Fieldbus-independent software applications strengthened.

FieldComm Group has become the twenty third member of the PACTware Consortium. The PACTware application is now available for download through FieldComm Group. When users install PACTware, all currently registered HART Communication Protocol FDI Device Packages will also be installed.

“PACTware has been used for years by engineers to configure individual devices that support FDT/DTM technology. We wanted to provide this same level of support for devices using FDI Device Packages. With PACTware 6.1 support of FDI technology, this desire is now realized,” stated Paul Sereiko, Director Marketing and Product Strategy at FieldComm Group. “By including registered HART FDI Device Packages in FieldComm Group’s PACTware download we’ve made it very easy for end users to configure devices with FDI and evaluate FDI specific features like User Interface Plugins (UIPs).”

With the support of FDI technology in PACTware 6.1, PACTware becomes one of the few manufacturer- and fieldbus-independent software applications to support the two leading device integration technologies, FDI and FDT/DTM, within a single tool.

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@FieldCommGroup @FDTGroup #PAuto #PACTware

Device configuration environment software.

FDT Group's PACTware consortium has released its latest software version, PACTware 6.1, based on the latest FDT3 standard. PACTware 6.1 is one of the first FDT3 stand-alone device configuration environments available. The software tool’s source code is available to the PACTware Consortium membership consisting of 22 automation vendors who offer the FDT-enabled hosting product to the user community at no cost. 

By leveraging the modern FDT3 Unified Environment for intelligent device management, PACTware 6.1 users will enjoy the ability to support their current FDT DTM install base and support modern FDT3 web-based DTMs that are scalable for IIoT architectures. This release also supports integration with FDI Device Packages.

Suppliers of industrial automation systems and devices want to provide solutions that enable the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). To meet their customers’ needs, it is vital for suppliers to enhance their system and device offerings with standards-based, platform-independent, information-driven business models. The new FDT3 standard is accelerating the digital manufacturing journey by enabling an ecosystem of FDT-based solutions providing a unified environment for industrial device management with IT/OT data-driven operations.

“Upgrading to FDT3 is a critical step to serve the best interest of the broad automation market and diverse membership looking for next generation intelligent device management solutions.” States Holger Sack, chairman of the board for PACTware consortium. “The updated PACTware 6.1 application empowers users with the flexibility to deploy their choice of device data model that now supports both FDI and FDT3 DTMs with a simple and recognizable tool to configure a wide range of field components, independent of the manufacturer or protocol deployed. This minimizes the amount of work involved, ensures application safety, and reduces training requirements.”

In addition to the new FDT3 standard that fully describes the FDT Desktop environment and FDT web-based device DTM, the standard also defines a cloud-based FDT Server environment for distributed control. The new FDT3 DTM and FDT Server are OPC UA- and -mobile ready without any coding, allowing users an easy to use and scalable migration path of OT data to IT enterprise applications.

“The PACTware consortium is a leader for products based on the FDT standard. The solution is widely deployed today as the most popular FDT Desktop point-to-point application simplifying configuration, operation, and maintenance practices,” observes Steve Biegacki, FDT Group managing director. “By supporting FDT3, PACTware 6.1 future proofs its platform and expands integration capabilities while supporting the millions of device DTMs in service today. Additionally, it creates a path for the FDT Server environment providing workforce mobility solutions, as well as data harmonization for enterprise-wide applications. This is a huge win for the industry."

@FDTGroup #PAuto 

Let the future begin!

The latest version of software, PACTware 5.0, has been announced by the PACTware Consortium. This software is fully based on the FDT2 standard. It is the first FDT2 product from the organisation consisting of 22 member companies in the device and automation solution industry.

The consortia members commonly develop an FDT based Frame Application and have chosen to leverage the improved performance and security offered by the FDT2 technology. PACTware 5.0 is open source to the members of the PACTware Consortium.

“The addition of FDT2 is an essential step as we serve the best interest of the broad automation market and our diverse membership. As an FDT2 Frame Application, PACTware enables users to benefit from increased performance and security associated with the technology while maintaining compatibility with previous PACTware projects”, states Holger Sack, leader of marketing for the PACTware consortium. “In addition, PACTware has been upgraded for the future by employing .Net as the underlying technology thereby ensuring the investment and maintainability of PACTware 5.0 for years to come. The .Net technology not only provides greater independence from the hardware platform, it also opens up new opportunities to design a more advanced graphical user interface. In the future this will, for example, enable intuitive finger operations similar to those used on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.”

