To provide plants, factories and machine builders with even more system-integrated solutions for Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Beckhoff Automation has announced Microsoft Azure™ certification for the C6015 Industrial PC (IPC) and CX5140 Embedded PC. All certified devices from Beckhoff can be found in the Microsoft “Azure Certified for IoT” device catalog, providing customers with an easy-to-reference guide for Azure-compatible devices. Both the C6015 IPC and CX5140 Embedded PC offer a powerful set of features and can help implement cloud connectivity in a wide range of industries.

The compact C6015 IPC opens up new application areas for PC-based control technology, especially those with pronounced cost or space restraints. Fully suited to industrial applications, the cabinet-mounted IPC with Intel Atom processor options (1-, 2- or 4-cores) is compact, measuring just 82 x 82 x 40 mm. The larger CX5140 Embedded PCs are equipped with 4-core Intel Atom processors and feature a direct backplane connection to the Beckhoff I/O system (EtherCAT Terminals or Bus Terminals).

TwinCAT automation software from Beckhoff establishes the IoT connectivity for these PC-based control devices. When running TwinCAT, the same hardware device used for IoT can handle all aspects of machine automation – from PLC and motion control, to visualization and HMI functionality – all in a compact format for cabinet mounting or DIN rail mounting.

Beckhoff has maintained a long-standing development partnership with Microsoft. This began with the company’s early commitment to deploy standard Windows operating systems for industrial applications across all product lines. With the rise of IoT, IIoT and Industrie 4.0 concepts, Beckhoff continues to work closely with Microsoft to certify PC-based control devices for use with Azure cloud services.

The recent inclusion of these two additional Beckhoff devices in the Azure Certified for IoT device catalog assures Azure cloud connectivity and eliminates the need for compatibility testing on the part of end users. Users will know immediately that their Beckhoff devices will seamlessly connect to Azure cloud systems and deliver the required functionality.

For more information, visit www.beckhoffautomation.com.