Axeda, Wago developing integrated building automation solution

Mansfield, MA—To give users the ability to select bus systems and devices via open interfaces, Axeda Systems Inc. and Wago Kontakttechnik GmbH report that they're collaborating to provide a flexible, cost-effective alternative to existing proprietary building automation solutions.

By Control Engineering Staff September 16, 2003

Mansfield, MA— To give users the ability to select bus systems and devices via open interfaces, Axeda Systems Inc. tomation systems.

The companies will jointly provide seamless integration of software and hardware, as well as deliver tools for easier application development to reduce engineering and integration costs. Wago and Axeda will develop common interfaces that seamlessly connect the open, web-based Axeda Supervisor software with the fieldbus-independent Wago I/O System 750.

‘With the combined products of Wago and Axeda, customers will have the ability to unify monitoring of all of the utilities in a building into a single system,’ says Chris Guers, Axeda’s VP and GM for Europe. ‘They will enjoy the flexibility of a custom solution at the lower cost made possible by using standard components and software.’

Integrated hardware, software Wago’s System 750 includes I/O modules that are fieldbus independent, which means fieldbus selection depends only on the choice of coupler or programmable controller selected. Models for Ethernet TCP/IP, LonWorks and other open fieldbus protocols are available.

Axeda Supervisor provides a web-based decision support solution for managing facilities, devices and automation systems. Its scheduler, with advanced alarm management and enhanced security, enables users to define and control alarm settings, and automate scheduling of periodic actions. Supervisor communicates urgent status information via fax, e-mail, SMS, web pages, or Firewall-Friendly communication to Axeda DRM.

Application development tools Logical presentation of information is critical for the highly distributed systems found in building automation. Axeda Supervisor provides object libraries that speed development of graphical displays. Displays are converted into Java and integrated into HTML pages for secure viewing from anywhere via a standard web browser.

Communication between Wago I/O System 750 and Axeda Supervisor is accomplished using an OLE for Process Control (OPC) server, the common interface to the popular bus systems. System variables within Axeda Supervisor are assigned to the physical I/O points in a simple drag and drop interface. As a result, the time-consuming and error-prone duplication of process points is eliminated.

Programming of the Wago I/O System 750 controllers is done using Wago I/O Pro software. Preprogrammed function blocks are available for many building automation applications, or users can create their own. These reusable functions can dramatically reduce programming time.

The IEC 61131-3 compliant programming environment for the Wago components and the script language of Axeda Supervisor are the same. The knowledge acquired with one system can be reused with the other, without extra training.

Control Engineering Daily News DeskJim Montague, news editorjmontague@reedbusiness.com