VIPA3211BH00, SM321, digital input module, VIPA

VIPA3211BH00, SM321, digital input module, VIPA

Product Details:
Type: digital input module (SM321)
Part number: 321-1BH00
Number of inputs: 16 digital inputs
Rated input voltage: 24VDC
Input type: PNP (for 24V DC sensors)
Connection: 20-pin front connector
System: VIPA System 300V / 300S
Siemens equivalent: 6ES7321-1BH00-0AA0

Price, delivery time, condition, warranty, options:
a.) selling price for used module: 316EUR (111 968HUF) 1 year warranty, delivery time: 1 day within Hungary, 4 days lead time (Western and Central Europe), UA (1 week), UAE (2 weeks), USA (2 weeks)
1-2 pieces certainly in stock.
Immediate delivery for machine downtime!

VIPA-story:
Structure and meaning of the part number
VIPA products are designed to be fully compatible with Siemens Simatic S7-300 systems. Therefore, their part numbers follow Siemens logic:
Manufacturer: VIPA
Part number: 321-1BH00
What does this module cover? It is a 16-channel, 24 VDC digital input module (Digital Input System 300V/300S).
What does the VIPA name mean? VIPA is an acronym derived from the company's original German name: Visualisierung und Prozessautomatisierung (English: Visualization and Process Automation)
The company was founded in Germany in 1985 and initially specialized in accessories for Siemens systems, then in its own programmable logic controllers (SPS/PLC). The company was later acquired by the Japanese Yaskawa group.

Yes, VIPA technology and modules still exist and are available, but no longer as an independent company, but under the name of the parent company, the Japanese Yaskawa. The market situation and production are as follows:
Merger with Yaskawa. Yaskawa acquired VIPA GmbH in 2012. In recent years, the separate "VIPA" brand name has been phased out, so the products are now officially manufactured and sold by Yaskawa Controls division. The modules now feature the Yaskawa lettering instead of the previous VIPA logo.
What about the production of new modules?
Yaskawa is carrying on the VIPA legacy in two directions: The older S7-300 compatible line (300S+): The modernized version of the module family mentioned in the question, called Yaskawa 300S+, is still in production and supported. Although Siemens has already begun phasing out its own S7-300 series, Yaskawa continues to provide these modules for factories that do not want to carry out a complete and expensive system replacement. (The production of some obsolete subtypes is gradually being phased out, but the product family is fundamentally alive).
The completely new generation (SLIO series): When it comes to modern, newly developed modules, Yaskawa actively produces its own developed Yaskawa SLIO decentralized I/O and PLC system. This is an extremely compact, modern and modular controller family, for which new modules are constantly being released (for example, most recently new IO-Link Master and stepper motor modules).
Summary:
If you have an existing VIPA system, you don't have to worry: according to Yaskawa's official product announcements, spare parts supply is ensured, and the SLIO family is being further developed for newer systems.