Portfolio of the migration products

Siemens recognized the significance of migration for process automation at an early point in time, and has been offering a wide range of innovative migration products and solutions for its globally proven systems for many years now. Through consistent extension of this migration offering Siemens has become more and more capable of also modernizing legacy systems from other manufacturers with SIMATIC PCS 7. Right from the start, the principle of Siemens' migration strategy has been to modernize the existing installation step-by-step without completely changing the system – if possible without a plant shutdown or with minimum production downtimes. In this manner, Siemens supports customers' endeavors to achieve long-term safeguarding of investments and maximize return on assets.

Data Base Automation

Siemens' know-how in the migration sector has continuously grown as time has passed. The experience gained in numerous migration projects has been incorporated into new products and technologies which are even more efficient. A good example of this principle is "Database Automation" (DBA). Using DBA and a plug-in interface, it is possible to download the configuration data, and to display and configure them using a standardized user interface.

Thus DBA enables system-supported migration of uniform operator system data from different output systems. The results are uniform software quality, security, and traceability.

The migration products can be categorized as follows:

Step-by-step migration with the right products and services

Typical migration scenarios

The migration path that a user opts for depends on the specific technical and economic factors of each migration project. The migration products offer the modularity and flexibility required to implement different scenarios. Typical migration scenarios which can be implemented using these migration products are described below:

Scenario 1: Replacement of existing HMI system by a SIMATIC PCS 7 operator system

If the HMI (Human Machine Interface) system is technically obsolete, if the stocking of spare parts is too expensive, if it no longer complies with current directives and standards for operator workstations, or if functional expansions are required (e.g. IT integration), it is possible to simply replace the existing HMI system with a SIMATIC PCS 7 operator system. The controller with application software and the process I/O are retained.

Advantages of this migration step:

• Minimum costs
• Clear risk
• Lengthening of service life of the entire plant
• New application possibilities
• Opening of system for IT world

Scenario 2: Expansion of existing plant

The existing plant is initially retained, and is modernized by expanding with further sections/units with SIMATIC PCS 7.

Advantages of this migration step:

• Simple, step-by-step increase in production capacity
• Clear risk
• Introduction of new technologies (e.g. PROFIBUS fieldbus, HMI)
• Opening of system for IT world
• Together with scenario 1, enables process control using a uniform operator system

Scenario 3: Comprehensive modernization

Bottlenecks in the provision of spare parts, insufficient support, and the necessity for functional expansions (e.g. fieldbus technology or IT integration) can also force comprehensive modernization of the old system using the future-oriented SIMATIC PCS 7 process control system. Conversion may also be possible during operation. Further use of the existing I/O level is supported, and the investments made for wiring, hardware components or application engineering are safeguarded.

Advantages of this migration step:

• Increase in performance
• Introduction of new technologies (e.g. PROFIBUS fieldbus, HMI)
• Opening of system for IT world
• Lengthening of service life of the entire plant
• Reduction in number of system suppliers
• Elimination of bottlenecks

Migration spectrum

The migration of own process control systems to SIMATIC PCS 7 is a matter of course for Siemens, and a significant component of the continued supplier/customer relationship. Siemens is additionally able to offer migration solutions for process control systems from other vendors, e.g. for systems from ABB, Bailey or Honeywell.

Siemens works closely with the customer's system integrators when implementing migration projects, for they have the know-how gained over many years and exactly know the plant as well as the customer's requirements. This partnership is a guarantee for the companies operating plants that they will receive an optimum migration solution. A further important aspect is that Siemens supports the migration products as well as the standard products by means of product updating and customer support. A special strength of Siemens compared to other suppliers of migration solutions is the ability to offer customers long-term support through know-how, servicing and provision of components, spare parts and upgrades.

With the future-oriented SIMATIC PCS 7 process control system, innovative migration solutions and services, many years of know-how in process automation and migration, as well as continuous worldwide servicing, Siemens demonstrates its expertise and offers the security of a reliable partner.

Migration Support Center

Siemens has established several Migration Support Centers (MSC) where the expertise for the migration of specific old systems is concentrated. This is where customer-oriented concepts and tools based on actual practice are developed and applied for migrating the engineering of the old systems. With its extensive specialist knowledge, the Migration Support Center supports the implementation of migration projects by:

• Development of migration concepts
• Quotation preparation
• Engineering/project management

Development of additional migration products and solutions

Even if no migration products and solutions have previously been offered in this catalog for your control system, in the future you can benefit from the leading world-class SIMATIC technology and the associated security of investment.

Based on experience of migration gained over many years and on universal technologies such as DBA and OPC, Siemens is capable, given the corresponding demand, to develop migration products and solutions for the partial or complete modernization of other control systems using SIMATIC PCS 7.

Please contact your regional SIMATIC PCS 7 partner to arrange preliminary discussions and to have a concept or offer drawn up.