How open must or should an automation solution be?

Every industry has unique requirements when it comes to industrial automation, and the technical complexity is constantly increasing. The trend towards ever smaller order batches, customized products and shorter delivery times present companies with major challenges. Traditional line production is often less productive and requires more control when customer requirements change and need to be responded to quickly. There is an increasing demand for flexible production cells and production processes that enable a wide range of product variants and scalable quantities. These production processes are characterized by a constant increase in the level of automation. On the one hand, the integration of drive, measurement and sensor technology, as well as computing power and the necessary establishment of standardized information and software technology, which is becoming increasingly important.

The software component of an automation system increases significantly, especially when controlling complex production processes. However, this requires a more flexible and open system architecture for the automation solution used so that existing hardware and software components can continue to be used and expanded. Scalable and manufacturer-independent automation solutions are playing an increasingly important role in the overall automation strategy, because in times of vulnerable supply chains and the associated dependencies, many companies are increasingly focussing on a multi-supplier strategy.

For all machine builders who need automation solutions that are future-proof, scalable and compatible with existing software and hardware components. Those who, due to increasingly complex processes, need complete solutions from a single source, but without having to worry about becoming "dependent" on a single overall supplier or manufacturer. Kemro X is particularly characterized by the ability to integrate your own software modules and third-party software at any time. Complex customized solutions are not always necessary - Kemro X contains many tried-and-tested standard modules and applications that can be adapted quickly and easily, thus saving time and money on implementation. In addition, Kemro X is also available as a pure PLC (programmable logic controller). If the customer does not have its own in-house resources available, KEBA is a reliable partner at eye level, providing support from the initial design through to series production. Joint project management, workshops, training, joint source code management and the synchronization of roadmaps and sprint planning have proven to be extremely effective in the collaboration.

Even though integrated automation systems such as Kemro X are constantly being developed further, there are a few things to bear in mind when it comes to the interoperability and integration of 3rd-party hardware and software. Even if a standard protocol such as the DS402 drive profile is supported, it is possible that not every drive behaves in exactly the same way and minimal adjustments may be necessary. The same applies to the integration of PLC source code based on the IEC 61131-3 standard. When adopting 3rd party or open source code, care must be taken to ensure that the real-time capability of the overall system can be guaranteed. KEBA has gained a lot of experience in this area and offers corresponding guidelines. Although the openness of Kemro X means that "older" protocols can usually be adopted, consideration should be given to switching to more modern and future-proof protocols.