CANopen Lift PlugFest - 2009-03

Elevator World - May 2009

First CANopen-Lift PlugFest

March saw the first Plugfest in Nuremberg and Heilbronn, as members of the CANopen lift group proved the interoperability of their devices. Two controller manufacturers (Böhnke + Partner and Weber Lifttechnik) and several suppliers of lift components (Elgo, Masora, Posital, Schaefer and Ziehl-Abegg) exchanged data via the CANopen network. As expected, some minor differences in the interpretation of the CANopen lift specification (CiA 417) were detected.

Further interoperability evidence between CANopen lift devices resulted from the CANopen lift demonstration, presented for the first time at the lift conference in Heilbronn. It consist of two independent lift systems, the first of which uses a controller from Böhnke + Partner. A drive from Control Techniques, an encoder from Baumer, panels from Masora and a lift door unit from Siemens are connected. The other lift system utilizes a controller from Weber. Further devices in is ths network are from Ziehl-Abegg (drive), Pepperl+Fuchs (encoder), Schaefer (user panels) and Siemens (door unit).

Due to the Plugfest one-day duration, not all functions could be tested. Therefore, additional Plugfests have been planned, in which CANopen would like to invite other manufacturers to participate. The demonstration will take place at Interlift Augsburg 2009 aon October 13-16, as well as at other conferences.