FDT Group

In general, there are different motives for standardization. These include:

• Exchangeability of components
• Simplification of information exchange
• User protection by definition of minimum standards
• Methodic simplification
• Cost reduction
• Internationalization of business and markets

A standard can also be defined by interested users as de facto standard based on a common specification. If a standard is formally created, voted, and published by an official body like IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), it is called norm – in case of IEC as an international body – an international norm. Thus, a norm is a formalized standard. When the FDT Group was founded, it defined the creation of an international norm for FDT Technology as its Number 1 goal. 

Since end of May 2009 the process of creating an international IEC norm for FDT Technology has been finalized successfully. All national committees with voting rights have unanimously approved the FDT Standard called “IEC 62453”. Klaus-Peter Lindner, Vice President for Associations & Standards of the FDT Group, emphasizes the importance of this event, because only an international norm assures users the long-term openness, which allows the free choice of FDT based products. Free access to standardized technologies is the key for success. Only this allows customers to decide for a “best-in-class” product, without being caught in the dependency on one manufacturer. The norm also enables quality assurance of FDT products. Certification tools and procedures are built on a stable basis and assure conformity and compatibility of DTMs and FDT Frame Applications. A style guide, which was specified based on NAMUR requirements, is also included in the norm. Thus, the variety which is provided by FDT for device functionality does not lead to different, manufacturer specific operating templates.  

Besides a variety of devices of different manufacturers, in most industrial plants different standardized field busses and protocols are installed, often in parallel operation. These include e.g. HART, PROFIBUS, FOUNDATION Fieldbus, Modbus, IO-Link or DeviceNet. For those plants FDT is an efficient solution that manages the variety of different devices communicating with different protocols. FDT is well suited for those inhomogeneous environments because it is system independent and able to integrate practically all communication methods. 

The benefits of FDT Technology for users become evident, if each device vendor uses the latest technological developments for the functionality in their instruments. With an open, standardized and freely accessible integration technology like FDT, device manufacturers can be sure that all device features and their complete mapping in DCS and asset management systems are implemented. This is the only way to make the benefits for the user reality and to avoid filtering them by proprietary integration technologies. Thus, device manufacturers provide even more added value, as users have access to all device and diagnosis possibilities by using an according DTM.