IT in Manufacturing


TwinCAT Building Automation

May 2014 IT in Manufacturing

Beckhoff’s TwinCAT Building Automation is a new TwinCAT supplement that reduces engineering times and integrates all key components of a modern building automation system. Comprehensive software libraries and supplements extend the concept of the modular range of automation components to the software level.

As a prerequisite to meet the high demands on building automation such as user comfort, energy savings, low investment and operating costs, and a rapid return on investment (ROI), a fully coordinated control system for all the technical components of a building is required. The TwinCAT Building Automation software includes a universal functional range for all building systems. The new TwinCAT supplement comprises three basic elements:

* TwinCAT BA PLC Libraries: basic functions for all systems.

* TwinCAT BA PLC Templates: function templates for all systems.

* TwinCAT BA Project Builder: configuration tool for linking templates, hardware and BACnet objects.

TwinCAT BA PLC Libraries

The TwinCAT BA PLC Libraries provide the system integrator with established and tested building blocks, such as basic functions for closed-loop control, signal processing, special mathematical functions, fault signal processing and general system functions.

TwinCAT BA PLC Templates

The TwinCAT BA PLC Templates are complete TwinCAT program blocks for sensors and actuators, complete modules, as well as partial and whole systems in the areas of HVAC and room automation. Unlike conventional PLC libraries, the TwinCAT BA PLC Templates can be imported into the PLC programs as whole modules, which the system integrator can then modify as needed. They can also create their own TwinCAT BA PLC templates.

TwinCAT BA Project Builder

Having a consistent TwinCAT project file structure is a prerequisite for proper plant maintenance. The central underlying idea is the component identification system, which assigns a name to each data point and program module according to defined rules. The TwinCAT BA Project Builder automatically generates for all Beckhoff controllers the project files for TwinCAT PLC Control functions and the TwinCAT System Manager. It can be expanded with custom PLC templates for full engineering flexibility, while special add-ins let you integrate planning resources (for example, Excel lists) as well as visualisation systems. An open add-in interface allows you to integrate planning tools, import Excel lists from TRIC (MSR Software), or connect visualisation systems.

For more information contact Kenneth McPherson, Beckhoff Automation, +27 (0)11 795 2898, [email protected], www.beckhoff.co.za



Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Bringing brownfield plants back to life
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Today’s brownfield plants are typically characterised by outdated equipment and processes, and face challenges ranging from inefficient operations to safety hazards. However, all is not lost, as these plants stand to gain a lot from digitalisation and automation.

Read more...
Generative AI for immersive real-time visualisation
Siemens South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Siemens will deepen its collaboration with NVIDIA to help build the industrial metaverse.

Read more...
Award-winning Gen AI solutions
IT in Manufacturing
Amazon Web Services recently hosted an exclusive event in South Africa on ‘Elevating Possibilities with Partners - a Showcase of GenAI Excellence’. This event brought together ten esteemed partners, including Synthesis Software Technologies, to highlight innovative advancements in the field of Generative AI.

Read more...
AI is driving data centres to the edge
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
The data centre has become the cornerstone that links our digitally interconnected world. At the same time, the rapid growth and application of AI and machine learning (ML) is shaping the design and operation of data centres.

Read more...
Full-scale central control room simulator
Valmet Automation IT in Manufacturing
Valmet will deliver a full-scale central control room simulator to Nordic Ren-Gas, the leading Nordic green hydrogen and e-methane developer in Finland.

Read more...
Re-imagining business operations with the power of AI
IT in Manufacturing
inq. has introduced a range of artificial intelligence solutions to assist organisations across industry verticals in optimising business operations and improving internal efficiencies.

Read more...
Safe, sustainable cycling helmet technology
Siemens South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Lazer Sport, one of Europe’s leading cycling helmet manufacturers, has adopted the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of industry software to bring to market KinetiCore, its new proprietary rotational impact protection technology.

Read more...
Flexible EtherCAT communication interface for DALI-2
Beckhoff Automation Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
The EL6821 EtherCAT Terminal from Beckhoff allows up to 64 DALI/DALI-2 slaves and 64 DALI-2 input devices to be connected. The TwinCAT 3 System Manager makes it easy to configure and parameterise DALI devices flexibly.

Read more...
EtherCAT-based control technology for building automation
Beckhoff Automation Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Modern non-residential buildings place many high demands on building automation. This can be optimally implemented with EtherCAT-based control technology from Beckhoff, which provides an efficient central automation architecture thanks to ultra-fast data communication.

Read more...
Defending against modern-day cyber threats
IT in Manufacturing
The anatomy of cyber threats has changed, meaning that organisations can no longer rely on traditional cybersecurity solutions to protect their perimeter, but should instead rethink their data protection strategy and become proactive in their defence against breaches.

Read more...