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Reliable equipment operation and safety are primary industrial automation goals, but users are now looking toward secondary goals of data access and connectivity. Often described as industrial internet of things (IIoT) functionality or edge communications, these technologies are vital for connecting OT data to IT resources to help users run their systems more efficiently.

My article in the November/December 2021 issue of Plant Engineering, titled "Automation Designers Select Hardware, Software from Portfolio of Coordinated Products," discusses a range of product choices, and how automation designers are best served by working with a portfolio of compatible edge-ready devices.

Right sizing
Both OEMs and end users prefer to standardize on automation designs, but the reality is that equipment and projects come in all shapes and sizes. When it comes to PLCs, a compact PLC is right for small cell control applications and localized operations, while a large PLC or full-fledged edge controller is needed as complexity and data handling requirements increase. Designers need scalable choices for form factors, processing, 1Gb networking, and more. And in today’s operating environment, secure OPC UA capabilities and Achilles Level 2 Certified products are becoming must-haves.

Going small
There are many small applications where IIoT connectivity is necessary, and compact PLCs make sense from I/O count and localization standpoints. But designers are reluctant to sacrifice data-centric performance and security features based only on application size. Emerson recognizes the need and offers:

• Modular I/O which can be added to a nearby PLC, edge controller, or IPC.
• Intelligent configurable safety controllers.
• Edge-ready compact controllers.

A top choice for this role is the Emerson PACSystems^TM RSTi-EP CPE200 series compact PLC, packing large PLC performance, communication, and security features into a small footprint at a competitive price.

Consistent control
In past years, when designers selected different product lines, they faced the daunting task of learning new programming and interfaces. To avoid this, Emerson has applied the concept of consistency to all control and edge implementation products. Users benefit from a common configuration environment, needing only to become familiar with one toolset and one toolchain.

Future-proofing applications
Whether the application is small, large, or has elements of both, Emerson knows the key to IT/OT convergence and future data handling needs is the ability to select controllers of any size that offer secure OPC UA over 1Gb Ethernet.

Implementing right-sized automation is important for applications ranging from production plants, to work cells, to machine control, to simply monitoring a few points. A family of other products like safety controllers, intelligent I/O, and more should also be available to work in a complementary fashion with the automation.

Emerson compact PLCs, large PLCs, edge controllers, and more are part of a flexible automation portfolio, enabling re-use and portability of work, and helping users minimize design effort.