Rockwell Automation at SPS IPC Drives 2018
The company has showcased a range of new products and solutions in each of these domains that allow customers to take their machines and equipment – and therefore their business too – to the next level. A further highlight on the stand was a range of solutions from IoT and augmented reality leader PTC, following Rockwell Automation’s $1bn equity investment in the firm earlier this year. Additionally, Rockwell Automation chairman and CEO Blake Moret discussed the implications of this strategic partnership in a press conference on Wednesday 28 November from 10:45 to 11:15 AM.
Smarter Machines and Smarter Operations
Rockwell Automation’s smart technologies encompass advanced control systems, motor control, and smart devices. At SPS IPC Drives 2018, the company showcased a range of new releases and products that include:
- Independent cart technology: new releases of the iTRAK track-based industrial motion control system for packaging and materials handling. The new releases featured new track elements and a lighter track system
- Demo of the MagneMotion transport and positioning solution highlighting scalable Independent Cart Technology solutions for independently moving individual products or items
- ThinManager and Thin Client solutions demonstrating security, mobility and lifecycle management across devices
- High-speed and high-performance controllers and I/O platforms focusing on ControlLogix 5580 plus integrated safety option, Compact Logix 5380 plus integrated safety option
- New PanelView 5310, a high speed and compact HMI solution
- New larger frame, higher power Kinetix 5700 motion servo drives
- New PowerFlex 755T frame sizes (Frame 5, 6, 7) extending the power range of the PowerFlex 755T AC drive family
- New, connected and IIoT devices to enable Smarter Machines and Smarter Operations
- FactoryTalk Analytics with AI-driven suggestions for machine optimisation to deliver better performance
Smarter Engineering
Rockwell Automation also showed its extensive suite of engineering tools to help companies design, test, build, deliver and maintain Smarter Machines and Equipment for better business results. The Studio 5000 Engineering Environment offers a single, comprehensive environment that addresses most engineering needs. Studio 5000 comprises machine builder libraries, application code management tools, virtual engineering tools, safety and motion engineering tools. On its stand at SPS IPC Drives, Rockwell Automation also showcased its virtual machine design tools, integrated with the Microsoft HoloLens mixed-reality headset. This technology enables engineers to see detailed machine information and diagnostics for virtual design, validation, and mixed reality maintenance procedures.
Partnership with PTC
Rockwell Automation’s $1bn equity investment in PTC, giving it an 8.4% stake in the group, was announced in June. At SPS IPC Drives, the two companies had showcased their complementary solutions on the stand and outlined ways in which they plan to align their respective smart factory technologies. These points were also addressed by Rockwell Automation’s chairman and CEO Blake Moret in a press conference on Wednesday, November 28 from 10:45 to 11:15 AM.
