Softing Industrial unveils "plantPerfect Monitor" at ACHEMA 2024, a condition monitoring solution that gives plant operators centralized, real-time visibility into industrial communication networks.
Industrial plant operators have long struggled with fragmented visibility into their communication networks. Softing Industrial is addressing that challenge head-on with the launch of "plantPerfect Monitor," an innovative solution for comprehensive condition monitoring of industrial communication networks and installed systems. The product made its debut at ACHEMA 2024, one of the world's leading trade fairs for process engineering and chemical technology.
"plantPerfect Monitor" provides comprehensive condition monitoring of industrial communication networks. © Softing Industrial
"plantPerfect Monitor" provides detailed insights into the status of industrial networks that were previously difficult to obtain without specialized expertise. Version 1.00 is designed for use with Softing's hardware gateway "smartLink HW-DP," which enables controller-independent access to PROFIBUS DP networks. This is a critical distinction. Traditional monitoring approaches often require tying into specific controllers or proprietary systems. By decoupling the monitoring function from the controller layer, Softing gives maintenance teams the flexibility to observe network health without disrupting active control processes or depending on any single vendor's infrastructure.
Central access and comprehensive monitoring for PROFIBUS devices
"plantPerfect Monitor" provides centralized access to both real-time and historical data, a combination that matters more than it might sound. Real-time data tells you what is failing right now. Historical data tells you what has been degrading over weeks or months, often before it triggers an alarm. Having both in a single interface means maintenance teams can shift from reactive troubleshooting to genuinely predictive maintenance strategies.
Through a live inventory feature, the solution provides an overview of all installed PROFIBUS devices and continuously monitors the status of each connected device, including PROFIBUS diagnostic messages. This eliminates the tedious manual work of cataloging field devices and cross-referencing error codes. Convenient access is provided via a standard web browser, which means no special client software needs to be installed on individual workstations. Access can also be shared across multiple organizations and users, making it practical for large plants where different teams or even external contractors need visibility into network health.
The solution is deployed using a container architecture on a Windows workstation. Containerization simplifies deployment and updates while keeping the application isolated from other system processes, reducing the risk of conflicts or unintended side effects on the host machine.
Softing Industrial will launch an extended version of "plantPerfect Monitor" for status monitoring of PROFINET devices in the fourth quarter of 2024. That version will be compatible with Softing's "smartLink HW-PN" hardware gateway, broadening the solution's applicability to Ethernet-based industrial networks that are increasingly common in modern plant architectures.
Modern technology for plant operators and maintenance personnel
"plantPerfect Monitor" is built specifically for plant operators and maintenance personnel, not IT specialists. That design philosophy shows in the browser-based interface and the way diagnostic information is presented in context rather than as raw data streams. It enables efficient monitoring of industrial networks and facilities without requiring deep expertise in network protocols or fieldbus engineering.
With state-of-the-art technology, "plantPerfect Monitor" meets the requirements of a modern and safe Operational Technology (OT) application, setting new standards in condition monitoring. The emphasis on OT-appropriate design is worth noting. Consumer IT tools and enterprise monitoring platforms often struggle in industrial environments because they are not built to handle the unique characteristics of fieldbus networks, deterministic communication requirements, and the long operating lifecycles typical of industrial plants.
Information about "plantPerfect Monitor": https://industrial.softing.com/products/network-management-tools/plantperfect-monitor.html
Information about Softing Industrial at ACHEMA 2024: https://industrial.softing.com/achema.html
https://industrial.softing.com
About Softing Industrial
Softing connects disparate automation components to feed data from the shop floor to the cloud for control and analytics. The company's products enable the monitoring and diagnosis of communication networks and thus ensure a reliable data flow. In this way, they create the basis for the optimization of production processes. For more information: https://industrial.softing.com
Softing Industrial Automation GmbH
Richard-Reitzner-Allee 6
D-85540 Haar
WIDDER Stephanie
Phone: +49 (89) 456 56-365
Fax: +49 (89) 456 56-399
[email protected]