B&R’s industrial controllers take performance to a whole new level

With a TSN-enabled Ethernet interface, the X20CP3687X is well-equipped for the future.

The new B&R X20CP3687X controller combines the performance of an industrial PC with the compact design of the X20 controller series. With powerful processing, additional RAM and integrated onboard flash memory, the high-performance controller can handle complex control algorithms or even robotics applications that previously would have called for an industrial PC.

With a TSN-enabled Ethernet interface, the X20CP3687X is well-equipped for the future. It is fully prepared for communication using the manufacturer-independent communication standard OPC UA over TSN. The controller comes standard with connections for USB and POWERLINK.

Additional interfaces can be added via interface modules. Despite its powerful capabilities, the new module has exactly the same design and dimensions as all the other controllers in B&R’s X20 series.

B&R adds C-mount cameras to vision portfolio

B&R’s Smart Camera and Smart Sensor are now available with a C mount. This greatly expands the range of possible applications for the vision system. Along with the new cameras, B&R is introducing five C-mount lenses that cover a wide range of focal lengths from 12 to 50 mm. The lenses are specially optimised for the image sensors used to achieve maximum resolution and high detail contrast.

By committing to market standard C-mount connections, B&R offers users free selection of optimised B&R lenses or third-party lenses for special applications, such as those that require a telecentric lens. Special covers are available for applications that need IP67 protection. The covers seal the housing without compromising imaging performance.

B&R offers versatile operator panel for mobile machinery

B&R is expanding its mobile automation portfolio to include the Power Panel T50 mobile. The operator panel offers highly reliable operation for agricultural, construction and municipal vehicles. It is available with display diagonals of 5-inch, 7-inch or 10.1-inch.

The Power Panel T50 mobile’s die-cast aluminium housing provides the necessary mechanical rigidity. With IP67 protection, it easily handles heat, cold, dirt, moisture, shock and vibration. The projected capacitive touch screen can even be operated in the rain. With no fans or batteries, it’s also maintenance free.

A compact design, shallow installation depth and optimised arrangement of cable outlets make the Power Panel an easy-to-mount space saver. Available mounting types include standard brackets, panel mounting or front plate mounting.

The versatile Power Panel has an embedded browser for viewing HMI applications created with B&R’s mapp View software. Built on the web standards HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript, mapp View ensures optimal viewing on any device. B&R offers a multitude of widgets that can be dragged and dropped into place to create attractive user interfaces with gesture operation.

The Power Panel T50 mobile is easy to configure. Its Ethernet interface on an M12 connector allows for communication with the X90 controller, which acts as an HMI server. The supply voltage, a USB port and digital I/Os can be found on the Superseal multi-connector.

B&R’s leadership in plastics at Plastivision 2020 Plastivision 2020 will be held from January 16-20 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai. At this leading exhibition for plastic, B&R’s entire product range will be on display in Hall 1 Booth C4-2. The highlights will be B&R’s state-of-the-art solutions for machine builders, end users and system integrators in the plastics industry. These innovations from B&R are opening new opportunities for them to build and strengthen their competitive edge.

“In our opinion, India’s plastics industry is always keen to try new technologies and appreciates the benefits of our completely integrated automation solution. With the extraordinary scalability of our products, machine builders can easily and cost-effectively tailor their solutions to meet their customers’ demands,” says Dharmendra Patel, plastics industry expert at B&R India. “From control and HMI to drives, motors and safety technology, B&R offers the entire spectrum of machine and factory automation solutions and is always leading the industry with innovation.”

Faced with enormous cost and quality pressure, users are seeking solutions to reduce maintenance costs and downtime while optimizing availability and utilization. Production processes generate huge amounts of data, which helps generate valuable reports about equipment utilisation, asset availability, productivity and energy efficiency. Real time data acquisition with APROL enables complete online performance monitoring and visual overviews that make it possible to track quality for the entire manufacturing process and plant. The ready-to-use solutions available with B&R’s APROL process control system for energy monitoring, condition monitoring, advanced process control and process data acquisition provide higher benefits and strengthened core competencies.

B&R will also be exhibiting its machine vision solution, which is fully integrated into the automation landscape. “In the plastics industry, our vision solution is best for quick qualitative analysis where processes are complex. In the production process, our integrated machine vision system can be deployed for applications such as calibration, measurement, orientation, inspection, barcode reading, locating, positioning, preprocessing and comparison. Defective products can be immediately rejected, which saves raw materials and makes it possible to rectify problems at the same level – resulting in increased quality and productivity,” says Patel.

All visitors to the B&R booth will also be able to experience ABB products and services for the plastics industry, which helps manufacturers achieve higher quality, comply with standards and become responsive to the challenges of global markets.

B&R is an innovative automation company with headquarters in Austria and offices all around the world. On July 6, 2017, B&R became a business unit of the ABB Group. As a global leader in industrial automation, B&R combines state-of-the-art technology with advanced engineering to provide customers in virtually every industry with complete solutions for machine and factory automation, motion control, HMI and integrated safety technology. With Industrial IoT communication standards like OPC UA, POWERLINK and openSAFETY as well as the powerful Automation Studio software development environment, B&R is constantly redefining the future of automation engineering. The innovative spirit that keeps B&R at the forefront of industrial automation is driven by a commitment to simplifying processes and exceeding customer expectations.