| |  Beckhoff Automation (Pty) Ltd
Company Profile
Beckhoff supplies open automation systems based on PC Control technology. The product range covers Industrial PCs, I/O and Fieldbus Components, Drive Technology and automation software. Products that can be used as separate components or integrated into a complete and seamless control system are available for all industries. The Beckhoff “New Automation Technology” philosophy stands for universal and open control and automation solutions that are used worldwide in a wide variety of different applications, ranging from CNC-controlled machine tools to intelligent building automation.
Since the company was established in 1980, continuous development of innovative products and solutions using PC-based control technology has been the foundation of the continued success of Beckhoff. Many automation technology standards that are taken for granted today were conceptualised by Beckhoff at an early stage and successfully introduced to the market:
– 1982: P1000 – single-board motion controller
– 1986: PC Control – first PC-based machine controller
– 1989: Lightbus – high-speed fieldbus utilising optical fiber
– 1990: All-in-one PC motherboard
– 1995: Bus Terminal – fieldbus technology in terminal block format
– 1996: TwinCAT – real-time software package under Windows with PLC and Motion Control functions
– 1998: Control Panel – remote IPC Control Panels
– 2002: CX1000 – modular Embedded PCs for DIN rail mounting
– 2003: EtherCAT – real-time Ethernet fieldbus system
– 2005: TwinSAFE – safety solution for the Bus Terminal system
– 2005: AX5000 – EtherCAT Servo Drive
The Beckhoff PC Control philosophy and the invention of the Lightbus system, the Bus Terminals and TwinCAT automation software represent milestones in automation technology and have become accepted as high-performance alternatives to traditional control technology. EtherCAT, the real-time Ethernet solution, makes forward-looking, high-performance technology available for a new generation of leading edge control concepts.
Worldwide presence on all continents
The central divisions of Beckhoff, such as development, production, administration, distribution, marketing, support and service are located at the Beckhoff Automation GmbH headquarters in Verl, Germany. Rapidly growing presence in the international market is taking place through subsidiaries in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, as well as Australia, Brazil, China, Canada, South Africa and the USA. Through worldwide co-operation with partners, Beckhoff is represented in more than 60 countries.
Beckhoff | The Automation Company
Beckhoff offers comprehensive system solutions in different performance classes for all areas of automation. Beckhoff control technology is scalable – from high-performance Industrial PCs to mini PLCs – and can be adapted precisely to the respective application. TwinCAT automation software integrates real-time control with PLC, NC and CNC functions in a single package. All Beckhoff controllers are programmed using TwinCAT in accordance with the globally-recognised IEC 61131-3 programming standard.
Beckhoff | The IPC Company
Beckhoff supplies the right Industrial PC for every application. High-quality components based on open standards and the rugged construction of the device housings mean that the Industrial PCs are ideally equipped for all control requirements. Embedded PCs make modular IPC technology available in miniature format for DIN rail mounting. In addition to their application in automation, Beckhoff Industrial PCs are also ideally suited to other kinds of tasks – wherever reliable and robust PC technology is required.
Beckhoff | The I/O Company
Beckhoff has the right technology for every signal and every fieldbus. Beckhoff supplies a complete range of Fieldbus Components for all common I/Os and over 15 major fieldbus systems. With the Bus Terminals in protection class IP 20, and the Fieldbus Box modules in IP 67, a complete range is available for all important signal types and fieldbus systems. In addition to classic fieldbus systems, high-performance EtherCAT technology opens up great, new potential for control technology.
Beckhoff | The Motion Company
In combination with the Motion Control solutions offered by the TwinCAT automation software, Beckhoff Drive Technology represents an advanced and complete drive system. PC-based control technology from Beckhoff is ideally suited for single and multiple axis positioning tasks with highly dynamic requirements. The AX5000 Servo Drive series with high-performance EtherCAT system communication offers maximum performance and dynamics.
