Apr 20, 2026

40 years of PC-based control technology and AI in automation

We ask Hans Beckhoff how a single idea he had 40 years ago evolved into a global standard: PC-based control technology. Today, this technology is still going strong, thanks to its features and the benefits it brings. He also outlines the role AI will play in the future of automation.

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IPC

IPC

Wij bieden de juiste industriële PC voor elke toepassing – met de nieuwste technologie voor elke prestatieklasse.

I/O

I/O

Realiseer de meest complexe applicaties met onze I/O-componenten voor alle gangbare veldbussystemen.

EtherCAT

EtherCAT

Outstanding performance, flexible topology and simple configuration characterize the real-time Ethernet technology.

Motion

Motion

Onze innovatieve aandrijftechniek biedt u vrijwel onbegrensde mogelijkheden bij de realisatie van uw applicatie.

Automation

Automation

TwinCAT biedt u talrijke mogelijkheden en een breed aanbod van software functieblokken voor alle automatiseringstaken.

TwinCAT

TwinCAT

The TwinCAT software system turns almost any PC-based system into a real-time control with multiple PLC, NC, CNC and/or robotics runtime systems.

MX-System

MX-System

Our MX-System combines all technological innovations in automation technology in an IP67-capable modular system.

Vision

Vision

The balanced hardware portfolio for industrial machine vision offers complete system integration from a single source.

Machine Learning

Machine Learning

Beckhoff offers a machine learning (ML) solution that is seamlessly integrated into TwinCAT 3.

TwinCAT PLC++

TwinCAT PLC++

With TwinCAT PLC++, Beckhoff is delivering a new generation of PLC technology that accelerates both engineering and runtime.