The Profibus Association of Australia + New Zealand (PAANZ) is one of 25 Regional PI Associations (RPA) around the world representing the Profibus International (PI) organization. PROFIBUS and PROFINET International (PI) is the largest automation community in the world and responsible for PROFIBUS and PROFINET, the two most important enabling technologies in automation today.
The common interest of our global network of vendors, developers, System Integrators and end users covering all industries lies in promoting, supporting and using PROFIBUS and PROFINET.
Regionally and globally about 1,700 member companies are working closely together to the best automation possible. No other fieldbus organization in the world has the same kind of global influence and reach. That’s why PROFIBUS and PROFINET are world leaders in industrial networking.
As local adoption levels of Profibus digital communication continues to grow dramatically, so too has industry’s need for more information and technical support.
Responding to that need, PI provides an educational and a networking platform for instance, access to industry downloads, online courses and webinars to face to face events such as: expo.s, seminars, conference, training. All which are designed to provide end-users, engineers and product vendors with the opportunity to learn, gather and participate in an interesting and interactive information exchange.
PAANZ is responsible for all activities within Australia + New Zealand linked to the marketing and promotion of Profibus and Profinet brands and technologies.
Profibus International Competence Centre
Another PAANZ initiative has been the formation of Australia’s first accredited Profibus International Competence Centre (PICC) in partnership with Pentair Australia. The PICC supports companies in new product development and provides technical support for end-users and Profibus manufacturers.
A comprehensive range of internationally accredited training programmes are held regularly at the Smithfield based (Sydney) Technical Centre and onsite upon request. As the demand for automation grows in Australia and throughout Asia Pacific, the PAA will continue to play a major role in supporting and spreading the technology throughout the region first developed in 1989, has evolved over the last 20 years to become the world’s most successful fieldbus protocol.
In Australia, the Profibus International Competence and Training Centre (PICC/PITC) was established in partnership with Emerson Automation Solutions to supply these technical services.
The Sydney-based PICC/PITC has qualified Profibus experts on stand-by to answer troubleshooting questions relating to all technical issues. On-site visits can also be arranged at short notice.
The PICC is Australia’s only Competence Centre fully accredited by PI and therefore qualified to offer installation certification and commissioning services as well as certified Profibus Training. This ensures that networks comply with international standards and work properly before commissioning.
The automation centre located at Emerson’s Milperra offices has a Test Laboratory for certification of Profibus devices. This enables vendors to have their products tested on Profibus compatibility.
The centre also contains a wide variety of control systems and instrumentation for potential Profibus users and suppliers to become acquainted with the technology using their devices of choice in a user-friendly environment.
The interactive model demonstrates the flexibility and ease with which instruments seamlessly transfer data between Profibus DP (Distributed Peripherals) and Profibus PA (Process Automation), and from instruments to control systems and back.