Altus participates in important trade fairs in South Africa

To strengthen the  Altus brand on the African continent, we will participate in two important technology trade fairs in South Africa within the next couple of weeks. The main one will be Enlit Africa, which takes place between the May 16th and 18th in Cape Town, the country`s capital. With a focus on discussing and presenting new solutions and technologies for the challenges of the local energy industry, the event brings together more than 250 exhibitors from different regions and with differentiated product offerings.

Altus’ space will be located at stand 7 of the Brazilian Pavilion, organized by the Brazilian Association of Electric and Electronic Industries.

In the previous week, between the 9th and 11th of May, we will be with our partners from VisiPraxis, distributor of Altus technology in Southern Africa, participating in the Africa Automation Technology Fair. The event, which takes place in the city of Johannesburg, is premised on bringing the latest launches, inventions and trends related to automation technology. 

In both fairs we will present the news for machine and process control of the Nexto Series of programmable controllers.

A global CPU to integrate your business into the 4.0 universe

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.

Designed to deliver performance and high connectivity to the most varied industry processes, the Nexto Xpress family has different options of multifunctional programmable controllers prepared to connect your business to the IIoT Universe. Now, to further increase its versatility, the Xpress line gains a new member developed to meet the demands of packaging machines and material assembly lines. Meet the new XP350, the first PLC Motion Control from the Nexto Xpress line.

Click here to access the official landing page and learn more about the Altus new PLC.

The IoT-ready PLC designed for Motion Control demands

Compact and with high processing speed, a trademark of Nexto Xpress controllers, the new PLC IoT-ready XP350 also features high I/O density, fast embedded inputs and outputs, Ethernet and USB interfaces, RS-485 serial port and CANopen Master. Like the other products in the line, the new Xpress unit is mounted on a DIN rail, Real Time Clock (RTC), Data Logger type function block, conformal coating and supports the main communication protocols on the market.

With software based on the CODESYS technological platform, the product has the capacity to interact with different brokers in order to communicate with web service platforms, such as Node-Red, connection with the main cloud hosting services and to write directly in the databases of the SQL type.

Complete solution for precise motion control

Created to add safety and flexibility to machines and processes that demand precise movement control, the new member of the Xpress family is capable of operating in loops with up to 4 motion control axes (X, Y, Z and A). Used in conjunction with Altus` new fast response and high performance servo drivers, the XP350 PLC comprises a complete motion control solution for applications where power, efficiency and precision of movement are essential.

To meet this demand for high precision in machines and processes, the new Altus controller, as well as the servo drivers, supports EtherCAT Master and CANopen, two of the main communication protocols used in the segment. and the PLCopen Motion Control Part 1 library. In addition, it supports PLCopen Motion Control Part 1 function blocks for single-axis command, multi-axis synchronization, electronic gearing (CAME), special editor for planning motions (CAM), among others. others.

Do you want to know more about the new PLC of the Nexto Xpress solution? Click here to access the official landing page of the product, download the technical documentation and receive a contact from our commercial team

The reach of the Altus brand

Because they have the highest on-board technology and adhere to the most varied safety and quality certifications, Altus products are ideal for the international market. This solid technological base is the driving force behind the company`s expansion strategy implemented in 2016. Over the past seven years, we have consolidated our position in Europe and South America, expanded operations to southern Africa and West Asia, started opening channels in North America and took our first steps to access the Oceania market.

Today, our products can be found in countries such as Germany, India, Turkey, Italy, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Morocco, Canada, Holland, Taiwan, Australia, Norway, China, United Kingdom, United States, among others. With actions like these, we seek to solidify the Altus brand as a synonym of quality, high technology and reliability for the international market. These results demonstrate that we are on the right track and are getting even closer to our Vision: to be a major force in the national technology market, operating globally and delivering solutions with excellence.