New I/O Modules Simplify Device Connections in Hazardous Areas

Industrial producers can more easily and efficiently connect to devices in hazardous areas using the new Allen-Bradley 1718 Ex I/O modules from Rockwell Automation. The intrinsically safe distributed I/O modules provide EtherNet/IP connectivity to field devices in Zone 0 and Zone 1 hazardous areas.

The 1718 Ex I/O modules can reduce wiring in industrial applications because they can be mounted in Zone 1, closer to field devices in hazardous areas. The I/O modules can also save space with a compact, chassis-based I/O design that contains the primary power supply and an optional redundant power supply in the chassis.

Different chassis options and slot sizes allow users to scale the 1718 Ex I/O modules to meet a wide range of system requirements. Add-on Profiles in the Studio 5000 Logix Designer application help ease configuration of the modules. And a dual-port EtherNet/IP adapter that enables a Device Level Ring (DLR) topology can help improve network resilience.

The 1718 Ex I/O modules are designed for hazardous applications found in industries like chemical, oil and gas, and food and beverage. An ATEX-certified enclosure is required for the 1718 Ex I/O modules to be mounted in an ATEX Zone 1 area. As a complete solution, Rockwell Automation collaborates with our Encompass partner Pepperl+Fuchs, who offers Zone 1 certified enclosures.

The Allen-Bradley intrinsically safe distributed I/O portfolio also includes the 1719 Ex I/O product family, which is certified for mounting in Class I, Division 2 (North America) and Zone 2 (global) hazardous areas.

About Rockwell Automation

Rockwell Automation Inc. (NYSE: ROK), is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. We connect the imaginations of people with the potential of technology to expand what is humanly possible, making the world more productive and more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs approximately 23,000 problem solvers dedicated to our customers in more than 100 countries. To learn more about how we are making Smart Manufacturing more productive, visit www.rockwellautomation.com

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African Petrochemicals

Created in 2002, African Petrochemicals is the leading trade magazine for the petrochemical industry in South Africa and surrounding African countries, and is published 6 times a year. With a prime focus on reporting the latest news and communicating new developments and applications in petrochemicals, African Petrochemicals runs targeted features and focus sections in every edition, showcasing and highlighting the different aspects of this diverse industry.

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