An interview with Horst-Dieter Kraus

This interview with Horst-Dieter Kraus, Marketing Spokesperson for Safety Network International, was first published in Safety Network Insight, the email newsletter of Safety Network International.

Safety Network Insight: Mr Kraus, since the 23 April 2006, the SafetyBUS p Club has been renamed the Safety Network International e.V.

This was agreed at an extraordinary members' meeting in Hannover.

As the organisation's marketing spokesperson, how do you see this step?.

Horst-Dieter Kraus: "We are convinced that the renaming has come at exactly the right time.

Seven years after the market launch of the safe bus system SafetyBUS p, we now have another industrial communication system - the Ethernet-based system SafetyNET p.

Safety Network International stands for competency in the field of industrial communication systems; in the past, the present and the future, the focus is safety.

The new name also emphasises the organisation's openness.

The two independent systems give the network and its members new prospects for working together.

Worldwide there are already 150,000 safe fieldbus nodes installed, and this number continues to grow.

The new SafetyNET p system is the answer to future industrial communication requirements, combining safety and standard functions in equal measure".

Safety Network Insight: As well as promoting the proven SafetyBUS p system, Safety Network International also now supports the new industrial communication system SafetyNET p.

Where are the challenges for the organisation in terms of marketing policy?.

Horst-Dieter Kraus: "In future the work of the organisation will focus on various target groups.

Support and the provision of services for manufacturers of products for the SafetyBUS p and SafetyNET p system will continue to be a priority.

Even over the next few years, the SafetyBUS p system will be our main focus.

We want to be the platform for manufacturers, but also above all for the users of SafetyBUS p.

Users should be able to use the organisation to swap information about implemented applications.

This can be a real benefit for new projects.

This year alone we have welcomed two new members who are involved with services in the standards' field.

We see new possibilities in this area.

Members should also have the opportunity to network.

This opportunity is also open to the system integrators' group.

Colleges and public institutions are also very important when it comes to new, innovative systems, as is the case with SafetyNET p.

Here too we want to strengthen existing contacts and gain some new ones".

Safety Network Insight: The network's aim is to be a competent partner for both systems, while focusing heavily on safety.

How do you see future development here, is the key word: separate and mixed systems?.

Horst-Dieter Kraus: "Of course safety is still a core competency of Safety Network International, that's clear from the name alone.

But the new SafetyNET p system will also support standard functions, of course.

For us that's no contradiction.

Safety is an important issue, and its importance is increasing.

The protection of man and machine is not something that a system can deal with as a side issue.

"Safety" should not be portrayed as something that's difficult to achieve, but we do make it a priority, because this is where our expertise lies.

As I said, SafetyNET p will also cover standard functions, as a high-performance Ethernet system is capable of doing".

Safety Network Insight: Let me put it more precisely: various groups will find themselves within this network by taking up the new system.

In addition to manufacturers of products for the two systems, the focus of the organisation's activities will increasingly include users, system integrators and other service providers, as discussed.

What benefits will membership bring to these groups in the future?.

Horst-Dieter Kraus: "Talking generally, all groups will benefit from the ability to exchange ideas with each other.

Working together in project groups and workshops will result in solutions with broad-based support.

This is precisely what makes a system strong and attractive to the market.

We want to continue discussions with manufacturers, users and researchers, in order to pave the way into the market for what we regard to be the best system.

The community is to be strengthened in the future.

In the field of SafetyNET p, the coming months will mainly see manufacturers being targeted, as we set up workshops and project groups.

For users our objective is to set up a knowledge database from which all involved can gain, with real tips for their own application.

As you can see we have planned a variety of measures.

So the benefit to each individual comes exclusively from the community and its openness.

That's why our motto is: "The open network for safety and automation".".

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