Mr. Rippen, what exactly is behind 'Open Integration'?
Rippen: Inevery real system, numerous automation components have to be combined. This always means challenges when it comes to integrating them - whether they come from one manufacturer or different ones. As part of Open Integration, we want to avoid these integration risks as far as possible by testing and documenting the interoperability and integration of all practice-relevant components on a digital network, as agreed with our partners. We also provide recommendations in the 'Integration Summary' and create transparency in the direction of "What works without problems?" and "Where should you be careful?". Until now, comparable transparency could only be achieved through extensive factory acceptance tests.

Why does the industry need such a program?
Rippen: There is a lot of talk about Industry 4.0 and digitalization, but the prerequisites at field level are only partially in place! The standard signals of IEC 60381 from the early 1980s dominate in process plants, and even in new installations, the various fieldbuses of IEC 61158 are still a long way from becoming established. Even today, the majority of new installations are still implemented using 4 to 20 mA technology. In process automation, there is a gap between the high expectations of a digitalized future and analogue instrumentation at field level, both for sensors and actuators. The problem is that what is installed today will determine the possibilities in the coming decades. With Open Integration, we want to close gaps in test coverage and thereby also strengthen the acceptance of digitalization in the field.

Which partners support the program?
Rippen: AUMA Riester, HIMA Paul Hildebrandt, Honeywell Process Solutions, Mitsubishi Electric, Pepperl+Fuchs, Rockwell Automation, R. Stahl and Schneider Electric have been involved since the official launch at the end of 2015. Phoenix Contact and Flowserve are new participants. Other partners are very welcome.

What does the cooperation between the partners - who are often enough competitors - look like?
Rippen: Trustful and in the interests of the customer. Even if we are in competition with each other, as a provider we want to offer our customers a functioning solution. However, this can only be achieved by working together. However, cooperation does not prevent us from competing intensively in our respective fields of activity.

Can you outline the project process?
Rippen: Together with a system partner, we first define the target application for a joint topology. We then talk to infrastructure and instrumentation partners to see whether they can and want to make a relevant contribution. In this way, we use the expertise of the various companies to specify and select components and field devices. The specified topology is then set up with all components as a test system, on which the integration of the complete fieldbus infrastructure with the specific automation system is then tested intensively. Once the tests have been completed, we document the results in great detail and formally release them as a joint recommendation for our customers.

What are the results so far?
Rippen: So far, we have successfully tested four different automation topologies and published them as recommendations. We are currently working on further topologies, starting with the definition of the content, setting up the necessary test systems, carrying out the tests themselves and documenting and drawing up the specific recommendations. In future, we also want to involve more selected customers directly in the definition of the tests.