Altus at Distributech Conference & Exhibition 2023

In order to expand the reach and strengthen the image of Altus in the United States, between February 7th and 9th, we will be in San Diego, California, participating again in the Distributech Conference & Exhibition. The main event in the Power sector in North American, the fair focuses on energy generation, distribution and transmission applications. This year, we returned to the event to present our innovations in control and connectivity with the new Nexto Series products.

The main highlight will be the NX3008, the newest CPU from the Nexto Series, a global product with advanced software and cybersecurity features capable of dynamically integrating the IT and OT areas of an industry. Created to meet the demands of an increasingly connected industry, the NX3008 CPU has a wide variety of communication interfaces capable of connecting the equipment to the most different systems and machines on the market. The new Nexto Series control device has 03 Gigabit Ethernet ports, 02 of which support the PROFINET Controller communication protocol, which allows the controller to be used in a network with MRP ring architecture. 

Fully adherent to the IoT universe, the CPU can write directly to an SQL database and interact directly with the most relevant cloud hosting services on the market, such as Microsoft Azure, IBM Cloud, Google One and Amazon AWS. The unit also has a differential present in few PLCs on the market: the unit has an embedded WebServer, a tool that allows the creation of supervision and application monitoring screens without the need to use a SCADA system.

Another features available in the unit is the embedded VPN, which creates a private tunnel connecting directly to the CPU. This functionality allows you to access your business`s control network remotely and completely securely. To further enhance product security, CPU also has a firewall feature.

The new Altus CPU also supports FTP connections, which enables the device to exchange data with a server that uses this technology model. This functionality allows data packets generated by the controller, such as logs collected through a datalogger function, to be accessed remotely.

Another new feature available is its embedded Docker platform*. The feature, native to the CPU, makes it possible to virtualize software developed for operating systems with Unix technology. The feature gives more versatility and speed to the operation of the system, as it allows the processing of multiple data within the CPU itself.

*Under development.

In addition to the NX3008, the Nexto Series of programmable controllers also has other advanced CPUs capable of meeting the most complex demands of the market, such as the automation of different processes in hydroelectric power plants, photovoltaic plants, substations and PCHs. With high processing speed, advanced real-time diagnostics and support for network redundancy, Nexto programmable controllers deliver security and high availability, and can be used in the acquisition and transmission of signals between generating units and other devices that are part of the application.

Nexto Xpress, um CLP compacto all-in-one

Besides to the robust Nexto Series products, the company will also present the novelties for the Nexto Xpress IoT ready PLC solution. With different embedded communication interfaces and support for a wide variety of communication protocols, Altus compact controllers can be used as IoT gateways for small applications. Among its many 4.0 functionalities, the Xpress products can, for example, collect production data from the application in the field through a MODBUS TCP network and send them via OPC UA or MQTT to a supervisory system hosted in the cloud.

Speaking of communication, the product has built-in Ethernet, Serial RS 485, CAN and USB interfaces, enabling support for a varied list of communication protocols, such as MODBUS TCP and RTU, PROFINET, CANopen and J-1939, IEC 60870-5 -104, EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT, OPC DA, OPC UA and MQTT. The features also allow the controller to communicate directly with the leading cloud hosting services on the market. The XP340 model, like the NX3008 CPU, still has WebServer support.

The Xpress products, as well as the other Nexto Series equipment, use the MasterTool IEC XE programming software, a technological platform based on CODESYS with scalability for projects from micro to large (free of charge up to 320 I/O points). Have you already downloaded version 3.40 of MasterTool IEC XE, the latest software update? Click on the banner below to download.

Altus, Beijer and the North American market

This year, in addition to interacting with Altus specialists and learning about new products, visitors who visit the company`s stand will also be able to talk to Beijer Electronics business engineers. Main partner in the foreign market, the company applies and distributes the technology of Altus programmable controllers in different countries in Europe, Asia and North America. In order to value and strengthen this relationship that has lasted almost 15 years, specialists from the company`s North American unit were invited to share Altus` space at the fair.

Participation in Distributech is part of Altus` international expansion plan, which started in 2016. For some years now, Nexto family products have been UL and cUL certified, being declared in compliance with the safety standards of Underwriters Laboratories. The certificates are a mandatory requirement for exporting products to the United States and Canada, which allows the company to explore the northern hemisphere and reinforces Nexto`s concept as a world-class product.

So, if you`re in the San Diego area between February 7th and 9th, save some time on your calendar to visit the Altus space at Distributech 2023. The event will take place at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. The Altus space will be in the Brazilian Pavilion, booth 05.