Technology News
Helmholz - product specialist for automation projects - enriches the product range of RS Components GmbH
RS, a global provider of product and service solutions for industrial customers, has expanded its line card. The focus is on switches, gateways and secure communication.
The Helmholz products now enrich the RS product range; pictured are Helmholz Managing Directors Karsten Eichmüller (left) and Carsten Bokholt. © Helmholz GmbH & Co. KG
With Helmholz, a product specialist for automation projects has been added to the distributor’s portfolio. With the manufacturer’s modern, intelligent system solutions, the high demands placed on industrial networks in times of increasing automation can be met both reliably and efficiently. Following the very positive sales development through its own distribution channels, Helmholz now aims to take advantage of the additional opportunities RS can offer as a distributor—particularly online.
RS offers Helmholz unique access to a broad range of target groups in development, automation, and maintenance. As a specialist in small and medium quantities, the distributor has particular expertise in addressing customers regularly, understanding their specific needs, and ensuring logistical efficiency. This is complemented by solutions such as process cost optimization that are specifically tailored to this segment.
Helmholz is regarded as an expert in PROFINET and industrial networks. The broad product portfolio ranges from decentralized I/O systems to switches and repeaters, gateways, a NAT gateway/firewall, and secure IoT remote machine access. Helmholz’s goal is to provide the perfect solution for every automation task with market-driven products.
The products added to the RS range focus on switches, gateways, and secure communication. The certified FLEXtra PROFINET switches from Helmholz provide RS customers with powerful building blocks for an attractive network infrastructure. They impress with a compact and robust design as well as integrated transmission security via ring redundancy as an MRP client. UL certification not only confirms the high level of quality but also fulfills a key requirement for export-oriented users. Helmholz managed FLEXtra PROFINET switches fully exploit the capabilities of PROFINET networks. One of the most important functions is the prioritization of PROFINET telegram traffic within the machine network. The switch can distinguish whether a telegram is a web request, an FTP file transfer, a media stream, or a PROFINET telegram. In cases of high transmission load, critical telegrams can therefore be prioritized.
PROFINET is also at the core of the gateway portfolio. HELMHOLZ PROFINET gateways can be used to connect PROFINET networks with Modbus TCP, EtherNet/IP, CANopen, PROFIBUS, and additional PROFINET networks. For parameterization, configuration, and operation, the engineering tool already used by the customer is sufficient. The latest member of the gateway family is the PN/Modbus TCP Coupler for connecting Modbus TCP components to PROFINET networks.
As more PROFIBUS networks are migrated to PROFINET, the need to interconnect separate PROFINET networks is also increasing. This task is handled by the PN/PN Coupler or DP/PN Coupler, which enables data exchange between two PLCs at the I/O level. This straightforward connection eliminates complex CPU-to-CPU communication. As a result, individual machines can be linked into a production line with minimal effort—even if the machines originate from different manufacturers.
The PN/CAN gateway connects CAN devices to PROFINET. A total of five variants are available for different CAN protocols. On the PROFINET network, the PN/CAN gateway operates as a PROFINET I/O device and supports data rates of up to 100 Mbit full duplex; on the CAN bus, speeds of up to 1 Mbit/s are supported. The PN/CAN gateway CANopen is a fully functional CANopen master, supporting network management, SYNC telegrams, node guarding/heartbeat monitoring, and LSS services.
This makes it the ideal solution for connecting drives with CAN bus interfaces to PLC controllers via PROFINET.
Network security is provided by the Wall IE product range. It reliably protects automation networks against unauthorized access. Thanks to individual configuration, the firewall can be easily adapted to the requirements of each machine network. This enables the creation of “conduits” as increasingly required by IEC 62443. In addition, NAT functionality allows machine IP addresses to be standardized, preventing IP address conflicts. The result is structured, micro-segmented networks with small broadcast domains—security and network performance with just a few clicks for DIN-rail mounting.
“Innovative strength, teamwork, and a strong awareness of quality define our company. With these values, we feel we are in good hands with RS. A sales partner that enables the implementation of new technical solutions from concept to production and defines reliable service as a core brand value is an excellent fit for us. We are very much looking forward to our future cooperation,” says Karsten Eichmüller, Managing Director of Helmholz GmbH & Co. KG.
