EZRackPLC Industrial Modular Rack PLC Features:

EZRackPLC - IIoT

The EZRackPLC is ready for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) applications. With MQTT protocol support and direct connectivity to external devices such as sensors, RTDs, analog inputs, etc. as well as a easy to setup secure communication with open networks such as EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP/IP, EZRackPLC is not only a powerful PLC but also a low cost Edge Gateway device.

What is EZ IIoT?

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) focuses on the interconnectivity and utilization of powerful data in a manufacturing environment. IIoT enables the acquisition and accessibility of important plant data at far greater speeds, security and reliability. IIoT incorporates machine learning and big data technology, harnessing the sensor data, machine-to-machine communication and automation technologies that have existed in industrial settings for years.

EZRackPLC IIoT Benefits

EZRackPLC built in IIoT and MQTT protocol support acts as a "bridge" between existing operational technology within a plant, for example factory machines, and plant database networks, so valuable data can be shared reliably and securely to improve plant productivity and efficiency.

• Achieve better access to data and increase your company's bottom line
• Notify production management of essential data to improve efficiency.
• Alert maintenance team of critical data to troubleshoot machine and / or do preventitive maintenance
• Increase connectivity and communications of essential data within manufacturing plant personnel from factory floor to executive offices
• Securely and reliably share existing operational data of factory machines with plant networks
• Get real-time data from anywhere in the world over secure MQTT protocol

• Free IIoT Subscriber Utility Download
• Automatically populates "topics" (Data) sent to broker from EZRack PLC MQTT Instruction
• Push data function to local PC or Server
• EZ to navigate "Essential Data" dashboard

Edge gateway, also known as "Edge-of-Network," devices unlock valuable data from existing operational equipment, providing your business powerful information that can be utilized to improve overall productivity and efficiency, thus increasing your bottom line! In the manufacturing world, edge gateway devices translate existing data used by control applications into an IIoT friendly format that can be sent to the "Internet". A secure, reliable and fast method of "edge gateway communication" is done through the widely accepted MQTT protocol.

The EZRackPLC operates as an “Edge-Gateway” device with direct connectivity to external devices such as sensors, RTDs, analog inputs, etc. It can take these direct inputs from devices, for example a 4-20 mA signal from a analog sensor, and do complex manipulations using the CPUs advanced math function blocks, and can then communicate that output securely with other operational devices over open protocols such as EtherNet/IP, Modbus RTU or TCP/IP. Through the use of the MQTT protocol, EZRackPLC IIoT ready CPU can also publish up to 80 tags of the computed data to the "Internet" via a "Broker", thus providing a subscriber pertinent real time data from these external devices. The use of the MQTT protocol allows for great interoperability since it is becoming an industry standard. It also allows for great security through the broker. An important note with the EZRackPLC, is that it is very secure with the MQTT protocol instruction as there is no backwards flow of data. That is data is only ever published from the PLC; it will never accept any data or commands back from any server, broker or client. Hence, there is no fear of disruption to the machine/PLC operation. It is a secure and reliable method of sharing machine data to intended personnel.

Free, Drag-n-Drop Software

When PLCs came into existence, the PLC manufacturers followed the same convention as in relay ladder logic, however each manufacturer chose their own rules for connecting and adding ladder elements, such as start and stop contacts. Just like English, Spanish, German, Chinese, Hindi and other languages have their own scripts and their own grammar, PLC manufacturers like AB, Modicon, Siemens, Mitsubishi, Uticor and others developed their own grammar and syntax. Once you learned one language, you usually stuck with that brand of PLC.
Today, one single plant is likely to have multiple brands of PLCs, requiring Electricians & Maintenance personnel to remember these multiple languages. One may have learned AB Language months ago, but had not gotten a chance to use it. Troubleshooting the PLC system months later, it is going to be difficult trying to remember the correct syntax. If it is a Siemens PLC, it might take the same person a week to just get started. It is in this context the EZRackPLC Drag-n-Drop software was developed. It is essentially a graphical language. You draw the ladder intuitively.

EZRackPLCs have a unique feature in that it allows it to be the EtherNet Scanner/Master. That means it can be used as a Master controller for initiating communication with any EtherNet/IP compatible devices such as EtherNet/IP Encoders from Autotech Controls or EtherNet compatible powerflex AC drives or EtherNet temperature controller etc.