The PC-based control technology from Beckhoff has proven itself worldwide since 1980 in the widest variety of industries and applications, from the machine controller and the automation of wind turbines to building automation and AV and media technology. 

What was regarded 40 years ago as an outsider position has developed very quickly into a standard in the automation industry. Innovative product developments that underscored Beckhoff's PC-based control philosophy followed continuously and are regarded today as milestones in automation technology, such as the modular Bus Terminal system, the high-speed fieldbus EtherCAT or the Embedded PC. 

The basis for the universal usability of the Beckhoff control solution is its modularity, its scalability in terms of power and its openness toward other systems and tools. The PC-based control platform enables the integral and complete automation of all trades: from heating, ventilation, and air conditioning to room automation, including lighting, solar protection and window control, and from remote maintenance and energy data acquisition to operation and monitoring. 

For this purpose, Beckhoff offers an extensive toolkit of hardware and software components, which can be used both in individual trades and across systems. Sturdy Industrial PCs or Embedded Controllers with TwinCAT as the universal automation software virtually form the heart of the controller and integrate PLC, visualization, motion control, safety technology and measurement tasks. The Beckhoff I/O systems log data from all sensors and actuators: from daylight-dependent lighting to facade control, and from the control of heating, ventilation and air conditioning to the control of show lights, sound and projection. 

EtherCAT, the real-time fieldbus system, provides for the necessary communication speed. Through support for all common protocols and interfaces of media and building technology, the Beckhoff automation platform is able to address all industry-typical devices and systems. 

Due to the modularity of the system, only a new I/O signal has to be integrated into the terminal segment in the case of a function extension. The programming and configuration of the various trades and their functionalities is carried out with TwinCAT via a uniform software. Various software blocks are available for diagnostic functions and configuration, which greatly simplifies engineering.

Integrated building automation solutions

The PC-based control principle

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