Beckhoff Automation to Exhibit at PHOTON Photovoltaic Technology Show

Beckhoff will bring automation power to the solar power industries in March, 2009

MINNEAPOLIS, February 17, 2009 – Beckhoff Automation will present its PC- and Industrial Ethernet-based control technology for solar power production from March 4 – 6, 2009 at PHOTON’s Photovoltaic Technology Show in Munich, Germany. Beckhoff offers a universal automation and control platform for the entire spectrum of the photovoltaic industry.

At the Beckhoff Automation booth (Hall C1, Booth F8), the focus will be on how the solar power industries can optimize processes to peak performance using Industrial PCs, automation and motion control. Emerging Beckhoff technologies such as EtherCAT® and eXtreme Fast Control (XFC) will also be featured.

The complex demands in the photovoltaic industry - from wafer production and processing, to solar cell manufacturing - require not only sophisticated control solutions for material handling, loading and unloading, transport, palletization and gluing, but also tightly networked manufacturing steps. Beckhoff PC-based control technology, including ultra fast communication via EtherCAT, optimally fulfils these demands for the best in automation for photovoltaic applications.

Open and fully scalable automation technology

With high-performance Industrial PCs, EtherCAT I/O, a large number of fieldbus components, the latest servo drive technology and TwinCAT® automation software, Beckhoff provides engineers with a universal and modular control concept that is ideally suited for every task in the creation of photovoltaic products. The scalability of hardware and software components from Beckhoff makes new tailor-made solutions possible, which can significantly reduce costs and help secure a competitive advantage when compared to applications with conventional controls.

EtherCAT – top performance and flexibility

EtherCAT, the ultra-fast Industrial Ethernet communication system, offers outstanding real-time performance and is ideally suited for use in the photovoltaic industry. EtherCAT demonstrates some of its many advantages in the classification of solar cells: flexible EtherCAT topology options permit the connection of up to 70 classification stations within a plant, each of which can be individually switched off without impairing the operation of the plant. The high speed communication between the I/O terminals and the controller – without special hardware – offers the machine manufacturer a wealth of possibilities: Motion Control with several axes that are synchronized through EtherCAT distributed clocks with nanosecond precision.

Superior Motion Control

Beckhoff Drive Technology, in combination with TwinCAT Motion Control and EtherCAT, offers the perfect solution for high precision positioning requirements, such as during stringing, when the solar cells are soldered together and interconnected.

XFC: premium machine control without a premium cost

Perhaps the ultimate combination of Beckhoff’s leading edge industrial technologies is XFC – eXtreme Fast Control Technology. With XFC, already high performance machine controllers can now have the highest possible reaction speeds. This leads to much improved control quality and faster, more dynamic machine processes. Special auxiliary controllers and expensive measurement technology cards of the past are replaced with standard, cost effective I/O terminals.

For additional Information:
PHOTON`s 4th Photovoltaic Technology Show, Munich, Germany
March 4 - 6, 2009
Beckhoff Booth: Hall C1, Booth F8
www.photon-expo.com

EtherCAT® and TwinCAT® are registered trademarks of Beckhoff Automation.

Beckhoff Automation® provides advanced, open automation products based upon proven technologies so that customers can implement high performance control systems faster and at a lower overall cost than traditional PLC and motion control systems. Beckhoff’s “New Automation Technology” product range includes PC based control, industrial PCs, automation controllers, operator interface, I/O, servo drives and motors. With representation in more than 60 countries, Beckhoff is well positioned to provide global sales and service to its customers. Sales and service are handled directly, with no intermediaries involved to provide faster response and improved communications. www.beckhoffautomation.com

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