10. Industrial applications

10.1 Ethernet 10 Mbit /s as a cell network at Airbus: assembly lines

In 1991, Airbus Industries (EADS group) installed SIMATIC S5 PLCs and SIROTEC robot controllers from Siemens, communicating over SINEC H1 Ethernet, to assemble the Airbus A330 and A340.

A coherent automation solution was chosen by SOCOA to control the 108 UPARs (robotized drilling units) used to join the cars in the central section of the Airbus A330 and A340. Eight SIROTEC robot controllers, five SIMATIC S5-135U programmable logic controllers and three SICOMP industrial PCs exchange information at 10 Mbaud on the SINEC H1 Ethernet network at station 40. The system's reputation for reliability has never been in doubt.