B+B SmartWorx joins Ignition Onboard program with pocket-size industrial PC

The coming-soon UNO model is a pocket-sized Smart Factory Edge Gateway that will come with Ignition Edge preinstalled.

Ottawa, IL – March 16, 2018 – B+B SmartWorx powered by Advantech is proud to partner with Inductive Automation in its creation of the Ignition Onboard program. Inductive Automation announced the program last month at the ARC Industry Forum, and involves B+B SmartWorx embedding Ignition Edge software in various devices.Specifically, B+B SmartWorx will soon offer a pocket-size UNO Industrial Computer with Ignition Edge Onboard. This is a Smart Factory Gateway with Ignition Edge MQTT preinstalled making it an ultra-compact solution for data collection at the network edge.

Ignition by Inductive Automation® is an industrial application platform with tools for building solutions, such as human-machine interface (HMI), supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Ignition Edge is a line of lightweight, limited, low-cost Ignition software products, which empower solutions designed for edge-of-network use.

The upcoming UNO model, C-UNO2271-W10EDG-1, is fan-less and ruggedized for industrial- and mission-critical applications. When running Ignition Edge MQTT, the UNO is equipped with OPC-UA, Modbus, Siemens and Allen Bradley suite of drivers, supporting up to 500 tags. Data is seamlessly integrated with Ignition by the MQTT Engine by Cirrus Link Solutions, using the Spark Plug MQTT standard. The UNO can be used in combination with B+B SmartWorx sensor nodes to easily add sensor data. B+B SmartWorx has a broad offering of wired and wireless sensor nodes also featuring MQTT, many with added flexibility for Modbus TCP and REST interfaces.

“Here at B+B Smartworx, we know users may be struggling with getting the data they need, when they need it,” said Jerry O’Gorman, B+B SmartWorx president and CEO. “To help solve these issues for our customers and offer real value, we continue to partner with innovative vendors, such as Inductive Automation, to make data connectivity easier and more efficient to adopt when utilizing our industrial, intelligent devices.”

In addition to embedding Ignition Edge MQTT in the UNO as part of the Ignition Onboard program, there is an expanding universe of B+B SmartWorx products that integrate with Ignition, such as: Wzzard Wireless Mesh Sensing Nodes, WISE-4000 Wireless I/O Modules, ADAM-6000 Ethernet I/O Modules, SmartFlex & SmartStart LTE & WAN/LAN Gateways, Touch Panel Computers, Industrial Ethernet Switches with MQTT and more.

“It’s fantastic that B+B SmartWorx can bring their decades-long expertise of interfacing legacy and brownfield devices into the IIoT arena,” said Arlen Nipper, co-inventor of MQTT. “With Ignition Edge running on UNO, customers will get a fast-track entry into better SCADA/operational solutions, while also laying the groundwork for future IIoT enablement. The UNO—in combination with MQTT technology on B+B SmartWorx lines of Wzzard, WISE, ADAM, SmartFlex and Industrial Ethernet Switches—produces a superior operational technology (OT) solution, while also providing the on-ramp to a superior IIoT infrastructure.”

Additionally, B+B SmartWorx touch panel PCs can be combined with Ignition Edge Panel, while a variety of B+B SmartWorx UNO models can support Ignition Edge Enterprise or Ignition Unlimited to support enterprise wide solutions.

“Device manufacturers have joined Ignition Onboard in response to their customers’ demands for an all-in-one solution that contains hardware and software at a reasonable price,” said Don Pearson, chief strategy officer for Inductive Automation. “These are companies that understand the importance of building a strong IIoT, and we’re very happy to be collaborating with them.”

About B+B SmartWorx, Inc.

Founded in 1981, B+B SmartWorx (formerly B&B Electronics) designs and manufactures intelligent M2M and IoT connectivity solutions for wireless and wired networks. Specializing in intelligent connectivity at the “edge” of networks in remote and demanding environments, the company’s product solutions use Ethernet, serial, wireless, cellular and USB communication technologies. In 2016 B+B SmartWorx became part of Advantech, global provider of trusted and innovative products, services and solutions in industrial automation and embedded computing across diverse industries and applications. Together, Advantech and B+B SmartWorx work to enable an intelligent planet.

About Inductive Automation
Inductive Automation creates industrial software that empowers organizations to swiftly turn great ideas into reality by removing all technological and economic obstacles. By cross-pollinating IT with SCADA technologies, Inductive Automation created Ignition software, the first universal industrial application platform with unlimited potential. Ignition empowers industrial organizations around the world and in virtually every industry, with an outstanding software platform and top-notch support. For more information, visit inductiveautomation.com.

About Cirrus Link Solutions

Cirrus Link puts your business data to work—faster and smarter. Break out of the information silo created by traditional software, and use machines to share in real time with anyone in your company. With Cirrus Link machine to machine (M2M) technology, your people get on-time, real-time access to critical information. So your business can make more informed, smarter decisions. For more information, visit www.cirrus-link.com.