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Mr. Yannick Le Héno has been the new chairman of Safety Network International e.V. since August 2010. Connected held its first interview with Mr. Le Héno to learn more about his views on the user organisation.

Connected:
Mr. Le Héno, after many years of service in the field of safe automation you have now accepted a new challenge as chairman of the user organisation Safety Network International e.V. How do you see the present situation of the user organisation?

Yannick Le Héno:
It was a great pleasure for me to accept the duty of chairman in Safety Network. The user organisation was founded in 1999 and called SafetyBUS p Club. Back then, the first safe Bus system was introduced to the market and together with the founding members the user organisation worked on its distribution and further development.
Today SafetyBUS p is a well known safetybus system which is used worldwide in various different applications. Once the automation market progressed into using Ethernet in the industrial environment, the user organisation followed this development and introduced SafetyNET p, a safe, real-time Ethernet system onto the market. Together with our members we are taking an active role in shaping the automation market of tomorrow!

Connected:
SNI unites manufacturers and users of the system under the same umbrella. What advantages can be expected from the membership for these groups?

Yannick Le Héno:
Our most important aim is to increase the distribution of the system in the market. Our priority is to support the manufacturers as partners during the implementation of SafetyNET p. That means accompanying the manufacturers from their first product idea all the way to the product conformity test. Another focal point for us is to support users in concrete applications. The unison of various members’ products to a system solution is a definite benefit to our work and for the user.

Connected:
There are a wide range of tasks and projects available for users and manufacturers. Which topics will the organisation deal with in 2011?

Yannick Le Héno:
We have started study groups on specific topics such as security and wireless. Continuous communication structures from the office world to the production plants make a well thought out security concept essential in the protection of production plants all over the world from malicious attacks.
In particular the latest attacks to the control of production plants proved manufacturers and users the necessity of protective measures for the network. We would like to be in a position to recommend suitable solutions for the protection of networks in the automation technology and industrial communication on this important topic as it affects all industrial companies to the highest degree. Safe wireless solutions are required in various applications. Wireless technology is an important building block within automation components to provide safety in mobile systems or in applications in which cables would cause problems. This is where the key data for the applicative use is defined, the certification fundamentals for the machines are created and member company machinery is certified. In view of the increase in demand for safe wireless data transmission, we see a strong increase in the future use of SafetyNET p.

Connected:
The global distribution of the field bus system and Ethernet is strongly influenced by national preferences and local manufacturers. In addition to this, in Europe, Asia and North America the distribution of safety oriented communication systems depends upon the prevailing legal requirements. How does Safety Network International deal with the local requirements?

Yannick Le Héno:
The degree of automation is increasing dramatically worldwide. In emerging countries such as China, prosperity is increasing and therefore also the necessity for personal safety. It is here that the need for safety technology in production plants is a strong topic of discussion for those involved. For this reason SNI plans to present the important topic of safety in these countries at trade exhibitions and events, as a forum for Safety and Automation, in order to expand the activities.

Connected:
Thank you very much for the interview!