Karl Büttner about Ethernet-APL

How has the market responded?

We’ve seen strong momentum. This is translating into high-volume orders for our instruments – not just from the chemical, oil & gas, mining, minerals & metals industries but from others too, the life sciences sector in particular. We also have a number of big food & beverage industry customers who are getting into Ethernet-APL. These hygiene-sensitive industries tend not to have Ex zones – the applications for which Ethernet-APL was originally designed. But the plant operators there are nevertheless keen to leverage the full potential of our intelligent field instruments to optimize their processes. For example, they are looking for ways to improve their steam generation processes and thus achieve major energy savings.

Was there anything post-launch that really surprised you?

Yes – the exceptionally strong interest from the life sciences. There really aren’t any companies in this sector who are not looking seriously at Ethernet-APL. The background here is that pharmaceuticals companies are increasingly turning to digitalization. It’s part of their strategy to enhance competitiveness by reducing costs and servicing their markets with greater agility and reliability. At the same time, this highly regulated industry is looking for improvements in tamper-proofness and quality. For example, Ethernet-APL makes it easier to parameterize instruments and then lock them down with write protection to prevent unauthorized changes. When it comes to quality, device verification delivers key benefits, especially in batch operation where it can be automatically triggered after each step or at the end of every batch.

What’s next for Ethernet-APL at Endress+Hauser?

Two years ago, we conducted successful load tests with automation systems from Honeywell, ABB and Siemens. Most recently, our sensors proved their interoperability in further load tests using an Emerson control system. For this, we integrated Endress+Hauser sensors into the control system along with instruments from Pepperl+Fuchs, R. Stahl, Phoenix Contact and Samson. We are also working on offering more measurement principles with PROFINET-APL. For example, we are planning to launch our PROFINET-APL-based Liquiphant point level switch at the end of this year. And last but not least, we are focusing on the all-important area of functional safety. Here, work on standardizing the PROFIsafe safety protocol is almost complete, so we will soon be able to offer Ethernet-APL instruments for safety-critical installations.