New partners in the ctrlX World: Range of hardware and software becomes increasingly diverse

• SEW-EURODRIVE, Emerson, Cognibotics, and Schmersal are new ctrlX World partners
• New hardware and software in the areas of drives, pneumatics, safety and programming
• ctrlX OS Ecosystem with growing scope of solutions

Bosch Rexroth and its partners are providing an increasingly broad range of solutions at all levels of automation. ctrlX World encompassing the automation system ctrlX AUTOMATION and the operating system ctrlX OS is constantly expanding and adding new partners, such as SEW-EURODRIVE, Emerson, Cognibotics and Schmersal. This means that users have an ever-growing range of hardware, software and apps at their disposal – including digital drive control, pneumatic solutions, machine safety and intuitive development environments.

The automation system ctrlX AUTOMATION supplies all the components for complete automation solutions. These include controls, I/Os, IPCs, HMIs, safety solutions and drives as well as comprehensive motion, PLC and IoT functionalities. With ctrlX OS, Bosch Rexroth has also developed a Linux-based, open operating system with its own ecosystem, which is also available to third-party vendors, including competitors. The partner network ctrlX World is continuously expanding this scope of available solutions with hardware, software and in particular apps.

"Our partner world reflects the market, growing in line with the requirements of our customers. They benefit from greater choice, a shorter time to market and the possibility of mapping entire value chains end to end," says Steffen Winkler, Senior Vice President Sales, Business Unit Automation & Electrification Solutions at Bosch Rexroth.

Drives from SEW-EURODRIVE now part of the ctrlX OS Ecosystem

ctrlX World welcomes another drive technology provider – SEW-EURODRIVE. This means that the company’s frequency converters and gear motors have been added to the ctrlX OS Ecosystem. Further drives as well as an app for the ctrlX OS Store are set to follow. In the future, it will be possible to use the app to control drives according to the CiA standard (CAN in Automation), specifically the profile CiA 402, conveniently via a modern frontend.

This will give users more options for controlling and performing diagnostics on drives. Multiple drives from SEW-EURODRIVE can be addressed centrally via hardware running ctrlX OS, making handling easier and increasing efficiency.

Emerson provides pneumatics and handling solutions

With its Aventics brand, Emerson expands the ctrlX World by providing powerful solutions in pneumatics and servo-electric handling. These include the IIoT-capable, modular AV valve system, which can be seamlessly connected to ctrlX OS. Users can comprehensively control valve functions, use intelligent I/O capabilities and analyze diagnostic data in detail – an ideal basis for transparent, efficient processes.

In addition, Emerson plans to integrate Aventics servo-electric handling systems into the ctrlX OS Ecosystem. This will enable users to control movement sequences precisely, carry out targeted diagnostics, and thus achieve greater efficiency and flexibility in automated applications.

Cognibotics provides intuitive programming with Juliet&Romeo

ctrlX World now includes a robotics and software specialist, Cognibotics. The programming framework Juliet&Romeo greatly simplifies robot motion programming. It allows developers and engineers to create logic in a clear and easy-to-maintain way, with modular design, intelligent syntax and seamless integration into existing toolchains.

The framework runs natively on all ctrlX OS devices. It provides real-time synchronization, supports continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) and facilitates debugging and deployment. In this way, it promotes agile development processes, accelerates implementation and shortens time to market.

Schmersal provides components for machine safety

Schmersal is the first pure provider of safety solutions to be part of the partner network ctrlX World. The Safety Fieldbox from Schmersal enables simple, decentralized connection of up to eight safety devices such as sensors, tumblers, light curtains or emergency stop buttons via pre-assembled 8-pin M12 connectors – which reduces the wiring required as well as errors.

The Safety Fieldbox communicates seamlessly with the control system ctrlX SAFETY via Safety over EtherCAT (FSoE) or with ctrlX OS devices using the new Safety PLC app. This enables ctrlX OS-based machine solutions and easy installation and commissioning of safety components.

ctrlX World is growing rapidly

"We now have over 110 providers in ctrlX World. For our customers, this means they can combine automation solutions even more freely, scale them more quickly and bring innovations directly to industry," Winkler summarizes.

Caption: ctrlX World is continuing to expand. At the 7th ctrlX AUTOMATION trade press conference, two of the new partners presented their solutions. From left to right: Christian Lumpe, Schmersal, Steffen Winkler, Bosch Rexroth, Stefan Schmitt, Christian Kessler, Tobias Nittel, SEW-EURODRIVE, Hans Michael Krause, Bosch Rexroth. (Image source: Bosch Rexroth AG)