One year of the ctrlX platform - what now?

Bosch Rexroth

Meinrad Happacher | Meinrad Happacher, 16.11.2020, 12:11

One year of the ctrlX platform - what now?

A year ago, Bosch Rexroth launched the ctrlX automation platform on the market. What has happened since then? What are the next steps?

Since its launch a year ago, "we have continuously developed the solution," says Steffen Winkler, the responsible sales manager at Bosch Rexroth, adding: "In the first phase of the market launch, we focused on classic machine and factory automation." In the meantime, however, Bosch Rexroth has also set out to tackle numerous other sectors. Winkler: "These include sectors such as building automation, intra- and goods logistics, energy generation and distribution and, increasingly, mobile automation applications." Over 200 customers worldwide are currently working on the implementation of ctrlX Automation.

The linchpin: the App Store

The innovations include not only new hardware (more on the new I/O portfolio and the safety controller), but above all new support features such as the App Store and the online community.

Users of the platform can now use apps from Bosch Rexroth, third-party providers or apps that they have created themselves. The ctrlX App Store gives them online access to all available applications and libraries for creating apps. "Our claim is absolute openness," says Winkler. Accordingly, Bosch Rexroth not only offers its own apps, but also a range of existing apps from third-party providers. Customers can already download AI apps for production and process improvements or intelligent software extensions for mechanisms such as gearboxes or gripping and clamping systems. At the same time, solutions for MES connectivity, speech recognition, network IT security and HMI visualization are available. "We have experienced software partners who can quickly implement additional functions for ctrlX Automation," explains Steffen Winkler. As of September, Bosch Rexroth has 12 partners and a good 30 apps in the store.

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