Dr. Bürger, you have been responsible for Weidmüller's automation business as Head of Automation Products & Solutions for a good two years now. You re-entered this business nine years ago and are now stepping up your activities in the direction of software: are you on the right track?

We are confident that the demand for automation, IIoT and digitalization will continue to grow in the market. And yes, we definitely believe we are on the right track. We are already very well positioned with our existing portfolio: From data acquisition to data analysis and visualization, we cover all relevant levels. Building on this, we are gradually expanding our portfolio with further solutions for industrial IoT and automation.

With u-OS, you are now presenting a Linux-based, open operating system for your IoT and automation devices at the SPS. How important is this operating system?

u-OS is the central software product for our "Data Pre-Processing & Control" offering. The operating system is the logical further development of our web-based control system u-create web, which we introduced a few years ago. u-OS will enable the entire Weidmüller software product landscape - Codesys, u-create web, Procon-Web and Industrial AutoML - as well as those of our partners to be operated consistently on all devices with a uniform user experience. u-OS not only includes the classic functionalities of an operating system, but also mechanisms such as rollout management. It also includes middleware as an execution environment for microservices.

There are now several open, Linux-based software solutions for automation systems on the market. Where is u-OS positioned here and will the operating system only run on Weidmüller hardware?

u-OS is essentially a compilation of open source technologies or de facto standards. When selecting the technology blocks, our maxim is to maintain user independence. Accordingly, we avoid proprietary extensions of the technologies used. For example, we rely on Native Codesys and not on an OEM-specific derivative. We also do not see u-OS as a self-contained, separate automation or ecosystem, but rather want to connect the many existing ecosystems with each other.

The roadmap also envisages that users will also be able to use u-OS on third-party systems or build their own firmware based on u-OS. We plan to implement this at a later date - also and above all depending on customer feedback.

Some experts assume that only very few operating systems will prevail in automation technology in the long term. Do you disagree with this in terms of your new development?

We certainly agree, if we look at the relevant components: When it comes to the actual operating system itself, Linux has already asserted itself. Codesys has also established itself as an independent provider for IEC61131-3. OPC UA will establish itself as a communication interface, just as fieldbus solutions have established themselves.

However, we do not believe that there will only be one overall system. There are relevant differences for customers and a clear potential for differentiation, for example with regard to areas of application or the optimal connection of modular hardware such as IOs. And that is a good thing.

The automation market is definitely occupied by strong competitors. Where do you see the profitable field for Weidmüller? And what is your USP?

There will no longer be a separation between industrial automation and IoT in the future. This is exactly where we play to our strengths. Our consistent portfolio covers all levels from data acquisition, data processing and control to data communication, data analysis and visualization. This allows us to score very well with our customer offering "Enabler from Data to Value". We also have strong differentiations in the individual products that speak for us: Industrial AutoML, which enables the application of machine learning easily and efficiently, or our modular IO portfolio u-remote, where we see ourselves as a technology leader, are just two examples.

SPS 2022: Hall 7, Stand 160