Learn more about containerization and how it's reshaping the way we think about industrial automation infrastructure.
Containerization has revolutionized the software development world by enabling the consistent, efficient deployment of applications across diverse environments. It is a method of packaging software and its dependencies in isolated units—containers—that can run consistently across different computing environments. Containers allow developers to focus on code development without worrying about underlying infrastructure, offering a lightweight alternative to traditional machine virtualization.
The origin of containerization can be traced back to the early 2000s with the introduction of technologies like FreeBSD Jails and Solaris Zones. However, it wasn’t until the release of Docker in 2013 that containerization gained mainstream popularity. Docker made it easier to package applications into containers and created an ecosystem for managing and deploying them at scale. Today, the dominant players in containerization include Docker, Kubernetes (an orchestration platform developed by Google), and Red Hat’s OpenShift. These technologies form the backbone of container-based solutions across a wide range of industries, including industrial automation.
In recent years, containerization has begun to make inroads into the industrial automation sector, driven by the need for flexible, scalable, and modular software solutions. As industrial processes become increasingly digitalized, containerization allows for faster development cycles, smoother updates, and better resource management, making it an attractive option for automation software vendors.
Here’s a look at some key platforms that are leading the way in integrating containerized solutions into their automation systems:
Ignition, by Inductive Automation, known for its flexibility as a SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) and HMI (Human-Machine Interface) platform, was one of the first and most notable industrial automation platforms to embrace containerization. The system’s modular design supports deploying various applications in containers, particularly for edge computing solutions. Ignition has introduced the Ignition Edge offering, which allows users to deploy HMIs, log data, and run limited SCADA functionalities in containers, making it easier to manage and update across multiple industrial sites.
FactoryTalk Optix, part of Rockwell Automation’s FactoryTalk suite, focusing on visualization and HMI solutions, offering a modern approach to delivering applications to end-users. FactoryTalk Optix supports containerized deployment via Kubernetes, enabling seamless distribution of industrial applications to different facilities and environments. This flexibility is crucial for enterprises operating in geographically distributed areas and those seeking to adopt edge computing technologies.
COPA-DATA’s zenon platform, widely used for process control and energy management, has incorporated containerization technologies for seamless deployment and updates. Containerization in zenon allows for scalable data collection and visualization, particularly when used in conjunction with edge computing strategies. This enables organizations to deploy applications faster and maintain high availability while reducing the need for hardware-centric infrastructure.
The Siemens Industrial Edge platform, developed as part of Siemens’ broader digitalization strategy, also supports containerization. Siemens Industrial Edge offers an infrastructure for deploying containerized applications on the factory floor. Edge devices using this platform can run custom applications inside containers to perform real-time data analysis, optimization, and control. Siemens’ strategy emphasizes the flexibility and scalability that containerization provides, helping industries bridge the gap between the edge and cloud computing.
Beckhoff TwinCAT is an automation platform that combines real-time control with PC-based systems for PLC, motion control, and IoT applications. It supports modern programming languages and is beginning to integrate containerization, allowing more flexible deployment, updates, and scalability for industrial systems. Beckhoff’s move toward containers reflects its commitment to modernizing automation solutions.
AVEVA Edge, part of Schneider Electric’s broader suite of industrial software, is a flexible HMI/SCADA platform designed for real-time data monitoring, control, and visualization. It targets small-footprint devices and industrial systems, enabling users to deploy applications at the edge for more responsive, localized control. AVEVA Edge supports containerization, allowing users to deploy applications in containerized environments like Docker. This support streamlines deployment and scaling, particularly for edge applications, enhancing flexibility and reducing hardware dependencies. Containerization also simplifies updates and management of distributed systems, making it easier to integrate with modern industrial architectures.
These platforms illustrate varying levels of containerization adoption, with a trend towards leveraging containerized environments for scalability, flexibility, and efficient deployment, especially in edge and cloud-based industrial applications.
As containerization enters the industrial automation landscape, it is clear that its advantages—portability, scalability, and efficiency—are well-suited to the sector’s evolving needs. The shift towards smart manufacturing, IoT (Internet of Things), and edge computing means industrial systems require software solutions that can be deployed quickly and maintained with minimal downtime. Containerization fits this need by simplifying the process of rolling out updates and enabling the rapid deployment of customized applications to specific nodes within the industrial network.
Despite its benefits, the adoption of containerization in industrial automation is still in its early stages. Traditional automation systems were built on tightly integrated, proprietary platforms, and migrating to a containerized model requires rethinking software architectures. Many manufacturers are gradually experimenting with hybrid models, where containerized applications run alongside legacy systems, but as success stories emerge and infrastructure becomes more container-friendly, wider adoption is expected.
In conclusion, containerization is slowly making its way into industrial automation, offering transformative benefits like flexibility, scalability, and improved efficiency. As industrial automation continues its shift towards digitalization and smart manufacturing, containerization is poised to become a standard part of the automation toolkit, driving further innovation and optimization in the industry. The future promises to be a blend of cutting-edge containerization technologies and traditional industrial practices, converging to create highly responsive, agile manufacturing ecosystems.
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