Westermo industrial Ethernet Switch Reduces Stress for ABB Force Measurement

ABB FM (Force Measurement) is using Westermo's Redfox industrial Ethernet switch with its latest version of Stressometer system for measurement and control of rolling mills. The company's Stressometer system, consisting of a variety of measuring and control instruments, optimises the process.

The networking solution for Stressometer is now based on a single RedFox Industrial 18 port, layer 3 switch running Westermo's WeOS operating system. The WeOS operating system has been developed by Westermo to provide layer 2 and layer 3 functions, which means the RedFox Industrial device can be used as both a switch and a router. The WeOS operating system can also manage complex networking issues including advanced security. For example each port can be configured with individual firewall rules and support is provided for encrypted VPN tunnels, which means it can connect securely over the internet.

"We have been delivering this latest version of the Stressometer system incorporating the RedFox Industrial device since 2010 and we have had no problems at all with the data communications," says Christer Gustafsson, Data Communications Manager at ABB FM. "When we upgraded our system we wanted a more unified networking solution. The Westermo device helps achieve this by avoiding compatibility problems between products from different manufacturers. Because of this the system is now easier for us to install and maintain and costs less to deliver."

"We have tried many different industrial data communication products from different suppliers, but none have been good enough for our demanding requirements. The new solution, incorporating the Westermo device, works very well and requires very little technical support," concludes Gustafsson.