Simatic Workstation for Software-defined Automation Announced by Siemens

Siemens has announced the new Siemens Simatic Automation Workstation, which allows manufacturers to replace a hardware PLC, a conventional HMI, and an edge device with a single, software-based workstation. The Simatic Workstation is an on-premise OT device that utilizes Siemens industrial edge technology to allow for high data throughput with the low latency needed to allow manufacturers to run an expanded variety of modular applications. This applies not only to traditional automation tasks, like motion control, sequencing, and safety, but it becomes the platform for future, novel automation tasks that incorporate industrial AI-in-the-control-loop, such as visual inspection and robotic grasping and placing.

According to the company, PLCs are often referred to as the brains behind factories, energy grids, office buildings, and trains. Hundreds, even thousands, of these devices can be found throughout plants, each one requiring extensive programming to keep it current, secure, and aligned with the other PLCs in the environment. On the contrary, every Siemens Simatic Workstation can be viewed and managed from a central point. Since programming, updates and patches can be deployed to the entire fleet in parallel, the shop floor remains in synch. One example of the value this brings occurs when a facility needs to ramp up or down quickly in response to fluctuating demand. The manufacturer is no longer tied to boxes on the floor and can quickly deploy programming adapted to the current demand scenario.

The initial deployment of Simatic Workstations will be deployed across a number of Ford Motor Company’s manufacturing facilities. The Simatic Workstation is the newest addition to the digital business platform Siemens Xcelerator and will be adapted to serve other industries and customers.