Engineering Magazine – June 2019

ENGINEERING JUNE 2019 23

INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION

exchanging the equivalent of almost
12,000 digital inputs and outputs.
EtherCAT can, in effect, let your
controller combine fieldbus functions
for your HMI, your vision system and
your simulation software without the
need for additional hardware. The
most common control system used
in industrial networks today is the
programmable logic controller (PLC).
Data transmitted by a fieldbus to the
PLC can be analysed directly on the
controller using the TwinCAT condition
monitoring libraries integrated in the
TwinCAT 3 automation software,
offered by Beckhoff.
Beckhoff Automation’s TwinCAT
automation software and PC-based
control systems are the perfect fit.
These systems streamline the control of
connected fieldbus devices by bringing
everything, from HMIs and PLCs to
motion control and even machine
vision, into one standardised platform.
This cloud-based communication and
data service application offers varied
functionalities for exchanging process

data by means of standardised published

or subscribe-based communication

protocols and for accessing special data

and communication services of public

cloud service providers. This includes

hosting data in public cloud systems,

such as Microsoft Azure™ or Amazon

Web Services™ (AWS), as well as other

private cloud systems.

For Beckhoff, Industry 4.0 is much

more than a buzzword, and the ability

to compete in tomorrow’s economy

hinges on manufacturers being able

to successfully integrate IoT across its

floor. With the right communications

in place, adopting automation

technologies becomes a matter of

businesses deciding what area they

want to improve.

Stephen Hayes is managing director of

Beckhoff UK

http://www.beckhoff.co.uk