“The PACTware consortium has always been a leader for products based on the FDT standard. We are delighted to now have PACTware supplying product based on our latest standard, FDT2.” observes Glenn Schulz, Managing Director of the FDT Group. “As a result of this PACTware release, we have now reached the tipping point - the majority of FDT based applications in the marketplace are now at the FDT2 technology level.”

Integrating the PACTware Configuration Software for versatile programming options!

Moore Industries is now a member of PACTware, a consortium dedicated to developing and maintaining manufacturer and fieldbus-independent software for operating field instruments. The company has integrated PACTware into the range of monitoring and configuration options available with the new THZ³ and TDZ³ Dual Input Smart HART Temperature Transmitters.

The THZ³ and TDZ³ transmitters are both HART and DTM (Device Type Manager) programmable. They can be easily programmed and interrogated from anywhere at any time on a 4-20mA loop. This can be done with a standard HART handheld communicator, a HART-compatible host or with any FDT (Field Device Tool)-compliant host or program such as PACTware utilizing Moore Industries’ DTM.

The PACTware software can be downloaded directly from Moore Industries website and can be used with any manufacturer’s DTM. This utility provides comprehensive advanced programming capability for thorough transmitter configuration.

The THZ³ and TDZ³ are the first Moore Industries products to use an FDT-complaint host with a DTM, which lays the foundation for utilizing PACTware with all future smart transmitters. Using an FDT host such as PACTware with a DTM is quickly becoming a worldwide standard as customers search for a universal method of programming, monitoring and diagnosing their field instruments. FDT/DTM technologies eliminate problems caused by vendors having different software programming packages or programming for multiple protocols (such as HART, FOUNDATION™ Fieldbus and PROFIBUS PA).

• PACTware is a consortium of 24 process control vendors who jointly maintain and distribute the PACTware FDT Frame Application to their end users. Leading industry research group ARC Advisory Group wrote in October 2014 that “the development of PACTware has given a major boost to FDT adoption in automation.” Partnering with PACTware allows Moore Industries to be on the cutting edge of developments in the monitoring and configuration of field instruments and applications.

Roadshow series on device management!

The FDT Group and PACTware are working closely together to host a series of user seminars focusing on device operation management to educate plant engineers on easier solutions to commission, diagnose and maintain HART, FOUNDATION Fieldbus and PROFIBUS devices over the device life cycle with a single tool.

The no charge seminars will be given by PACTware experts who will be making four European stops:

• Frankfurt, Germany; Oct. 21,
• Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Oct. 22,
• Antwerpen, Belgium; Oct.23,
• Ludwigshafen, Belgium; Oct. 24,
to broaden the scope and awareness of PACTware.

PACTware is a manufacturer and fieldbus-independent software organization for operating field instruments. The PACTware organization uses the FDT standardized interface that supports device integration between their Frame Application, PACTware and the individual device via a DTM (Device Tool Manager). Users no longer need to use several different manufacturer-specific configuration applications to access device information from different field instruments.

The half day events will kick off with an overview of the technology, followed by user-oriented, vendor neutral workshops focusing on operation and maintenance benefits. Attendees will have the chance to learn how configuration of a device is made easier and how advanced diagnostics enhances predictive maintenance and troubleshooting – while at the same time- increasing productivity and making life of a plant engineer a little easier. In addition to the tutorial, the event will allow attendees to network with their peers and PACTware experts at table tops showcasing the latest equipment available from leading manufacturers.

Each event will conclude with a multi-vendor demonstration showing attendees first-hand how PACTware, a Frame Application, enhances device operation through the entire life cycle of a device. The demo features numerous application examples, showing how device access can be facilitated and accelerated by using a single tool for all networks and field devices communicating via HART, PROFIBUS and FOUNDATION Fieldbus protocols.

The events are sponsored by the leading manufacturers in the industry including; Bopp & Reuther, ICS, Foxboro by Schneider, KROHNE, Pepperl+Fuchs and VEGA exhibiting their FDT enabled equipment on table tops.

