The training actually splits into three separate courses:

• Certified PROFIBUS Installer Course (1-day), held on Monday 27th September 2010.
• PROFIBUS Commissioning & Maintenance Course (1-day), held on Tuesday 28th September 2010.
• Certified PROFIBUS Engineer Course (3-day), starting on Wednesday 29th and finishing at midday on Friday 1st October 2010

Each course can be taken separately, or they can be joined together to give up to a full week of training. However please note that the Installer Course is a pre-requisite for all the other courses and the Commissioning & Maintenance Course is a pre-requisite for the Engineer Course.

Contact Helen Christopher at Burkert Fluid Controls for booking information
Tel: 01453 731353, Email: helen.christopher@burkert.com

This two-day event is totally focused on the users of PROFIBUS & PROFINET technology and incorporates a programme which includes in-depth technical presentations running along side practical workshops where you can learn the basics and get hands-on exposure to the tools and equipment used in real installations.

The multi-stream programme has proved to be an excelent format that can lead new Users through the basic technology to its use in real world industrial and process applications and at the same time provide experienced users with the latest developments and applications. An exhibition is also running in parallel to the conference providing the oportunity to talk to manufacturers, equipment suppliers, trainers and consultants.

One of the most important aspects is that the conference provides the opportunity to talk to others in the industry who have experience in using this technology. In my opinion there is no better way to get exposure to PROFIBUS and PROFINET technology and to quickly differentiate the realities from the marketing hype.

Follow this link to the conference web site for the conference programme and registration detals.

Practical Aspects of PROFIBUS & PROFINET in Factory Automation. Held at Siemens offices in Manchester on Tuesday 27th October.

Practical Aspects of PROFIBUS in Process. Held at the Hilton Strathclyde Hotel near Glasgow, Scotland on Thursday 29th October.

Practical Aspects of PROFIBUS & PROFINET in Factory Automation.
Preliminary outline for the day:

10:00 Introduction including PROFIBUS and PROFINET Update, Mark Freeman
10:20 Practical steps for a successful PROFIBUS Project, Derek Lane
11:00 Introduction to Profinet, Andy Verwer
11.40 Coffee
12.00 Using Industrial Ethernet Networks for PROFINET, Alan Bollard
12:40 Lunch
13:10 Commissioning & Maintenance – Fault finding demonstration, Andy Verwer
13:50 Coffee
14:05 Profinet Configuration including the integration of Profibus and Profisafe, Peter Brown
14:45 Summary and the next steps, Andy Verwer
15:00 Questions and Close

Practical Aspects of PROFIBUS in Process.
Preliminary outline for the day:

10:00 Introduction, Gareth Johnston
10:10 Profibus for Process Introduction, Gareth Johnston
10:30 Profibus components (Connectors – Linking devices – Hazardous areas), Mark Cargill
11:10 Coffee
11:30 Project design and management, Tony Grassby
12:10 Commissioning a Profibus segment – Demonstration, Mark McCormick
12:50 Lunch
13:50 PROFIBUS maintenance and fault-finding – Demonstration, Andy Verwer
14:30 Remote access to diagnostic information – Demonstration, Andy Smith
15:10 Diagnostic drilldown to CMMS – Demonstration, Gareth Johnston
15:50 Summary and Questions – Close, Gareth Johnston

Places can be booked through Ann Squirrell at The PROFIBUS Group.

The simulation runs on Windows XP and Vista and can be used to visualize the signals as they pass along the cable. You can also study reflections and see waht happens when the end of line terminator doesn’t match the cable characteristic impedance.

Go to the downloads page to find the application as a zipped installation file (only 5.5Mb). Unzip the files and run “setup” to install the application. There is no help file yet but it should be fairly obvious what the buttons do. Eventually we will update the application to allow stub lines and different cable characteristics to be used. In the mean time have a play and see what goes on inside the cable.

The Conference and Exhibition was attended by about 70 delegates on each of the two days. Andy Verwer would like to sincerely thank the PROFIBUS Group and all the conference delegates for their fantastic support and good wishes for Verwer Training & Consultancy Ltd.

Presentations from the conference and workshops can be downoloaded from the Conference web site

Andy Verwer is making a presentation and practical demonstration “PROFIBUS PA Fault-Finding and Maintenance Tools” at the event and will be available for questions and discussion throughout and after the event. A printable version of the seminar presentation can be downloaded here: PROFIBUS PA fault finding tools.

Places can be booked via the UK PROFIBUS web site.

Featuring a comprehensive, multi-stream educational programme that will lead Users through PROFIBUS and PROFINET from the basic technology through to its use in real world industrial and process applications, this two-day Conference features application-oriented technical sessions and hands-on workshops presented by technology experts and experienced users and systems builders drawn from a wide variety of application areas.

Covering the latest developments in PROFIBUS, PROFINET and PROFIsafe technology for factory and process automation, the programme places great emphasis on serving the needs of the User community, i.e. companies that own, operate, design, build or maintain manufacturing facilities and process plant. The aim is to assist companies making the transition from conventional to fieldbus systems as easy (and jargon free) as possible.

These sessions will include audience participation and so there will be opportunities to explore for yourself how PROFIBUS and PROFINET equipment and techniques are used in practice. The carefully organised schedule means that you can attend hands-on sessions without having to miss an important presentation.

The event is supported by a free of charge exhibition with interactive displays and technology demonstrations from the UK’s PROFIBUS International Competence Centre and leading product vendors, trainers, consultants and systems integrators.

Verwer Training & Consultancy Ltd are taking a leading role in the conference and hands-on workshops. We will also be demonstrating our training and consultancy equipment as well as our excellent range of products within the accompanying exhibition.

Visit the Conference web site for detailed programme, visitor information and more.

Andy Verwer is making two presentations on Thursday 26th March:

• “Overview of AS-i technology & applications”, from 11:00 to 12:00
• “System design using PROFIBUS & PROFINET technologies” from 12:00 to 13:00

Please feel free to come and ask questions or have a chat at the PROFIBUS or AS-i stand.

Download printable copies of Andy’s presentations here:

• Overview of AS-i technology & applications
• System design using PROFIBUS & PROFINET technologies

Andy Verwer is making a presentation “System design using PROFIBUS & PROFINET technologies” at the Seminar and Skills Theatre within the exhibition from 12:45 to 13:45 on Thursday 11th March. Please feel free to come and ask questions or have a chat at the PROFIBUS stand.

Download Andy’s presentation here.

The accreditation and inspection procedure is strictly defined by the PROFIBUS International Quality of Service agreement and includes a full audit of the available equipment, demonstration and development equipment as well as an in-depth technical examination of the knowledge of the Centre’s staff. Another external expert will need to evaluate the centre and then full PICC status is gained.

The PICC in foundation is also undergoing accreditation as a PROFIBUS International Training Centre, PITC, ready to deliver Certified PROFIBUS Installer and Engineer training.

Follow the link to the link to the Regional PROFIBUS Assocation for Brazil and Latin America.

César Cassiolato (left) - Presidente da Associação Profibus Brasil América Latina and Dennis Brandão (right) - FIPAI together with Andy Verwer in the accredited training centre