Products and Solutions

Rockwell Automation Introduces New Remote Access Solution

New solution allows OEMs to troubleshoot equipment from anywhere and reduce customer downtime

During the global pandemic, OEMs have been using remote connectivity to customers’ equipment not only to reduce workplace exposure to COVID-19, but also reduce travel, service equipment faster and reduce downtime. Now, OEMs can more easily realize the benefits of remote access using the new remote access solution for industrial equipment from Rockwell Automation.

The solution packages together everything OEMs need to remotely access and support equipment, including:

• The FactoryTalk® Remote Access™ cloud-based software, which allows OEMs to manage, configure and initiate secure connections to a customer’s equipment.
• The Stratix® 4300 Remote Access Router, which is installed at the customer’s site to provide remote access to the equipment.

The remote access solution incorporates robust security capabilities including multi-factor authentication and encrypted protocols. A digital input also gives on-site staff control of remote connections, so they’re only made when enabled locally.

To ease deployment, the solution requires no changes to an existing architecture so long as an Ethernet port is available.

“OEMs that have adopted remote access to reduce on-site visitors during the pandemic quickly discovered it could also help them reduce costs and respond more quickly to customer needs,” said Julie Nguyen, product manager, Rockwell Automation. “Now, demand for remote access is growing, and we can help companies implement it with robust security and a simplified deployment.”

The remote access solution can position OEMs to meet current and future remote support needs. The router supports today’s data requirements, and all-gigabit ports make it ready for newer, more bandwidth-heavy remote support capabilities as needed.

The solution is ideal for OEMs that want to support remote and hard-to-reach operations, like those found in oil and gas and mining, metals, and cement industries. The solution can also ease support in industries like CPG, where OEMs today may need to travel long distances to support equipment

Additionally, OEMs can use the solution to reimagine how they support customers, such as with virtual commissioning and remote firmware management.

This new solution designed for OEMs is only the latest remote access offering from Rockwell Automation. The company also offers a wide range of remote access services for manufacturers, including 24/7 remote application monitoring and support to help customers proactively address maintenance issues. Remote threat detection services also help customers monitor, detect, and react to cybersecurity threats at the deepest levels of their OT network traffic. 

Rockwell Automation Announces New Initiatives to Bolster Cybersecurity Offering for Customers

Partnerships with Dragos and CrowdStrike and a new Cybersecurity Operations Center are helping Rockwell Automation customers adopt a more proactive cybersecurity approach covering the entire attack continuum – before, during, and after an event

Rockwell Automation announced new investments to enhance its information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) cybersecurity offering, better equipping customers with the protection they need in today’s perilous environment. These initiatives include strategic partnerships with Dragos, Inc. and CrowdStrike, as well as the establishment of a new Cybersecurity Operations Center in Israel.

“Implementing strong cybersecurity is no longer a best practice, but a must do,” said Rachael Conrad, vice president and general manager of Global Services at Rockwell Automation. “For manufacturers, protection starts with a rock-solid foundation of OT expertise. That’s why we’re doubling down on our cybersecurity investment to build the most robust, specialized IT/OT cybersecurity offering in the market.”

Incident Response, Threat Intelligence

Rockwell Automation and Dragos, a global leader in cybersecurity for industrial control systems (ICS)/OT environments, have announced a partnership that combines Rockwell Automation’s global industry, application, and ICS domain expertise with Dragos’s world-class technology, professional services, and threat intelligence services. This partnership enhances the ability of every industrial customer to better protect, respond, and recover from a cybersecurity incident.

The partnership will focus on incident response services and threat intelligence. The two companies’ combined capabilities will increase the speed in which customers can assess and remediate a cybersecurity threat by offering enhanced incident response services. Additionally, Rockwell Automation and Dragos experts will offer a mutually developed threat intel feed.

“Our investment and partnership with Dragos will help our industrial automation customers achieve their connected by providing a safe and secure OT infrastructure,” Conrad said. “As the frequency and severity of cybersecurity threats continue to rise in our industry, it’s critical that automation leaders partner with cybersecurity leaders to share expertise and co-innovate on ways to protect our customers.”

Cloud-Delivered Endpoint Protection

Rockwell Automation and CrowdStrike, a leader in cloud-delivered endpoint and workload protection, have formed a partnership to deliver end-to-end cybersecurity and network service solutions to customers. The partnership will examine initiatives for CrowdStrike’s cloud-native, AI-powered Falcon platform with Rockwell Automation’s global deployment, network architecture, support, OT, and managed services capabilities to deliver differentiated solutions that address customer cybersecurity pain points.

“Rockwell Automation’s partnership with CrowdStrike enables us to provide fully integrated, end-to-end industrial security services and solutions across the entire customer cybersecurity journey, from threat detection through response and recovery from cyber incidents,” Conrad said. “Combining CrowdStrike’s leading endpoint protection platform with Rockwell Automation’s broad array of integrated security products and services will allow our customers' access to the most comprehensive security approach in the marketplace.”

New Ways to Manage Risk Globally, Remotely

Rockwell Automation continues to enhance its global capabilities with the establishment of a Cybersecurity Operations Center in Israel. The center, located in the Metropolitan Area of Tel Aviv, opened Nov 1 and focuses on delivering remote cybersecurity services to Rockwell Automation’s global customer base. It offers enhanced cybersecurity-managed services as part of Rockwell Automation’s existing global footprint with an additional 15 remote service centers around the world.

