Beckhoff to Showcase New Smart Factory Technologies at Hannover Messe USA 2018
August 16, 2018
Beckhoff Automation will highlight the latest smart factory hardware, software, EtherCAT and TSN networking solutions, plus an integrated PC- and EtherCAT-based CNC platform at the inaugural Hannover Messe USA 2018 trade show in Chicago. The event, which is collocated with the long-running IMTS trade show, will run from September 10 – 15, 2018, at McCormick Place in the convention center’s Lakeside Center (east building). Beckhoff will prominently exhibit in the Integrated Automation, Motion & Drives (IAMD) USA section in booth 134417.
During the show, Beckhoff will also support the EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG), the largest fieldbus organization in the world, at partner booth 134117. Founded in 2003, the ETG boasts over 4,900 members from 65 countries, including world-renowned end users from numerous industries and leading industrial technology suppliers, who have joined forces to support and advance EtherCAT technology.
Solve the IoT hardware, software and networking puzzle
A new generation of ultra-compact Beckhoff Industrial PCs (IPCs) will be the focus of new hardware innovations at Hannover Messe USA. The new C6015 and C6030 IPCs are ideal for handling all kinds of machine control, IoT, cloud connectivity and edge device requirements. These IPCs are Microsoft Azure™ Certified and can work just as easily with other major cloud platforms such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and SAP HANA. Maintaining a bare minimum hardware footprint, the C6015 equipped with an Intel® Atom™ processor (up to four cores) is just 82 x 82 x 40 mm, while the new C6030 features Intel® Core™ i-series processors of the 6th and 7th Generation and measures 132 x 132 x 67 mm.
Significant updates will span three key areas of the TwinCAT software suite: new HTML5-enabled TwinCAT HMI for industrial displays and mobile devices, important data processing expansions in the TwinCAT Analytics offering and TwinCAT 3 Motion Designer, which adds a deep set of valuable tools to commission entire motor, drive and mechanical systems in software. Motion Designer can be integrated into the standard TwinCAT 3 software platform or it can be used as a stand-alone motion system engineering tool. TwinCAT is the perfect software layer for Beckhoff PC-based controls, I/O components, drive technology and EtherCAT networks to create real-time control systems for CNC machines that are lean, scalable and open for all industries.
As a major industrial networking update from Beckhoff, the new EK1000 EtherCAT TSN Coupler expands the industrial Ethernet capabilities of the successful EtherCAT I/O system to utilize TSN (Time-Sensitive Networking) technology. The EK1000 enables communication among high-performance EtherCAT segments with remote EtherCAT controllers via heterogeneous Ethernet networks. Through support of TSN functions, the coupler minimizes delays caused by switches in Ethernet networks and connects the wide range of EtherCAT I/O Terminals and other EtherCAT devices to TSN network environments.
“Hannover Messe USA will bring the spirit of innovation from the world’s largest industrial trade show in Hannover, Germany, directly to the American industrial community,” said Aurelio Banda, CEO and president of Beckhoff Automation LLC. “In keeping with this spirit, Beckhoff Automation will showcase our latest technologies in the areas of IoT-ready software, mobile-ready HMI and robust data analytics tools. The Beckhoff hardware lineup will impress equally with ultra-compact C6015 and C6030 Industrial PCs for use as IoT gateways and machine controllers, and high-performance EtherCAT I/O and motion control solutions.”
Beckhoff at Hannover Messe USA
*Picture – Advanced Beckhoff software, hardware and networking solutions to create today’s smart factory will be on display in booth 134417 at Hannover Messe USA 2018.
