Bi-directional communication with shop-floor controllers for MES-type application, based on open and standardized architecture
Situation
Background
Automotive OEM plans to update filling station application.
In a first step, deployment in one location. Other locations to follow.
In parallel, the customer is working on a largescale deployment of cloud-based IoT platform. Ideally the solution architectures are compatible.
Business need
Customer does not want to deploy proprietary hardware for the new filling station application.
Instead, the customer decided to build the new filling station solution based on the new and open IoT platform architecture, using standardized interfaces and protocols.
The new solution shall be designed such that it scales easily.
Technical Requirements
Gateway component must support MQTT, for communication with local MQTT broker
Bi-directional data exchange, to implement MES-like functionality
Access to machine data from Siemens S7-300/400 PLCs (majority), plus a small number of Siemens S7-1200 PLCs
Security requirements, incl. user management with LDAP
Solution
For a roll-out of the new filling station application, the customer decided to deploy 50+ instances of Softing‘s edgeConnector Siemens running on standard IPCs.
The customer uses the container management platform Red Hat OpenShift to manage the installation. For PoCs and test installations, the customer also uses portainer.
Benefits
Robust machine connectivity, bidirectional for MES-type application.
Flexible architecture based on standards, no vendor lock-in
Connectivity with PLCs can be management by standardized and well-known IT tools