This center demonstrates Rockwell Automation’s continued investment in global cybersecurity domain expertise and portfolio of services. In 2020, Rockwell Automation acquired Avnet Data Security, a privately held, Israel-based cybersecurity provider with more than 20 years of cybersecurity services experience and Oylo, a privately held industrial cybersecurity services provider based in Barcelona, Spain, to enhance its industrial control solutions and incident response offering. Rockwell Automation’s partner ecosystem also includes world-class partners such as Claroty and Cisco.

Rockwell Automation Brings Smarter Drive Capabilities to More Applications

New PowerFlex® 755TS drive plays major role in motor control applications, helps reduce unplanned downtime and gets motors running faster

Rockwell Automation is expanding the PowerFlex® AC variable frequency drive portfolio to support a broader range of motor control applications. This will give customers more flexibility, performance and intelligence in their next generation drive through TotalFORCE® Technology. 

The new PowerFlex 755TS drive is the first six-pulse drive to incorporate TotalFORCE technology from Rockwell Automation to help customers get the most out of their equipment. Previously only available in PowerFlex 755T drives with active front-end technology, TotalFORCE can now be used in a wider range of applications. This includes traditional fan, pump, and conveyor applications, and more advanced motor control processes that require high-performance features typically found in specialized drive solutions. 

This addition brings a simplified and consistent user experience to virtually any motor control application in three key ways:

• Flexible, high-performance control: The drive’s power range, voltage classes and performance capabilities meet the requirements of a wide range of motor control applications. This allows users to leverage a common drive for multiple applications, which can simplify support and reduce burdens on staff.
• Operational intelligence: Built-in predictive models use continuous operation monitoring to calculate the expected remaining life of drive components. These insights help users reduce unplanned downtime and maintenance costs by replacing components as needed instead of on a fixed schedule.
• Eased commissioning and optimization: Using a suite of features referred to as Adaptive Control, the drive monitors machine characteristics that can change over time and automatically compensates for changes. This helps users commission the drive quickly and maintain it for the life of the drive without a tuning expert. It also helps reduce mechanical wear and improve uptime.

“Significantly more industrial companies can experience the benefits of TotalFORCE technology now that it’s available in a traditional six-pulse drive,” said Adam Davis, product manager, Rockwell Automation. “No other drive on the market delivers the combined performance and intelligence capabilities of the PowerFlex 755TS drive, which helps improve operational productivity and reduce burdens on the workforce.”

The PowerFlex 755TS drive is available with an option for enhanced corrosive gas protection (XT) that helps improve uptime and extend the drive’s operating life in corrosive gas environments. The drive has been tested and validated in one of the most severe corrosive-environment-test protocols. These tests combine industry-leading, 30-day exposure in mixed flow gas testing per ASTM B845 Method K with additional proprietary tests that go beyond any industry standard requirement known to date.

To help strengthen cybersecurity in industrial operations, the 755TS drive is CIP Security capable. When implemented, CIP Security helps fortify a control system by providing data authenticity, integrity and confidentiality. This helps defend against the risk of someone remotely accessing a network and acting maliciously.

The 755TS drive is designed to ease migration from other PowerFlex 750 drives. The 755TS drive is also a drop-in mechanical and electrical replacement for other PowerFlex 755 drives, even using the same physical dimensions, mounting-hole and wiring locations. It also uses the same slot-based architecture that allows users to continue using I/O and safety cards from their existing 750 drives. Lastly, Premier Integration into the Logix control platform helps ease drive configuration and programming.

The PowerFlex 755TS drive will be available in Spring 2022.

Rockwell Automation Releases New Bulletin 140MT Motor Protection Products

Industrial operators can realize cost savings in their applications using the new Allen-Bradley® Bulletin 140MT motor protection circuit breakers and circuit protectors, which are available in sizes up to 40 amps. 

The new Bulletin 140MT products offer enhanced Type F combination motor controller ratings when used with Bulletin 100-C and 100-E contactors, enabling assembled starters to be applied without additional branch circuit protection. Tap conductor protection ratings mean that these devices can be wired with smaller conductors in group motor installations to save costs. 

The products are available as motor circuit protectors for three-component starters and motor protection circuit breakers for two-component starters. Special 140MT product variants also address specific applications, like providing protection at output of variable-frequency drive (VFD) in multi-motor applications or protection of high-inrush, high-efficiency motors.

Part of the Allen-Bradley® Modular Control System, Bulletin 140 products are available with connectors to enable direct wiring to Bulletin 100-K/C/E contactors. 

Modular Control System components are tested together in various combinations to give users worldwide standards compliance and certification. The components are also backed by global sales and support. Learn more here.

New Energy Savings Calculator Helps Improve Energy Efficiency for the Chemical Industry

Electric motors are the driving force behind most production output. By using variable-frequency drives (VFDs), companies can improve motor control performance and motor efficiency and, as a result, lower their operating costs and improve their environmental performance.

Now, companies can calculate the potential savings VFDs can bring to their chemical operations using the new Energy Savings Calculator from Rockwell Automation. 

The calculator shows potential energy and carbon-emissions savings specific to each electrically driven asset. Users answer a few easy questions about their application and the calculator will estimate the savings they can realize by switching to VFDs. 

The calculator is ideal for applications in the chemical industry and elsewhere involving electric motors not currently controlled by VFDs. 

Rockwell Automation offers a wide selection of VFDs for low-voltage and medium-voltage applications. The company’s low voltage drives offer a broad range of control modes, features, options, packaging, global voltages and power ratings. Its medium-voltage drive portfolio can meet the requirements of a wide range of applications.