Nuremberg, November 2016 – Siemens has substantially widened the range of possible applications for the current Logo! 8 logic module series. The temperature range has been extended down to minus 20 degrees Celsius to allow the logic modules to be used for the first time at sub-zero temperatures. Modbus TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol), date and time synchronization via NTP (Network Time Protocol), and the Logo! configuration software have also been added to the communication functions. The new Soft Comfort version 8.1 has been expanded to include many practical functions. The Logo! Access Tool, which is also new, now transfers the user process values into an Excel table for evaluation during operation.

The logic modules of the current Logo! 8 series (as from version FS:04) can now be used throughout a wide temperature range from minus 20 to plus 55 degrees Celsius without condensation. The previous range of use was from 0 to 55 degrees. So for the first time, the user can now also use the devices outdoors when temperatures are below zero. The Modbus TCP/IP communication protocol has been integrated into Logo! 8 basic units to enable the logic modules to be used even more flexibly in existing infrastructures. Date and time synchronization according to the NTP standard is also new, so with appropriate configuration, all the NTP devices in a network synchronize themselves automatically. Modbus TCP/IP and NTP allow Logo! 8 to run as client and server simultaneously.

The new Logo! Soft Comfort V8.1 software version offers not only user-friendly operation, configuration and acceptance of programs from previous versions, but also many new practical functions. One highlight is the easy configuration of the communication with Modbus devices linked by TCP/IP. Also worthy of mention are the simple configuration for date and time synchronization by means of NTP, new function blocks for converting floating point values into integer values and vice versa, and the automatic color coding of specific markers and reference lines. There is also a new reset function for shift registers, automatic installation of all standard languages (DE, CN, EN, ES, FR and IT), sorting functions, such as "Goto block number", and a larger area for bar charts in message texts. Logo! Soft Comfort V8.1 can run under 32 and 64-bit versions of Windows, including Windows 10, as well as Mac and Linux.

The user now has the new Logo! Access Tool to transfer process values directly into an Excel table, and save the data in a log file on the PC during operation. This data is then available for evaluation.