Rockwell’s Design Hub Looks to Speed Time to Market

Automation companies continue to compete on ease of use. Rockwell has stepped forward by taking a number of its core software solutions to the cloud. The goal is to make it easier for users to collaborate as they design machines and production lines. With the launch of FactoryTalk Design Hub, manufacturers and plant operators can use the cloud to speed automation. Teams at all levels and locations can enhance collaboration, improve lifecycle management, and use on-demand access to cloud-based software. The goal is to increase design productivity, improve time to market, and create systems that cost less to build and maintain.

“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,” Brian Shepherd, Rockwell’s SVP of software and control said in a statement.“ “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.”

The design hub was created to improve the development and deployment of automation projects while adhering to the latest security standards and information technology best practices. It was created to enable teams to access designs on demand from any web browser with software that is continually up to date. “The digital transformation of automation design capabilities requires both the cloud to maximize control system developers’ productivity, and it also requires that all software tools are connected by a digital thread to maximize collaboration, scalability, and productivity,” said Craig Resnick, VP of ARC Advisory Group is an analysis of the design hub. “Rockwell Automation’s FactoryTalk Design Hub enables seamless digital thread connectivity between its design, visualization, digital twin, storage, and remote access software tools that provide control system developers with immediate on-demand access to all automation designs as needed regardless of their location, helping these companies to accelerate their initiatives ranging from digital transformation to IT/OT convergence.”

FactoryTalk Design Studio

This is a new cloud-native software product built from the ground up to improve system design efficiency. Available anytime, anywhere using only a web browser, there are no downloads or installs required and no software maintenance responsibility. Beginning with controller design, FactoryTalk Design Studio reduces development time by leveraging modern software development practices and an integrated version control system. Teams can collaborate with automated tools to share and merge changes, and project sizes can scale dynamically with support for multiple controllers in a single project. FactoryTalk Design Studio is ready to change the way industrial automation systems are created.

FactoryTalk Optix Software

Optix is a new product addition to the Rockwell Automation visualization portfolio. FactoryTalk Optix is the first cloud-enabled HMI product to be launched within FactoryTalk Design Hub. With FactoryTalk Optix Studio, users can design, test, and deploy applications directly from a web browser. Optional cloud-based connectivity enables new collaborative workflows that allow modifications to be made from anywhere, anytime. FactoryTalk Optix is designed to improve processes, efficiency, and deliverables using a scalable, modern platform.

FactoryTalk Twin Studio

Twin Studio is an end-to-end automation design solution where users can design, program, simulate, emulate, and virtually commission in one cloud environment. The cloud-hosted ecosystem employs Rockwell’s best-of-breed software products and is accessible from anywhere using a web browser. FactoryTalk Twin Studio allows users to develop their next project better and faster by moving seamlessly across Rockwell design solutions and collaborating with teammates in real time.

FactoryTalk Vault

Vault provides secure, cloud-native centralized storage for manufacturing design teams. With its modern version and access control, FactoryTalk Vault with advanced Design Tools allows for greater insights into designs through in-depth analysis of controller projects. Teams can now spend more time working on projects and less time searching for files or working from outdated versions.

FactoryTalk Remote Access Solution

The remote access functionality enables secure connections to equipment, allowing teams to respond to needs faster and rapidly resolve production issues from anywhere. FactoryTalk Remote Access quickly connects domain experts to critical issues, no matter the physical location of either, increasing support response time and reducing the costs associated with travel and asset downtime.