Version 8 of the Simatic PCS 7 process-control system boasts a host of new functions. The new features range from improved data exchange and an easier engineering workflow, more powerful communication, redundancy-related and fault-tolerant functions to new controllers and extended functionality for the software tools. In Version 8, for example, the data exchange between the Cosmos plant-management software and the PCS 7 engineering tools has been improved and the engineering workflow simplified. This now offers the user an enhanced planning quality and an easier way to document the tracking of changes. Also, the fault-tolerant, high-performance Simatic S7-400H controllers have been upgraded to feature greater performance and new functions. They have an increased range of I/Os and an integrated two-port switch Profinet interface. This enables fault-tolerant, redundant ring structures to be set up and I/O devices to be connected on a system-redundant basis. — Siemens Industry Automation Div., Nuremberg, Germany