The process industries face a relentless drive toward digital transformation. Operators must balance the rigid stability of a Distributed Control System (DCS) with the agility of modern cloud-native technologies. ABB’s "Automation Extended" strategy addresses this tension directly. It moves away from monolithic, proprietary hardware toward an open, software-defined future. This approach aligns with major industry movements like Open Process Automation (OPA) and NAMUR, ensuring that factory automation remains competitive in a volatile global market.
ABB has introduced "Automation Extended," a groundbreaking program tailored for industrial operators seeking to upgrade their systems. This initiative allows plants to modernize their DCS (Distributed Control System) without halting active production. By bridging legacy hardware with future-ready software, ABB ensures that companies protect their existing capital investments. Consequently, manufacturers can now embrace digital transformation while maintaining total operational continuity.
The industrial sector faces a difficult choice between maintaining stable legacy systems and adopting high-speed digital innovation. ABB recently launched its Automation Extended program to bridge this gap. This initiative allows companies to upgrade their distributed control systems (DCS) without risking production uptime. By building on proven infrastructure, ABB ensures that "modernization" does not mean "replacement."
