Automation software takes center-stage at B&R Innovation Day

By OEM Update Editorial February 10, 2017 2:21 pm IST

Over the years, software is increasingly playing a vital role in industrial automation, encapsulating the entire automation pyramid – machines, factories and plants. With industrial internet of things, the manufacturing world is witnessing a convergence of the information technology (IT)and operational technology (OT). To gain business value it is inevitable to extract information from the generated field data, which is facilitated by software and vendor independent communication technologies. Innovation Day 2017, a conference on trend setting automation technologies, organized by B&R, focused on automation software providing higher business value to its customers.

Today, users wish to have an Industry 4.0 implementation in their machines and plants. However, it is a herculean task to implement in brownfield projects. B&R provides unique solution for enabling not only greenfield projects but also brownfield projects to become Industry 4.0 ready. “We offer secure and safe connectivity to the cloud from every level – machines, mechatronic units and sensors,” mentions Peter Gucher, General Manager International, B&R. Consumers are willing to pay a premium for personalised products. At the same time, increasingly responsive production technology is making it possible to create them under mass production conditions without a corresponding increase in unit cost. For manufacturers, the resulting margin boost is an enticing prospect. B&R’s intelligent SuperTrak system is the reliable, industrial-grade transport solution for flexible production lines that enable mass customisation. A live demonstration at the event displaying this conveyor system in tight synchronization with two Comau robots was a crowd puller.

Apart from this, B&R displayed a slew of innovations –mapp View: web based HMI, mobile automation: automation solutions for outdoor applications, motion technology for next generation machines, virtual commissioning and secure remote maintenance.“One tool for all targets – has been a slogan for our highly acclaimed software tool Automation Studio. Owing to this software tool, every new innovation fits seamlessly into our existing matrix,” quoted PV Sivaram, Managing Director, B&R India. “It also provides longevity of developed application across generations of hardware, reducing the application effort and investment for newer hardware platforms,” he added.

Guest speakers from Hitachi, Güdel, ACG Worldwide, and Windsor Machines provided their expert views on changing industry demands and technology trends. In their talks, they gave valuable insight into the adoption of the industrial internet of things (IIoT) in manufacturing units, and the pivotal role that software plays in its successful implementation.

The delegates at the event, also witnessed the launch of the 2nd edition of “automotion India”, a B&R technology magazine, comprising of various customer success stories from ACG Worldwide, A.T.E. Enterprises, IMA PG, Merck, AIM Machintechnik, Prasad Pneucon, PARI, Mahindra & Mahindra and Naveen Hydrocontrols. The launch took place at the hands of guest speakers, B&R management and customers who contributed towards the articles published in the magazine.