Thanks to edge computing, users should be able to better integrate their information technology with the operating level than before. Building on this trend, Siemens is now making it possible to manage the edge from the cloud with Industrial Edge Management (IEM).

IEM is a software portal for the management of IoT solutions, consisting of hardware and software, in the factory. It can be used to centrally manage all devices, applications and users integrated in Siemens Industrial Edge. Siemens now also offers this system as cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS): IEM Cloud is available as a fully managed service and includes both infrastructure and as well as the set-up of the system. The operational system requirements and configuration effort for users are kept to a minimum. Industrial edge devices can be integrated directly into the management system. Both automation software and hardware from Siemens and third-party providers can be managed via IEM Cloud. "With IEM Cloud, we are making industrial edge computing as easy as possible for our customers: they can use IEM Cloud without having to provide the IT resources required for edge computing themselves," says Rainer Brehm, CEO Factory Automation at Siemens.

New devices for the industrial edge ecosystem

In addition to the software, Siemens is also expanding its Industrial Edge ecosystem with additional hardware: Additional Simatic industrial PCs (x86 processor-based) as well as industrial edge devices from the Scalance and Simatic IoT device family based on ARM processors are now available. In addition, Weidmüller is the first third-party manufacturer in the Siemens ecosystem to offer an edge device based on this processor architecture with the u-control M4000. The ARM processor-based devices are primarily designed for less data-intensive applications - such as remote access and connectivity solutions, e.g. as a gateway. In addition, users can now convert their existing x86 processor-based IPCs from third-party suppliers into fully functional industrial edge devices with the new Siemens Industrial Edge Own Device software, manage them centrally and thus integrate existing hardware into their IoT environment.

Low-code programming for Industrial Edge

With the low-code development environment from Mendix, apps can be developed for the field level in production without programming knowledge. Automation engineers can develop industry-specific apps in their Mendix Studio Pro development environment with the new Industrial Edge plugin and install them seamlessly on the relevant devices at field level. Brehm: "With Mendix on Edge, app development for industrial edge computing is easier than ever before. Prototyping is up to ten times faster this way and uses up to 70 percent less programming resources than with conventional methods. Mendix on Edge is driving the integration of IT and OT in the industry even further."