Industrial automation and digital infrastructures

Phoenix Contact presented current technologies for the digital and future-proof industry in the fields of Industrial AI, PLCnext Technology, cybersecurity, as well as field and control cabinet automation at SPS 2026, held in Nuremberg from November 24 to 26, 2026.

Core technology and system architecture
At the center of the exhibition stand was a conveyor belt application that transported water bottles on workpiece carriers and filled them directly. The system was automated based on Phoenix Contact's product portfolio for control cabinet and field installation, using power supplies, device protection, and motor starters with an IO-Link interface in the field area. The open automation platform PLCnext Technology enables the decoupling of automation functions and hardware. The Virtual PLCnext Control serves as a software-based control solution for industrial PCs, edge devices, and server infrastructures. Security routers ensure the protection of machines and plants in accordance with the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) and the Machinery Regulation, while Industrial AI is integrated from planning and commissioning using the PLCnext Engineer engineering tool to operation with the MLnext software package and diagnostic capabilities via the MCP interface.

Deployment or implementation
Phoenix Contact supported the entire control cabinet manufacturing process from planning to final assembly. The solutions combine engineering, procurement, component placement, marking, conductor preparation, and wiring into a seamless process, thereby realizing optimized interfaces and efficient workflows along the entire value chain.

Industrial applications
The technologies demonstrated target discrete manufacturing and the process industry to enable efficient workflows at the field level and in control cabinet automation. Practical application areas include automated material flows, modular machine concepts, and secure network infrastructures in modern production environments.

Operational impacts and performance metrics
End-to-end engineering-supported processes and standardized interfaces reduce installation effort and increase process stability in control cabinet manufacturing and field-based automation. Additionally, Phoenix Contact offered guided tours of the exhibition stand as well as a professional program covering topics such as AI, virtualization, cybersecurity through live hacking, power reliability, and Push-X technology.

Edited by Maria Brueva, Induportals editorial team – adapted by AI.

www.phoenixcontact.com