Süeda Asil
Corporate
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Phoenix Contact showcased its latest technologies, shaping the future of the digital industry, at the SPS 2026 exhibition in Nuremberg. The company presented groundbreaking solutions in Industrial Artificial Intelligence (AI), PLCnext Technology, cybersecurity, and field and control cabinet automation.
💡 Core Technology and System Architecture
At the heart of the exhibition stand, a conveyor belt application that transported and filled water bottles attracted attention. This system was automated with Phoenix Contact's product portfolio developed for control cabinet and field installation. Power supplies, device protections, and motor starters with IO-Link interfaces were used in the field area.
PLCnext Technology, an open automation platform, provides flexibility by separating automation functions from hardware. Virtual PLCnext Control, on the other hand, offers a software-based control solution for industrial PCs, edge devices, and server infrastructures.
Security routers compliant with the Cyber Security Act (CRA) and the Machinery Regulation guarantee the protection of machines and plants. Industrial AI is integrated from planning and commissioning with the PLCnext Engineer engineering tool, to operation with diagnostic capabilities via the MLnext software package and MCP interface.
🛠️ Ease of Application and Integration
Phoenix Contact supports the entire control cabinet manufacturing process, from planning to final assembly. The solutions combine engineering, procurement, component placement, marking, conductor preparation, and wiring into a seamless process, providing optimized interfaces and efficient workflows.
🏭 Industrial Application Areas
The introduced technologies target discrete manufacturing and the process industry, providing efficient workflows at the field level and in control cabinet automation. Practical application areas include automated material flows, modular machine concepts, and secure network infrastructures in modern production environments.
📈 Operational Impacts and Performance Metrics
End-to-end engineering-supported processes and standardized interfaces reduce installation effort in control cabinet manufacturing and field-based automation, while increasing process stability. Phoenix Contact also offered guided tours and professional programs on topics such as AI, virtualization, cybersecurity (with live hacking demonstrations), power reliability, and Push-X technology.
