By Tim Parmer, Siemens Energy and Automation
Safety PLCs combine the functionality of a control system with a safety system in one controller platform, allowing manufacturers to greatly reduce machine life cycle costs. An advantage of combining automation and safety is the ability to use one programming language for both control and safety circuits logic which reduce the training required and simplifies the coordination of automation reaction to the safety stops. Safety PLCs help reduce wiring time by enabling safety networks to monitor and/or control all of the devices on a single safety network. Troubleshooting is often cut by 60-80% since the status of each networked safety device is easily displayed the same HMI as the automation statuses.
Read the whitepaper: Trusting Safety PLCs