Siemens has brought a tablet PC onto the market for the first time. The Simatic ITP1000 industrial tablet PC is currently the fastest tablet PC on the market. It has a projective-capacitive 10.1-inch Multitouch display, the latest Intel Core i5 Skylake processor technology, and the Trusted Platform Module. Designed for industrial use, the Simatic ITP1000 is especially suitable for service, production, measuring and testing, as well as for operator control and monitoring. The new industrial tablet PC supports Windows 7 and Windows 10. With many different interfaces and well-thought-out product features, the Simatic ITP1000 is versatile, can be used everywhere, and can be integrated in both new and existing plant concepts. With long-term availability of components, as with all Simatic PCs, the new Simatic ITP1000 tablet PC can be used for many years.

To handle challenging tasks, a high-performance chip set with the latest Intel Skylake CPU technology is used in the Simatic ITP1000 industrial tablet PC. The DDR4 RAM can be upgraded up to 16 gigabytes, and a 256 or 512-gigabyte SSD (Solid State Drive) can also be added to the device. Even customized automation tasks can be handled flexibly with the practical industrial functions – such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), a bar code reader, camera, and six freely programmable function buttons. This is also supported by a wide range of interfaces – such as Bluetooth, WAN, 1-gigabit LAN, serial RS 232 DC-in, miniDP, SD card slot, 1 USB type C and 2 USB 3.0 ports. The PC has an integrated TPM 2.0 module to protect the system and data, and a Kensington lock to prevent theft. An optional docking station with a port replicator that has been designed for practical one-hand docking enables the new tablet PC from Siemens to be used as a complete workstation with an external monitor.

Schneider Electric, the global specialist in energy management and automation, today announced the launch of its next generation EcoStruxure™ architecture and platform to deliver IoT-enabled solutions at scale for building, grid, industry and data center customers. The enhanced architecture and platform is open, scalable and interoperable, connecting the three core layers of Schneider Electric’s technology stack, from connected products, to edge control, to applications, analytics and services. This next generation EcoStruxure delivers enhanced value around safety, reliability, efficiency, sustainability, and connectivity of IoT-enabled operations.

Next Generation EcoStruxure delivers advanced value:

EcoStruxure enables Schneider Electric, its partners and end-user customers to develop scalable and converged IT/OT solutions that deliver innovation at every level to an organization or enterprise. Leveraging connectivity and data to create controls and actionable business insights, with the combined power of analytics and closed-loop applications, Schneider Electric empowers customers and partners to augment operations to reach new levels of operational efficiency, sustainability, asset performance and people productivity. EcoStruxure fosters open innovation and interoperability and is developed in partnership with leading standards organizations and best-in-class technology leaders.

“EcoStruxure combines our history in pioneering in energy management, automation and deep domain expertise with data-driven metrics and analytics to help us maximize the value of the Internet of Things for our customers,” said Dr. Prith Banerjee, Chief Technology Officer, Schneider Electric. “EcoStruxure gives our customers the platform, architecture and roadmap to quickly and easily implement IoT in an enterprise, extending the benefits of IoT beyond the device layer to create a more intelligent, efficient and secure operation.”

Delivering Innovation at Every Level of the Technology Stack:

EcoStruxure builds on Schneider Electric’s long-standing product and system leadership to provide the industry’s most comprehensive portfolio of interoperable and cloud-connected and/or on-premise technologies organized around its three layers of technology innovation:

The first layer builds on Schneider Electric’s core competency in developing connected products with embedded intelligence, such as sensors, medium and low voltage breakers, drives and actuators.
The Edge Control layer gives organizations the critical capability to manage their operations on-premise as well as from the cloud depending on their needs. This includes connected control platforms with remote access, advanced automation and operator override capabilities. Local control and firewall protection is included to maximize the benefits especially for mission-critical applications.
Schneider Electric’s focused investment in R&D and product development in the critical areas of software, analytics and services, coupled with the integration of recent acquisitions such as Invensys, Telvent and Summit Energy forms the third layer of the stack – a portfolio of apps, analytics and services. EcoStruxure enables the most extensive breadth of vendor-agnostic apps, analytics and services on open IP protocols in order to work with any hardware, system, or control.

