This presentation was given on June 3, 2026, at Realize LIVE Americas 2026 in Detroit, MI, USA.
Description
Industrial automation software is reaching a breaking point: growing machine complexity, shrinking commissioning windows, and a shortage of experienced PLC engineers expose the limits of traditional PLC programming models. This session demonstrates how SIMATIC AX enables a decisive shift toward software-first automation and measurable engineering efficiency gains.
Using a real-world transformation project at KBA, ekvip automation migrated a fragmented legacy codebase—distributed across multiple PLCs and programming languages—into a single, object-oriented SIMATIC AX platform. The talk explains how strict separation of automation logic and reusable OOP frameworks enables teams with mixed skill levels to collaborate effectively. Software engineers and automation specialists work in parallel, using shared abstractions, version control, unit tests, and test-driven development.
You will learn how SIMATIC AX can help to apply OOP, framework-driven design, and automated testing in PLC development to reduce commissioning time, increase software resilience, and improve long-term maintainability. Here, SIMATIC AX serves as a practical bridge between IT and OT, turning PLC software into an evolvable product rather than a one-off engineering artifact.
Key Takeaways
How object-oriented programming (OOP) and framework-based design help increase development efficiency
How separating automation logic from reusable software layers enables interdisciplinary teams
How SIMATIC AX differs from TIA to enable a modern approach to PLC application engineering
Business Impact
Consolidation of multiple PLCs and programming languages into a single SIMATIC AX
Reduced effort during commissioning and troubleshooting thanks to unit-tested components
Increased software reusability and scalability across machines