Making a product user–friendly is about more than providing pretty graphics and a point–and–click interface: a truly user–friendly product provides access to reliable and secure, intuitive and flexible capabilities.

Welcome to the world of Hitachi’s G–HIACS νSAFE: every core component is redundant–capable, every core component is stand–alone¹ SIL2 certified, and every user project can combine SIL2 and General Purpose (non–SIL) applications within a single CPU (our flexible “2–in–1” functional safety system capability).

We can’t guarantee that your project will be easy; but we’ll provide you with a friendly, adaptable system and help you craft the best solution for your needs.

The Hitachi G–HIACS νSAFE DCS is an evolutionary re–design of Hitachi’s successful HIACS² series DCS that has, through 4 major product generations, been used in applications as diverse as high-speed rail scheduling and logistics, highway electronic toll collection, nuclear power plant process and safety/shutdown systems, thermal and hydro power plant control, and water treatment facilities.

The νSAFE major hardware systems (CPU, RIO modules, safety network systems) are certified IEC 61508 SIL2 with safety networks for control (µΣNETWORK–1000) and RIO communications (R.Link/FS) and supported by full non–interfering redundancy. G–HIACS νSAFE full redundancy capability ensures (when implemented) that single component failures cannot cause full system shutdown.

While enhancing availability, redundancy is not necessary to achieve SIL2.

System controllers (R800FS) connect to one or more µΣNETWORK–1000 (µΣ1000) networks for peer–to–peer communication. RIO (HSC800FS) connect to their controllers (single or redundant) via the R.Link/FS network. External HMI and data logging systems connect to controllers through µΣ1000 via Hitachi’s LANBOX (µΣ1000–Ethernet) switch.

Project programming and configuration is task–based via the Hitachi dedicated engineering workstation HISEC 61131–3FS PADT (Programming and Debugging Tool) using IEC 61131–3 compliant FBD, SFC³ and/or ST; all safety programming must use FBD within a safety task. Remote maintenance and system configuration is also performed using the HISEC 61131–3FS PADT. Using the PADT, users can create projects where SIL2 and non–SIL (General Purpose) applications can co–exist on a single νSAFE CPU.