Rockwell addresses digital transformation at Hannover Messe

Tom O'Reilly, vice president, global business development, Rockwell Automation says: "Digital transformation and initiatives like Industrie 4.0 are without a doubt a priority for manufacturers and industrial operators everywhere. With our Strategic Alliance partners, we will be showcasing how technologies like device-to-device communication and augmented reality can deliver value for companies as they embark on digital transformation and build a truly Connected Enterprise."

At the event, Rockwell Automation is showcasing its offerings in multiple booths, including Microsoft, Cisco, Endress+Hauser and ODVA.

Microsoft (Hall 7, Stand C40)

Rockwell Automation and Microsoft continue to collaborate on operations management and IIoT offerings. In the Microsoft booth, Rockwell Automation will highlight a full suite of MES and scalable analytics offerings that scale from device to enterprise. This includes the FactoryTalk Analytics for Devices application, which features the Shelby bot based on Microsoft Cortana that allows voice commands to access device health and diagnostics. Users also will be able to access Shelby through the FactoryTalk TeamONE mobile app from Rockwell Automation and see how FactoryTalk applications integrate with the OSIsoft PI System.

Rockwell Automation and Microsoft also will demonstrate virtual design on a Microsoft HoloLens headset. The headset works in combination with the Rockwell Software Studio 5000 development environment to create a mixed reality experience. This allows users to see a machine's design and functionality before building it, and to utilise a "digital twin' model after a machine is built for training and to visualise design changes.

Attendees will see an IIoT-enabled packaging machine from packaging machine builder CAMA Group that uses iTRAK independent moving cart technology from Rockwell Automation for fast changeovers. Using the FactoryTalk Analytics for Machines application and the Allen-Bradley CompactLogix 5480 controller with Windows 10 IoT, the machine relays critical KPI data via the Microsoft Azure cloud to deliver real-time production insights for equipment builders and end users.

Cisco (Hall 8, Stand C13)

Rockwell Automation and Cisco continue to collaborate on industrial networking and security systems required for digital transformation. In the Cisco booth, attendees will see a connected Jaguar F-PACE car that was built on a production line using a Converged Plantwide Ethernet (CPwE) network architecture. Co-developed by Cisco and Rockwell Automation, CPwE architectures give users a foundation for deploying the latest technologies while reducing security risks.

A demo of the MagneMover LITE independent moving cart system from MagneMotion will bring together agile manufacturing and information gathering. The system, equipped with a FANUC robot, will show manufacturers how they can achieve flexible manufacturing and significantly increase throughput over traditional mechanical conveyor systems.

Attendees also will see a Rockwell Automation and Panduit industrial data centre, which provides all the hardware needed to transition to a virtualised environment.

Endress+Hauser (Hall 11, Stand C43)

Rockwell Automation will showcase process systems, including pre-engineered instrumentation and systems that deliver plantwide diagnostics and support greater system life-cycle management. Attendees also can learn about tools and guidance that can help reduce risk, implementation time and integration costs in their process systems.

ODVA (Hall 11, Stand E55)

Rockwell Automation also will have a presence in the ODVA booth. ODVA developed EtherNet/IP, a nonproprietary Ethernet technology that enables real-time control and information in industrial environments.

For more information please visit www.ra.rockwell.com, or visit the company at Hannover Messe 2017.