critical. CC-Link IE’s ability to use optical fibre means it offers complete immunity to interference in even the most electrically noisy of environments. Not only does this maximise reliability, but it also increases performance, as fewer transmissions need resending due to interference.

So, who needs gigabit-per-second industrial networking?
Just about everybody.

CC-Link/LT is the bit-oriented network that is ideal for applications using sensors and actuators. One of its greatest advantages is its ease of expansion, thanks in no small part to the configuration of its cables and connectors.

CC-Link/LT networks are based on a single four-conductor flat cable that carries both signalling and power to each device. This cable is terminated using a novel “one-touch” connector, which is the key to the speedy installation of networks and devices. Importantly, the flat cable has a mechanically keyed profile that is mirrored in the one-touch connector. This makes connection simple, as incorrect installation is prevented.

The CC-Link/LT one-touch connector can be fitted to the cable using ordinary pliers (although a dedicated fitting tool is also available). This single operation provides reliable connection using insulation-displacement techniques, and the cable has a special viewing window to provide a quick visual indication of correct installation.

With increasing numbers of companies appreciating the benefits of using safety networks as opposed to discrete solutions, the appeal of the CC-Link Safety standard continues to grow. However, one of the most appealing aspects of CC-Link Safety is that in addition to the list of products approved specifically for CC-Link Safety networks, builders can also make use of standard CC-Link cable and CC-Link remote stations.

The CC-Link safety standard enables the construction of networks with up to 42 stations, and there are a number of slave modules available to enable network developers to exploit this capacity to its maximum. For example, Mitsubishi offers safety remote I/O modules with choices of four, eight or 12 I/O lines, enabling great flexibility in the connection of safety devices such as safety E-stop switches and light curtains, while further standard CC-Link slave devices can be connected via these safety modules for additional inputs from sensors, relays and the like.

These safety I/O modules also meet the IEC61508 SIL3 and ISO13849-1 category 4 safety levels, ensuring that networks can be used in all safety applications. Furthermore, in-built diagnostics in each module ensure the highest possible integrity. These include memory diagnosis, circuit block diagnosis and the like, with modules powering down if any fault is detected. So-called “dark” tests (diagnosis of stuck failure of junctions) can diagnose any failure in external safety devices connected to the modules.

Also available for CC-Link Safety networks, Panasonic has developed a novel digital I/O module that simplifies the creation of complex safety circuits. The SF-CL1T264T enables the networking of light curtains and other safety devices with considerably reduced wiring.

The full list of CC-Link Safety Partner Products is continually growing, and can be accessed from the CC-Link Partner Association website.

Makes CC-Link devices compatible with Ethernet/IP and Modbus TCP/IP

ProSoft Technology has been a leader in the field of industrial networking for over 20 years. The company recently introduced a pair of gateway products that offer increased options to companies operating automation systems from multiple vendors. The new gateway products allow either a Modbus TCP/IP or an Ethernet/IP installation to be connected to a CC-Link network. Both products are CC-Link conformance tested.

For more details, please visit:

Prosoft Modbus TCP/IP or Prosoft Ethernet/IP

One of the key features of the CC-Link IE controller network is the use of cyclic communication, which provides both system flexibility and ease of application for the user. This cyclic communication is central to enabling co-ordinated control between the controllers in the network for processes that need deterministic synchronised action.

But how does it work?

In a CC-Link IE controller network, cyclic communication refreshes the control data among all stations on the network at a constant transmission rate by using shared network memory. This shared memory allows up to 4Kbyte of bit-oriented data and up to 256Kbyte of word-oriented data to be shared simultaneously between all the network stations. Each station on the network has its own area of shared memory to which it can write, but each station has access to all data from every station on the network.

Because the CC-Link IE controller network runs at 1Gbit/s, all the stations in the network can be refreshed particularly quickly. For example, a network of 32 stations can be refreshed with 4Kbyte of data in just 60 microseconds.