Rockwell Automation unlocks new possibilities in HMIs

Rockwell Automation has announced the launch of the FactoryTalk Optix portfolio to enable industrial organisations to build versatile human machine interface (HMI) solutions that meet diverse customer requirements and adapt to evolving needs and technologies.

Industrial organisations can now benefit from components designed for the development and programming of intuitive, easy-to-use industrial applications. The FactoryTalk Optix portfolio provides an open architecture along with options for design, deployment, connectivity and extensibility that empower users to create innovative applications.

“The FactoryTalk Optix portfolio is a gamechanger,” said Guy Lopes, vice president of operations at Wulftec International. “It is an open solution that offers flexibility with a future-ready approach, and it allows us to design more innovative equipment faster through multi-user collaboration, web-based design and testing, as well as integrated version control. The FactoryTalk Optix portfolio is a big plus for us and we are very excited to have it standard on our machines.”  

The FactoryTalk Optix portfolio includes Rockwell Automation’s HMI platform and remote access software, as well as Embedded Edge Compute Modules and a wide range of deployment options. FactoryTalk Optix software provides unlimited flexibility and efficiencies with object-oriented design, wizard-based workflows and pre-built libraries.

“Rockwell Automation is continuing to introduce cloud-based solutions that will dramatically increase productivity by providing customers with new capabilities that overcome limitations and improve multi-user collaboration and support evolving workflows,” said Brian Shepherd, senior vice president of software and control at Rockwell Automation. “In a world that’s changing faster than ever, the best technology is designed for agility and the FactoryTalk Optix portfolio gives users choices and flexibility across the HMI solution lifecycle.”

The FactoryTalk Optix portfolio allows users to choose their own technology mix. For the first time, Rockwell Automation customers can use visualisation software to design HMI applications that can natively work with both Rockwell Automation and third-party controllers and run it on their choice of hardware. Users can connect to a variety of third-party software, devices or systems using software designed for interoperability and full OPC UA support. Users also only pay for the features they need, reducing unnecessary spend on unused features.

“Cloud infrastructure and software-as-a-service offerings are unlocking tremendous value in nearly every corner of the business world, and manufacturing is no different,” said Craig Resnick, vice president at ARC Advisory Group. “Rockwell Automation’s FactoryTalk Optix portfolio provides this value by helping to unlock new possibilities in the world of HMI through the cloud and on-premises.

“The portfolio is designed to help enable users to create more innovative designs and scale through seamless access to physically distant sites while also offering more flexible deployment choices, including dedicated graphic terminals and industrial PCs to support a wide array of applications.”