Softing Industrial has introduced a new maintenance-free hardware solution designed for seamless transfer of production data from PLC and CNC controllers to edge and cloud-based environments.
The innovative product, known as edgeGate, streamlines access to Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) and Computerized Numerical Controllers (CNC), facilitating secure data integration into various management systems such as Enterprise-Resource-Planning (ERP), Manufacturing Execution System (MES), and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA).
This integration capability is applicable to both newly established facilities and existing setups. The communication is facilitated through OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA), ensuring a robust and reliable connection. Moreover, the integration of Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) in the Softing server software further enhances the data transfer process.
By leveraging MQTT within edgeGate, users can seamlessly integrate machine data into private or public IoT cloud applications. The MQTT implementation is versatile and compatible with multiple cloud service providers. Similar to OPC UA, MQTT supports various security mechanisms such as encrypted connections, certificates, and user authentication, significantly bolstering data security.
One of the key advantages of edgeGate is its low maintenance requirements, allowing for hassle-free connection to controllers without disrupting existing systems. Supported controllers include Siemens Simatic PLC, Siemens Sinumerik controller, Fanuc CNC controller, Modbus TCP, Allen-Bradley PLC, and OPC UA Client machine data. The device features a user-friendly web interface for quick application configuration, along with an additional security layer and communication encryption.
For users seeking expanded functionalities, Softing Industrial offers the option to integrate edgeConnector products, which provide similar features in a Docker-based software version. Additionally, the edgeAggregator software from Softing, also Docker-based, serves as a robust OPC UA data integration layer that complements the capabilities of edgeGate.
“We are excited to introduce a hardware solution that complements our existing Docker-based software offerings,” stated Abel Jimenez, Product Manager at Softing Industrial Automation. “edgeGate simplifies the process of connecting PLC and CNC controllers to management systems through its robust communication features like OPC UA and MQTT, ultimately enhancing operational efficiency. Whether used independently or in conjunction with Softing's Docker-based edgeConnector and edgeAggregator software, edgeGate offers a comprehensive data integration solution.”
For more information, visit www.industrial.softing.com.