Full range of features available with MTP 2.0

Weber, 26/02/2025

In close cooperation with experts from NAMUR, ZVEI and PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International), the development of the MTP specification 2.0 was completed in September last year and reviewed by members of the project partners. The final versions of the documentation are currently being finalized. The review resulted in a number of interesting change requests from a number of companies. This proves the great interest in open MTP technology within the industry.

When drafting the specifications for MTP 2.0, the experts had two main goals in mind. One was to coordinate and harmonize the MTP 1.0 documentation that was available at the beginning of the collaboration. In addition, new requirements were formulated from the perspective of the users. Since there is a need to implement MTP in a wide variety of industries, the requirements cover a wide range of functionalities. From applications exclusively for process automation to hybrid applications such as food and beverage and pharmaceutical; to applications exclusively for production automation. For example: The locking mechanisms had to be improved, a three-way valve had to be introduced and the operating mode had to be made more precise. All components were also restructured and reworked so that they could be included in the IEC standard almost unchanged.

Due to the variety of tasks, boundary conditions and requirements, the experts introduced an approach that is already used in other PI technologies, namely defining profiles. –These significantly reduce complexity during implementation and certification as well as during integration into systems. A crucial requirement of manufacturers not to change the basic concepts and technologies in order to ensure compatibility with MTP 1.0 was taken into account. This was fulfilled throughout the entire process. Application-specific PEAs (process equipment assemblies) that are already on the market can be used with future process orchestration layer systems based on MTP 2.0.

The MTP 2.0 documentation will be published jointly by the project partners NAMUR, ZVEI and PI in the summer of 2025 as a new, consistent set of documents. The next step is to provide the test specifications and tools for conformance testing, so that accredited test laboratories can perform certification testing based on the proven processes of other PI technologies. The way is now clear for users to implement new, innovative MTP projects.

Interested parties can also learn more about the functional scope and benefits of the open MTP technology during a live demo at this year's Hannover Messe. The joint PI booth is in Hall 9, Stand D68.

Source: https://www.profibus.com/newsroom/press-news/full-scope-of-functions-available-with-mtp-20