PTC adds secure data access to CNC and injection molding machines with new release of Kepware industrial connectivity platform
Howard Heppelmann of PTC
PTC announced the release of the KEPServerEX Version 6.6 industrial connectivity platform. The latest version of KEPServerEX includes several new innovations and security enhancements that extend Kepware’s market-leading position in computer numeric control (CNC) and injection molding machine (IMM) connectivity,enabling manufacturers to accelerate their digital transformation initiatives.
“Connectivity to industrial assets in operational environments is driving valuable insights that allow manufacturers to improve productivity, efficiency, and safety. However, due to their age and the complexity of the protocols used, some assets, such as CNCs and IMMs, have proven to be notoriously difficult to tap for data,” said Howard Heppelmann, general manager, Connected Operations Solutions, PTC.
“PTC has helped countless manufacturers overcome this data integration challenge and create holistic industrial IoT ecosystems. With KEPServerEX V6.6, we’re providing users with access to an even wider, more diverse set of industrial assets, thereby enabling smart manufacturing across the entire factory.”
A key component of the KEPServerEX V6.6 release is the new EUROMAP 63 driver. EUROMAP 63 is an open source, file-based protocol used by many industry-leading IMM manufacturers. Prior to KEPServerEX V6.6, manufacturers with IMMs had limited choices for collecting data, such as using vendor-specific proprietary MES software or producing a home-grown solution. Inclusion of this new driver gives organisations real-time data monitoring and parameter control of EUROMAP 63-enabled IMMs, increasing production visibility and enabling those organisations to reduce waste and downtime.
Updates to the existing Fanuc Focas Ethernet driver are also included in this release. With KEPServerEX V6.6, manufacturers can access more data from their Fanuc CNC machines, with the ability to read and leverage data from any parameter specified in the manual’s parameter table.
KEPServerEX Version 6.6 demonstrates PTC’s continued investment in helping manufacturers reduce risks associated with security threats. With the increased focus on application security, users can confidently upgrade to the latest version, knowing PTC is continuously improving product security to keep up with modern standards.
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