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Connectivity software for PLCs

What is a PLC?

Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are industrial computers that have been adapted for controlling manufacturing operations. Differing in size, some PLCs will have up to ten input/output connections, others can have thousands. Bigger PLC systems are likely to connect with other systems; these could be SCADA systems, BMS systems, other PLCs or any other industrial systems.

Without PLC software...

Your factory might be facing some common challenges:

Costly downtime and repairs – when asset data isn’t readily available, vibration or energy use may begin to increase, suggesting an issue that needs attention. This can lead to downtime or maintenance callouts, which can be very costly.
Energy waste during the energy crisis – the UK energy crisis has proved fertile ground for making changes to energy consumption. Gaining energy data from assets can allow for fully optimised consumption and result in zero-waste.
Too much data with no way of accessing – without one unified point of truth, data is often siloed and difficult to access. This means making the right decisions to cut energy and asset maintenance costs can often be obscured. Gaining access to this data in a centralised platform gives managers the power to make the best operational decisions, save money and achieve peak asset performance.

It is expected that the smart manufacturing market will grow to approximately 480 billion U.S. dollars by 2023.

The power of the connected factory

With advanced computer software for PLC, SCADA and BMS systems, your factory can become an IoT-driven smart facility. Legacy assets can be given new life and energy consumption can be fully optimised.

Peak asset performance

By connecting to PLC’s, CNC machines, SCADA and BMS systems, we’re able to see how assets are performing, predict failures and set benchmarks for performances (along with triggers and alerting to flag under-performance. This massively helps with reducing downtime and maintaining peak performance.

Eliminating energy waste

Visibility of energy data allows users to consume only the energy they need, when it is at its most affordable. This means big savings on energy costs and a significant reduction to carbon emissions.

Maximum efficiency through automation

Set up custom triggers and alerts to create real-time responses to potential faults or asset problems. Automatically react to peak energy costs by reducing consumption where it isn’t required. You can use the Hark Platform to set up energy performance indicators and develop energy baselines, to get the very best out of your energy consumption.

Perks of connecting a PLC to the cloud

Give teams secure access to data that previously would be locked away in SCADA systems
Reduce security and operational risks while enabling teams to utilise data from OT assets
Unlock the use of AI and Machine Learning on production and asset data with minimal effort
Create a single pane of glass for assets across multiple sites and facilities

Typical use cases and outcomes:

Change operations and shift patterns to reduce consumption and increase efficiency 📈
Spot consumption patterns 📊
Early indicators of wear and tear
Support maintenance programs through real-time data 🔨
Identify high-energy-consuming assets ⚡️

PLC cloud compatibility

Protocols: Connecting to devices and assets has been made simple. The Hark Platform is entirely protocol-agnostic; you’re able to use Modbus, BACnet, MQTT, OPC-UA and more. Now you can unify all of that asset data into a central location, giving you a birds-eye view of your entire estate, in one platform, that’s fully accessible for you and the relevant members of your team.

Vendors: Are the PLCs in your estate all from different vendors? No problem, you can easily connect them all to the Hark Platform. Siemens, Allen Bradley, Honeywell, Rockwell Automation, Mitsubishi, Schneider Electric – you can connect all of these and more to create a unified view of your estate.

Connect your industrial assets to the cloud today!