Product Details  | Robust industrial design PCs with highest performance components |
 | Operating and display elements form an independent unit, separate from the control level. |
 | The C61xx series of Industrial PCs has been designed for control cabinet installation. The Industrial PCs of this series and the Beckhoff Control Panel as operating unit make an ideal combination, representing a powerful platform for machine construction and plant engineering applications, for example with the TwinCAT automation software under Windows 2000 or Windows XP. |
 | With the CX series of Embedded PCs, Beckhoff has combined PC technology and modular I/O level to form a DIN rail unit in the control cabinet. |
 | Beckhoff has expanded the “Industrial Motherboards” line of business into an independent product segment, with in-house board development, design and production. Beckhoff can thus offer Industrial PCs and Embedded PCs in all performance classes with motherboards developed in-house. |
 | Beckhoff provides an extensive range of fieldbus components for all common I/O and fieldbus systems. With the bus terminals in protection class IP 20, and the Fieldbus Box modules in protection class IP 67, the complete range is available for all relevant signal types and fieldbus systems. |
 | The I/O signals are wired in a decentralised way to fieldbus devices or centrally to the controller. The available manufacturer-specific fieldbus devices with fixed input/output configurations and design often make it necessary to use an entire group of devices with similar functions. |
 | Light up the dark with the Beckhoff Lightbus system by replacing complete cable routes with one single fibre optic conductor. |
 | The PCI Fieldbus Cards from Beckhoff are characterised by outstanding features. They are tailor-made for TwinCAT, the software solution for PC-compatible control technology. |
 | The M1200 is a Lightbus interface card for the integration of customer specific electronics into the Lightbus system. The M1210 interface module features an integrated 24 V DC/5 V DC switched/mode power supply and a card carrier for simple installation. |
 | Beckhoff completes its offer of fieldbus components with the PCI-based PC Fieldbus Cards for Lightbus, PROFIBUS, CANopen, DeviceNet, SERCOS interface and Ethernet. |
 | The Digital Servo Drives combine the most modern power electronics with a compact practical size. The characteristics such as small dimensions, integrated EMC filters up to AX2020 and plug-in connectors allow simple and cheap installation into control cabinets. |
 | The AM2000 series of brushless synchronous servomotors are of outstanding quality; they are highly dynamic, the rotors have low moments of inertia, they have excellent rotational characteristics and impressive overload capacity. |
 | The 3-phase synchronous Linear Servomotors from the AL2000 range have both a primary and secondary section. The primary section contains a grooved, laminated core with inlaid copper windings. It is generally used as the moving part. |
 | Stepper Motors are synchronous motors with a high number of poles, which can therefore be regarded as direct drives. Advantages include high holding torque and very good positioning capability. |
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The compact, high-precision planetary gear units for the Synchronous Servomotor range are used mainly in applications where large mass inertia has to be overcome, or where the inertia ratio between load and motor prevents dynamic motion. |
Product News  | The opening of a sales office in Cape Town in August 2010 signifies a continuation of Beckhoff's aggressive growth in the South African market. Read More
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 | Beckhoff extends Control Panel and Panel PC series with 24" TFT widescreen display. Read More
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 | Together with the IEC 67184-3 standard, the Safety over EtherCAT Protocol was accepted unanimously by the 27 national IEC committees. Read More
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 | Beckhoff wants to strengthen its position in the South-East Asian market further with the establishment of a new subsidiary in Malaysia. (from left) Joshua Alexander Rusdy, Area... Read More
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 | Beckhoff offers open and flexible solutions for high-performance measurement technology with PC- and EtherCAT-based control technology. Read More
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 | Universal high-speed Ethernet: Beckhoff PC- and EtherCAT-based control technology for robotics in handling, production and assembly. Read More
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 | Beckhoff Automation closed the financial year 2009 with a worldwide turnover of 236 million euros; that corresponds to a decrease of 15 percent in comparison with the previous... Read More
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 | With the AM3000 Synchronous Servo Motor series’ new model, featuring FDA-compliant, white surface coating, Beckhoff is introducing an inexpensive solution for all applications in... Read More
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 | The new EtherCAT Box modules contain 16 channels in an IP 67 housing, significantly reducing cabling effort and the price per channel. Read More
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 | The PLC library “TwinCAT PLC Motion Control XFC” contains function blocks for the high precision acquisition and switching of digital signals related to axis positions. Thus, XFC... Read More
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 | The Beckhoff group has expanded its know-how in the field of building and home automation with the takeover of High-Def Technology GmbH, a specialist in software solutions for... Read More
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 | With the BC9191 Room Controller, Beckhoff is extending its range of products for building automation and closing a gap in the price-sensitive area of single room control. The... Read More
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 | Investors and planners are faced with the challenge of coming to grips with energy costs without making cuts in the comfort of a building. The basis for this is the control and... Read More
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 | Beckhoff’s PC-based control technology for building automation primarily utilises the global standard Ethernet TCP/IP for communication from the management to the field level. In... Read More
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 | Advanced technologies for optimising energy efficiency are not only good for the environment, they also offer economic benefits. In a joint project at Light+Building 2010 in... Read More
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 | Beckhoff has been present in Great Britain since 1994 – represented exclusively and successfully by Hayes Control Systems. In order to further expand Beckhoff’s commitment in the... Read More
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 | Using the EP7041 stepper motor module, EtherCAT motion applications can now also be realised directly in the field without an additional control cabinet. Ideal for harsh... Read More
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 | With the new Control Panel and Panel PC series made of high-quality stainless steel, Beckhoff introduces control and display units that meet the strict hygiene regulations for the... Read More
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 | Beckhoff is presenting its products and system solutions for the photovoltaic industry from 27 to 29 April in Hall 6, Booth L14, at the Photon Expo 2010, which is taking place... Read More
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 | Advanced Beckhoff Industrial PCs provide the basis for PC Control. Beckhoff offers a versatile and integrated control platform for automating the whole process chain of window,... Read More
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