PLCnext Technology: open control platform for future-proof automation

To achieve the aim of networked, flexible production as defined by the Industry 4.0 approach, the underlying automation solution must be more adaptable and more communicative. All automation system devices cut their static connections so they can dynamically exchange data with one another across systems and company boundaries. This is the only way to offer competitive products on the international markets over the long term. This solution enables parallel programming on the basis of established software tools such as Visual Studio, Eclipse, Matlab Simulink, and PC Worx as well as freely selectable linking of their created program code. With the PLCnext Technology, functions can be combined with routines from C/C++, C# or Matlab Simulink according to IEC 61131-3, for example. This enables the easy integration of software from the open source community in the Phoenix Contact automation system.

The new PC Worx Engineer, an adaptive engineering platform which offers the user a completely new user experience, is used for programming according to IEC 61131-3. As well as programming, this software is also used to configure, diagnose, and visualise the entire system in one program. The engineering platform impresses with its individually adaptable, clutter-free, and intuitive interface as well as its use of forward-looking functions. The basic version of the software is free. Numerous extension modules can be purchased individually so that the user can put their own individual software together using these function add-ins. Reusable automation modules and the comprehensive support for PC Worx Engineer safety and security concepts reduce the development time. As a result, the software platform is an efficient and future-proof engineering tool.