26 n SPS SHOW REVIEW February 2026 www.drivesncontrols.com At SPS, Bosch Rexroth was showcasing new developments in its ctrlX Automation portfolio. Its ctrlX Core plus control platform is now available with AI capabilities at all performance levels. An optional AI module allows local data processing at the edge – for predictive maintenance or real-time quality control, for example. Simultaneously, high-performance industrial PCs with Nvidia GPUs expand the computing and image-processing capacity for demanding vision applications. Rexroth was also demonstrating compact, energy-efficient, and controlcabinet-free additions to its ctrlX Drive portfolio, complemented by the ctrlX Motion motion, CNC, and robotics software. A new safety PLC app enables functional safety independent of the hardware. Previously, a second CPU was needed for safety functions to ensure redundancy. Now, these functions can be implemented in existing controllers such as ctrlX Core. “The software-based safety solution makes safety concepts simpler and more efficient,” explains Steffen Winkler, sales manager in Rexroth’s Automation & Electrification Solutions business. “Machine manufacturers can do without additional hardware and integrate safety functions directly into their control systems. This reduces effort and space requirements and creates new degrees of freedom.” In future, Rexroth’s Linux-based ctrlX OS will be available in three versions – standard, customised and premium. A virtual version is also available. “With the virtualisation of ctrlX OS, we are breaking down the last remaining barriers between IT and OT,” says Winkler. “Users can run their software with complete flexibility wherever it provides the greatest benefit – whether in real time on the machine or centrally on the server.” A new Security Scanner app, available via the ctrlX OS Store, allows complete inventories of machines at the network level and assessments of their security status. Operators can identify potential vulnerabilities early and implement counter-measures. A new digital assistant, called Ask iXi, integrates generative AI into Rexroth’s service and engineering platforms. It answers questions about products, functions, and documentation – both online and in the ctrlX Works engineering tool. Finally, Rexroth presented two innovations for its logistics motion systems: smaller movers are being added to the ctrlX Flow 6D planar system, while the ctrlX Flow HS high-speed platform is receiving a switch for specific topologies and layouts. Rexroth’s ctrlX World network now includes more than 110 partner companies, with 86 apps now available in the ctrlX OS Store, covering everything from motion and communication to IoT, security, and AI. www.boschrexroth.com Rexroth expands automation portfolio with drives, virtual controls and AI Bosch Rexroth added several new elements to its ctrlX Automation portfolio at SPS At SPS, B&R Automation – ABB’s machine automation division – announced plans for its first six-axis kinematic robot arm, designed to perform complex 3D paths, multi-angle manipulation, and to manoeuvre repeatedly in and out of workspaces. Applications for the Codian AR robots, which have operating ranges from 600–1,000mm, include handling, sorting and assembly. They can be mounted on the wall, ceiling or floor. The robots are designed to work with B&R’s controls and software. Machine-builders need only one controller and a single engineering platform for development, diagnostics and maintenance. A stiff transmission design ensures rigidity and precision even under high loads, resulting in stable operation, exact positioning, and fast response times in demanding applications. An advanced trajectory algorithm optimises motion paths in real time. By combining model-based control with state-of-the-art optimisation methods, the system enables smooth, efficient, and reliable movements, even in complex or fast-changing operating conditions. This guarantees consistently high throughput and accuracy. Other B&R product announcements at SPS included: n Two new modules for the Acopos motion control family that plug into B&R’s slice-based X20 system: the Acopos X2, which can control two stepper motors, two brushless DC motors – or one of each, with a total power of up to 1kW; and the Acopos X4, with integrated safety, which can control up to four servomotors totalling up to 1kW, and offers a 50μs cycle time for high responsiveness and accuracy. n An “ultra-high-performance” industrial PC based on CPUs such as the Intel Core i9, designed to accelerate applications involving large volumes of real-time data, and to operate demanding hardware such as graphics cards and AI or deep-learning hardware. n A device that combines a high-performance controller with an HMI, delivering faster processing, scalable design, and a premium user experience for applications where cost and resource management are high priorities. The Power Panel C650 offers multiple communication options and supports modern interfaces such as OPC UA FX, as well as Powerlink, X2X and CAN. • An upgraded Metal-to-Metal (M2M) version of B&R’s ACOPOStrak production transport system, designed to handle heavier payloads, achieve faster acceleration and curve speeds, and reduce wear for fewer repairs and extended uptime. The modular M2M version uses shuttles weighing up to 10kg running on long-stator linear motors at speeds of up to 5m/s, and can handle higher forces from heavy or cantilevered loads, ensuring reliable performance at increased speeds and dynamic, even in harsh environments. www.br-automation.com Six-axis robot arms simplify complex applications B&R’s Codian AR six-axis robots can handle complex applications
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