The ideal concept of 'digital engineering' is to store information about components, machines and systems in the 'digital twin' and to pass it on without interruption or even loss of information - through the various stages of the development process as well as ongoing operation and maintenance measures right up to the end of the life cycle.

Unfortunately, according to Frank Maier, CTO at Lenze, this ideal is still mostly the case today. The reason for this is that the necessary tools with common data models and standardized interfaces are not yet available to a sufficient extent: "There are still too many isolated solutions, especially in the development process, which are not able to exchange data with each other at a reasonable cost. Without a consistent flow of information, however, the positive effects of digital engineering cannot be achieved!"

The Industry 4.0 platform was able to announce significant progress this year, at least as far as the asset administration shell - the name given to the 'digital twin' in the Industry 4.0 reference architecture model (RAMI for short) - is concerned. For example, the framework for the VWS definition was finalized at the Hannover Messe 2018. According to Maier, this means that it is now possible for companies to develop a consistent tool chain based on a standardized digital twin for the first time, at least within a closed manufacturing world.

This is precisely the path Lenze now wants to take and get the machine manufacturers on board at an early stage. The first tools, prototypes and concept studies can already be seen in Nuremberg, which are intended to show what the OEM's development departments can rely on in the future. The showcase of the 'InA Tablet App', for example, demonstrates a simplified digital engineering process from the idea and planning phase to the simple parameterization of machine modules and machines, the automatic basic design of motors, gearboxes and drive technology via web service, as well as the selection of control and software components through to cloud connection, initial machine code generation and virtual commissioning. A mobile HMI reduced to the essentials for monitoring the machine and production as well as integrated 'augmented reality' for diagnostics round off the InA tablet app.

The second highlight is the prototype of a system design tool. This assists all those involved - be it the design engineer at the machine manufacturer or a Lenze expert - in the precise planning of the customer-specific machine. It is based on services that enable the automatic selection of drive and automation components and the right software - with the functional knowledge from the 'Lenze FAST' software toolbox in the background. The information about the machine, its functions or its components is mapped in a digital twin, which greatly supports consistency throughout the entire engineering chain.

In addition to the brainware, the hardware will not be neglected at the Lenze stand: among other things, the company from Lower Saxony will be presenting a new generation of controllers: the c510, c550 and c750 controllers as an essential addition to the existing automation platform when more computing capacity is required for even more complex applications and machines. Maier explains: "The new controllers enable users to integrate their own applications - such as camera software or databases - into the control system alongside the actual PLC application. Both systems can be operated in parallel and independently of each other on the controllers and communicate with each other. This eliminates the need for additional PC hardware."