Openness

Vertical integration is a core piece of the HMI/SCADA software zenon. From the process data flow into the company wide planning and vice versa: Central planning guidelines are forwarded automatically to the field level.

So a SCADA system has to fulfil two requirements perfectly: 1st variable connection to the control level with different PLCs 2nd offer an efficient interface to higher ranking MIS and ERP systems.

Often, links to all sorts of relational databases, diverse products from third-party manufacturers who want to connect to the process but lack their own direct interface to do so, as well as links to data-warehouse functions, are also required.

Integration in practice

The central control and protection system of BMW’s plant in Regensburg, for example, integrates in addition to 270 individual PLCs, a link to SAP, MP5, Oracle databases, various web services, energy optimisation systems (B.Data) and more.

Meanwhile, horizontal integration is also utilised. If necessary, control over local projects used in another plant is taken over.

zenon is open to new things

Compatibility is a key characteristic of zenon. Alongside the more than 250 different connection types for the control level (from standard all the way to proprietary protocols) and an optimised ERP link, zenon simplifies the integration of any applications.

For this purpose, an extensive VBA integration in the editor and runtime is available, as well as a powerful COM interface, an XML interface, the integrated IEC61131-3 STRATON interface and ActiveX support, a high-performance SQL interface and the zenON Gateway with numerous other protocols and interfaces.

zenon’s unparalleled network technology not only makes configuration extremely easy but also offers the unique opportunity of “horizontally integrating” multi-plant networks.