Milwaukee-based Rockwell Automation has introduced a new suite of cloud-based development tools for industrial automation projects, as part of its FactoryTalk family of industrial software. The new FactoryTalk Design Hub offering covers remote design, visualization, twinning, storage, connectivity, and its pitched to enable engineering teams to collaborate remotely on automation projects. It plugs into other FactoryTalk software tools from Rockwell Automation, integrating a series of new cloud-based tools into a digital thread for product development.
A statement from the firm describes five different modules. These include the FactoryTalk Design Studio platform, itself, a “ground-up” in-house development that lets industrial engineers access project blueprints and design tools from a web browser, without any downloads or installs. It also includes FactoryTalk Optix Software, a human-machine interface (HMI) visualization programme within the Design Hub platform, and FactoryTalk Twin Studio, also within Design Hub, which offers digital twinning functions.
Besides, Rockwell Automation is offering FactoryTalk Vault, affording secure cloud storage for design teams, and FactoryTalk Remote Access Solution, to “connect domain experts to critical issues” from remote locations. It said the new cloud suite will improve design productivity, time to market, and build costs. A statement said: “FactoryTalk Design Hub improves development and deployment of automation projects for industrial organizations, while adhering to the latest security standards and IT best practices.”
Brian Shepherd, senior vice president for software and control at Rockwell, said: “In this new age of ‘work from anywhere,’ having centralized, on-demand design tools is critical for businesses to scale production and easily adapt to evolving customer needs. FactoryTalk Design Hub gives manufacturing engineers access to the full breadth of Rockwell Automation tools and capabilities in a centralized nexus for successful design and collaboration across their team and the greater enterprise.”
A quote from ARC Advisory Group was included in the release, saying: “The digital transformation of automation design… requires that all software tools are connected to each other by a digital thread to maximize collaboration, scalability, and productivity. Rockwell’s [offering] enables digital thread connectivity between its design, visualization, digital twin, storage, and remote access software tools that provide control system developers with on-demand access to all automation designs as needed regardless of their location.”
