News

Global energy management and automation specialistSchneider Electrichas unveiled an expansive suite of industrial technology designed to accelerate IT/OT convergence, introducing high-performance motion controllers, decentralized servo drives, and localized hardware infrastructure optimized for software-defined manufacturing.

The commercial realization of digital transformation requires a deeper synchronization between enterprise data environments and physical plant assets. Demonstrating this operational evolution, the debut of the Modicon M660 motion controller establishes a more versatile baseline for complex multi-axis machinery. Engineered on a 64-bit Intel processing architecture, this industrial computing platform transcends the traditional boundaries of dedicated motion hardware by executing intensive real-time control algorithms alongside localized simulation tools. The inclusion of this expanded computing capacity allows manufacturing engineers to run native predictive analytics software and sophisticated machine learning protocols directly at the device level, simplifying the structural deployment of virtual commissioning and real-time operational optimization.

Physical floor layouts are simultaneously being reshaped by a distinct shift toward decentralized field infrastructure. Addressing this trend, the Lexium 38i series integrates low-voltage servo and stepper drive electronics directly onto the motor housing. Supporting power requirements up to 1.2 kW, these decentralized units minimize electrical enclosure space and drastically reduce complex field wiring requirements across expansive conveyor networks and multi-station assembly lines. This localized power delivery model is mirrored in the introduction of the Modicon Edge I/O NTS platform. This distributed interface provides flexible, high-density connection points for digital, analog, and complex specialized signaling across a variety of standard Ethernet-based networks, giving industrial networks the scalability to process thousands of distinct points without encountering local processing bottlenecks.

Material handling and component packaging throughput receive a major boost with the addition of the Lexium SCARA robot to the company's kinematic portfolio. Optimized for high-speed pick-and-place routines, this compact robotic mechanism features an extended vertical z-arm stroke to expand operational reach within restricted workcells. By embedding all drive electronics and regulatory control logic directly inside the mechanical base, plant engineers can deploy the robotic cell with minimal peripheral wiring infrastructure. Optional IP65 hardware upgrades further ensure long-term mechanical reliability within harsh automotive or electronics manufacturing environments.

On the software front, the Linux-based EcoStruxure edge environment receives critical application updates, allowing system integrators to better customize localized edge environments for specific factory workloads. Concurrently, the cloud-based CONNECT data platform powered by AVEVA has been upgraded to bridge siloed field diagnostics with broader enterprise data lakes, improving the contextualization of operational telemetry for advanced data models. Engineering workflows are further streamlined through ETAP's SEE Electrical 3D Panel software, which introduces automated layout optimization for physical control cabinet fabrication. By creating a unified digital link with primary electrical CAD software, the system automatically exports precise dimensional data for automatic drilling, enclosure milling, and high-volume wire preparation.

Heavy power applications are addressed through the new Altivar ATV6100 medium-voltagefrequency inverter. Engineered to reduce the physical footprint of high-horsepower motor management, this drive incorporates advanced lower-power harmonics management to protect upstream distribution equipment while maximizing grid efficiency. By combining compact cabinet designs with comprehensive asset tracking analytics, the system reduces routine preventive maintenance cycles and shortens mechanical installation schedules, supporting the industrial sector's ongoing mandate to minimize carbon intensity and control total life-cycle operational costs.

Written by: Marcus Vance, an industrial controls engineer with over sixteen years of hands-on experience designing distributed PLC architectures, migrating legacy fieldbus systems to industrial Ethernet, and implementing high-speed motion control networks for heavy manufacturing facilities.