Weidmuller USA, a leading provider of smart industrial connectivity and automation products and solutionsheadquartered in Richmond, Va., announces the debut of Data Hub, a new core service inside its industrial automation u-OS operating system that amplifies the platform’s unwavering commitment to stay open, flexible and independent.
Weidmuller’s u-OS currently supports a wide range of commercially available applications and programs, such as CODESYS, Node-RED and Grafana, along with custom programming and support for most fieldbus and IIoT communication protocols.
Now, the Data Hub simplifies collaboration between different applications by offering the only service that supports three open Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) – a feature that is unprecedented for the industry.
Data Hub allows any app, controller or sensor to share data through these three APIs:
- REST – for low-code IT calls
- NATS – a high-speed message bus for event-driven communication
- REAL TIME – a deterministic cyclic channel for real-time industrial exchange
“With this new feature, we further push into a truly open system that allows for seamless data exchange between applications without the need for complex programming. With this innovative service built into u-OS, machine builders, system integrators and plant operators can easily interact with the system’s I/O modules to access essential data and make variables from one application visible to another,” said Ken Crawford, Senior Director of Automation at Weidmuller USA.
Additionally, by eliminating protocol silos and the need for third-party middleware, Data Hub is fully independent of any particular manufacturer’s technology. This industry-leading level of openness allows users to connect CODESYS variables, Node-RED flows, PROCON-Connect data aggregates, or any customized application in just a few clicks.
Data Hub removes traditional barriers such as proprietary gateways, cloud lock-ins or requirements for recurring licenses so integrators can focus on analytics, optimization and new services rather than hand-coding protocol bridges.
“Hardware-agnostic by design, Data Hub runs across the full u-OS portfolio – from compact u-control PLCs to Weidmuller’s industrial-edge gateways – so projects can scale without re-writing a single line of integration logic. Secure authentication, role-based access, and comprehensive API documentation ensure developers can build confidently while meeting stringent plant-floor security standards,” added Crawford.
Engineers, programmers and businesses can download u-OS version 2, 2.0 anytime and enable Data Hub immediately through the built-in update service or by visiting weidmuller.com/u-OS for further details.