Manufacturer-Independent device operation for #PAuto going stateside

PACTware™ on the Road Again

This October, PACTware experts will be travelling to the US to broaden the scope and awareness of PACTware. The seminars will focus on the benefits of PACTware, the group will showcase how the frame application will enhance device operation through the entire life cycle of a device.

The Roadshow is making two stops:
• Houston, TX; Oct. 17, 2012
• New Orleans, LA; Oct. 22, 2012

The half day events will kick off with an overview of the technology, followed by user-oriented, vendor neutral workshops focusing on operation and maintenance benefits including:
• Showcasing how configuration of a device is made easier,
• Illustrating how advanced diagnostics enhances predictive maintenance and troubleshooting – while at the same time- increasing productivity and making life of a plant engineer a little easier.
• Network with their peers and PACTware experts at table tops showcasing the latest equipment available from leading manufacturers.

A multi-vendor demo wall will be on display, featuring numerous application examples, showing first-hand how device access can be considerably facilitated and accelerated by using a single tool for all networks and field devices communicating via HART, PROFIBUS and FOUNDATION Fieldbus.
Lunch will be included with the complementary registration.

The events are sponsored by the leading manufacturers in the industry including; Bopp & Reuther, CodeWrights, ICS, Invensys Foxboro Eckardt, KROHNE, Pepperl+Fuchs, Trebing & Himstedt and VEGA exhibiting their FDT based devices on table tops. The Roadshow is supported by the FDT Group and Softing (providing its FF link master).

New release PACTware

PACTware Release 4.1 is now available for download free of charge. Using the new Topology Scan Addin of this release it is possible to automaticly build a project of a given plant for the first time. Even communication structures consisting of e.g. Profibus lines with remote I/O systems can be scanned. In order to get a complet project of a plant all device type managers (DTMs) of the used devices must be included in the device catalog of PACTware.

If there are DTMs missing for some Profibus or HART devices or if you want to work with a minimum of DTMs it is a good idea to use generic DTMs provided by ICS. Using Generic HART DTM 5 and Profibus PA Profile 3 DTM only a plant can be parameterized and observed in a wide range. All Profibus PA devices must be switched to " profile mode" then.


The following new features are included in PACTware 4.1:

• the Diagnostic Scan Add-In (called "Device State Manager Add-In" in release 4.0), that shows and logs NAMUR status information of devices, is now implemented non-modal. Actions with DTMs can now be executed while a basic condition monitoring is running in the background.
• online help and manuals are provided now in 5 languages: German, English, French, Spanish and Russian
• in addition the graphical user interface can be displayed in Nederlands and Japanese language
• a DTM can now be easily replaced by another DTM within the project tree

US Transmitter

Ultra-Smart! Ultra-Friendly!
Two-wire non-contact ultrasonic transmitter

The new Echotel® 355 two-wire, loop-powered, non-contact ultrasonic transmitter of Magnetrol International measures liquid level, volume and open channel flow with unsurpassed performance and ease of operation. This new low-cost, integral mount unit features a powerful 60 kHz ultrasonic transducer and advanced digital signal processing to reliably measure out to a 6m maximum range.

It can be configured locally, with the menu-driven four-pushbutton LCD display, or remotely, with HART® digital communications or PACTware™, with the extra capability of capturing echo wave forms, viewing trend data, diagnostic conditions and all transmitter configuration parameters.

The integral mount electronics are housed in either a cast aluminum housing or Lexan® thermoplastic housing. The intelligent electronics analyze the ultrasonic echo profile, apply temperature compensation, reject echoes from false targets, and then processes the true echo from the liquid surface. This results in an extremely reliable measurement even when applications difficulties like turbulence and false echoes exist.

Volume and open channel flow configuration has never been easier than with the Echotel Model 355 Transmitter. Volume applications are easily configured by selecting the tank shape and inputting 1 – 3 tank dimensions. Open channel flow configurations are accomplished by merely selecting one of the 35 flume and weir curves stored in the transmitter, and setting multipliers for the resettable and non-resettable 7-digit flow totalisers.

"Never has our user interface been friendlier, configuration more convenient and signal processing more accurate and intelligent."