“Our innovation technology stack is critical to our open innovation approach, designed to deliver the most innovative IoT-enabled solutions to our customers,” added Banerjee. “Introducing a comprehensive suite of apps, analytics and services built on the capabilities from within Schneider Electric and our network of partners and developers, enables our customers to benefit from open, interoperable and future-proof solutions that maximize the value, performance, reliability and efficiency of their entire operation and enterprise over time.”

X2 motion panels deliver intuitive HMI with integrated CODESYS motion and PLC functionality in the same compact hardware. Panels range from ultra-compact 4-inch to 15-inch panels designed for demanding applications. Our lean yet powerful hardware with super-fast EtherCAT communication provides the speed you want with the stability you need.

Strong. Stylish. Smart.:
The X2 motion family is part of the new X2 panel series, the next generation of HMIs from Beijer Electronics. The X2 series include six product families combining great design with strong performance to power your HMI solutions. Create smart integrated solutions boosted by iX HMI software and WARP Engineering Studio.

Integrated CODESYS motion and control:
Applications remain elegantly slim with integrated CODESYS motion and PLC functionality in the
panel. CODESYS runs on dedicated CPU cores in dual or quad core ARM Cortex-A9 processors for safe and fast program execution. Panels have two built-in Ethernet ports as standard for communication with third party equipment. Connect directly to a BSD servo drive, add remote I/Os and you get an elegant, scalable, cost-effective solution.

Prepared for any environment:
X2 motion panels operate in wide temperature ranges of -10°C to +60°C. The panels offer strong IP65 and NEMA 4 ingress protection for any industrial environment. The X2 motion range hold all the certificates needed to perform in the field by UL, CE, FCC and KCC certification and extended classes of marine certifications.

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Kepware Technologies, a PTC business, today announced the release of KEPServerEX® Version 6 software. A major release of the flagship industrial connectivity platform, Version 6 strengthens Kepware's core product offering for global corporations requiring increased operational scalability, security, and support. Enhancements include a new method for remote configuration, additional languages that support critical industrial automation markets, and significant updates to the user interface and licensing experience.

“Since the launch of Version 5 in 2009, the need for industrial connectivity has grown tremendously. As the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to influence industrial architectures, companies require a comprehensive solution that can communicate and analyze a greater volume, variety, and velocity of data to a wider, more diverse set of client applications,” said John Harrington, Vice President of Product Management, Kepware. “We’ve incorporated important usability and architectural enhancements that support these evolving industry standards into KEPServerEX Version 6. Enterprise-ready, IT-friendly, and secure, Version 6 is a direct response to our customers’ expanding and evolving needs.”

KEPServerEX Version 6 features significant enhancements to the core server functionality and user experience that deliver an IoT-friendly industrial connectivity platform, including:

Programmatic Changes via the Configuration API: The new REST-based API enables off-site users to remotely apply programmatic changes to the configuration via third-party client applications. Now customers can easily configure multiple KEPServerEX instances from their enterprise software, enabling improved security and collaboration between Operations and IT.
Localization for Japanese and German Markets: Core features and top-tier drivers have been localized to improve the accessibility, productivity, and safety of KEPServerEX for local customers in Japan and Germany as well as global multinationals.
Native Development of OPC UA Technology: Native development of core OPC UA technology provides improved performance, enhanced diagnostics, and a solid foundation for continued OPC UA functionality enhancements.
Streamlined Licensing: Updates to KEPServerEX, the License Utility, and My Kepware improve the user experience and simplify license management—providing customers with more streamlined tools to deploy, manage, and update their servers.
Improved User Interface (UI): An enhanced user interface streamlines project setup and deployment, enabling more effective and efficient interactions with KEPServerEX. The updates also promote a safe user experience, enable increased productivity, and improve accessibility.
Robust Security: Now included as a complimentary core server component, the Security Policies advanced plug-in complements an industrial defense-in-depth strategy by enabling customers to assign security access permissions on individual objects based on user role.

“With the release of KEPServerEX Version 6, Kepware is able to provide a secure, truly enterprise-ready connectivity layer to the market,” said Tony Paine, Platform President, Kepware. “Our customers will benefit from an easy migration path that maximizes uptime—allowing them to meet productivity demands today while preparing for the requirements of tomorrow.”