New release of universal high availability I/O modules, delivered through the PlantPAx system, offers conveniently integrated design, helping customers see more efficient engineering time, consistent operations and optimized footprints
MILWAUKEE, November 16, 2022 — Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, today announced the release of FLEXHA 5000™ I/O family that offers high availability and continued evolution of the PlantPAx Distributed Control System (DCS). Process customers will see more flexibility and reliability, enabling integrated control for their Connected Enterprise® production system, while decreasing total cost of ownership and enhancing productivity through reduced downtime and time to engineer.
The new FLEXHA 5000 input/output (I/O) module, is a cutting edge I/O platform that helps reduce hardware complexity and cost by using a more conveniently integrated design. FLEXHA 5000 I/O modules enhance communication with 1 Gb EtherNet/IP™ network connectivity, offering higher speed and increased bandwidth. Reducing both downtime and engineering time while limiting costs, this platform is designed to be a smarter, more efficient I/O solution.
“Process customers are looking for a modern, reliable and flexible I/O solution to satisfy their basic and process safety control needs, while reducing downtime, minimizing engineering and simplifying configuration and maintenance,” said Dan DeYoung, vice president, product management, Rockwell Automation. “With the range of options this platform offers, customers can see more consistent operations, reduction in downtime and optimized footprints that maximize the return on their assets.”
The FLEXHA 5000 I/O platform in conjunction with PlantPAx allows for integrated control in your Connected Enterprise production system in three key ways:
- Ready for process applications: The FLEXHA 5000 I/O platform helps customers achieve more efficient engineering time through tight integration with an instruction set in the PlantPAx system. Customers can gain support for ControlLogix® 5580 controller redundancy in high availability applications from Studio 5000 Logix Designer® software (version 35 or later) and deliver more consistent operations with increased reliability.
- Flexibility in design and maintenance: The FLEXHA 5000 I/O platform helps customers to optimize their footprint by enabling them to mount up to 24 I/O modules on a single node, vertically or horizontally, and in any module sequence. A reduction in downtime can also be achieved with simplified Removal and Insertion Under Power (RIUP) and easy online changes.
- Available universal I/O option: FLEXHA 5000 I/O modules contain a universal card option that allows for flexibility in I/O choice. Universal I/O simplifies field wiring, reduces spare module requirements and reduces maintenance time. This I/O choice is configurable per channel during runtime as analog (HART capable) or discrete, input or output. Modules can also be configured in simplex or duplex.
"The PlantPAx 5.20 system release builds on our 5.0 platform and features the FLEXHA 5000 Universal I/O, which allows our customers, integrators and OEM partners to leverage our DCS platform in more dynamic ways,” said Jim Winter, global director, process, Rockwell Automation. “The high availability universal I/O improves manufacturing flexibility, reduces cost throughout a project’s lifecycle and provides flexibility for spare parts management.”
In the future, the FLEXHA 5000 I/O platform will allow for integrated safety I/O and base process control I/O to be conveniently mounted in the same rack, which reduces hardware complexity and cost of the PlantPAx system.
The latest release of the PlantPAx DCS and the FLEXHA 5000 I/O module will be available for order in November 2022. To get a preview, visit us at the Technology and Services Showcase at Automation Fair® in Chicago.
About Rockwell Automation
Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. We connect the imaginations of people with the potential of technology to expand what is humanly possible, making the world more productive and more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs approximately 26,000 problem solvers dedicated to our customers in more than 100 countries. To learn more about how we are bringing The Connected Enterprise to life across industrial enterprises, visit www.rockwellautomation.com.
Media Contacts
Chaya Jacobs
Rockwell Automation
414.305.2784
CJacobs@ra.rockwell.com
Automation Fair, Connected Enterprise, ControlLogix, FLEXHA 5000, PlantPAx, Rockwell Automation, Studio 5000 and Studio 5000 Logix Designer are trademarks of Rockwell Automation Inc.
EtherNet/IP is a trademark of ODVA, Inc.
Published November 16, 2022