Industrial Automation

SIA Connect – Bidirectional Connection of PLCs, Databases, MQTT, OPC UA and Cloud

SIA Connect is a platform for collecting, storing, processing and bidirectionally transferring industrial data. It reads values from PLCs, production machines, robots, HMI panels, industrial computers, sensors, measuring instruments, energy meters and BMS/HVAC systems. The collected data can be stored in databases, provided via OPC UA, sent to the cloud through MQTT or REST API and, according to defined rules, values, production orders, recipes or parameters can also be written back.

PLCs, machines, robots, sensors, meters and BMS MS SQL, MySQL, PostgreSQL, InfluxDB and MongoDB OPC UA, MQTT, REST API and cloud Bidirectional data reading and writing Store & Forward during connection outages
Assistance with data-collection design

Which devices do you need to collect data from, and where should it be stored?

We will discuss the data sources, protocols, number of values, reading frequency, databases, OPC UA, MQTT, cloud services and any required write-back of data.

Discuss data collection
More about data collection, storage, processing and transfer

From production equipment to databases, cloud services and IT applications

The main role of SIA Connect is to acquire data from different industrial sources, convert it into a consistent format and securely deliver it to the systems where it should be stored, displayed or further processed. Data flows are configured through a web interface using connectors, source-to-target point mapping and transfer rules.

1. Data sources PLCs, machines and technical equipment

Control systems, robots, HMIs, sensors, meters, energy systems, BMS/HVAC and other supported devices.

2. Collection and standardisation SIA Connect

Reading values through built-in drivers, mapping data points, protocol conversion and data-flow control.

3. Storage and transfer Databases, OPC UA, MQTT and REST

Writing to SQL databases, providing data to OPC UA clients and sending it to brokers, APIs or cloud services.

4. Further use Monitoring, reporting and automation

SCADA, MES, ERP, Grafana, BI, OEE, energy management, maintenance and custom IT applications.

Which devices can data be collected from?

SIA Connect supports more than 30 industrial protocols and can simultaneously collect data from multiple devices made by different manufacturers. The specific connection options always depend on the communication interfaces available on the device.

Control systems PLCs and programmable controllers

Siemens SIMATIC S7 and LOGO!, Allen-Bradley, Mitsubishi, Omron, Beckhoff, Keyence and other supported platforms.

Production technology Machines, CNC equipment and robots

Production machines, robotic workstations and CNC technologies connected through a supported control system or protocol. Communication with Universal Robots is also supported.

Operator and computing equipment HMI panels and industrial computers

Data can also be collected from HMIs, industrial computers and software systems when they provide OPC UA, Modbus, MQTT or another supported interface.

Process values Sensors and measuring instruments

Temperatures, pressures, flow rates, humidity, levels, quality indicators, laboratory values and process measurements from instruments with supported communication.

Energy and utilities Energy meters

Electricity, gas, water, compressed air and other consumption data via Modbus, M-Bus, OPC UA or another available interface.

Building technical systems BMS, HVAC and building technologies

Heating, cooling, ventilation, energy metering and other equipment communicating through BACnet, M-Bus, Modbus or OPC UA.

What data can you collect?

  • Machine states, operation, faults and downtime.
  • Production counts and OK/NOK values.
  • Cycle times, takt times and operation durations.
  • Alarms, error codes and diagnostic values.
  • Temperatures, pressures, flow rates and other process variables.
  • Consumption of electricity, gas, water and compressed air.
  • Order numbers, recipes, batches and production parameters.
  • Setpoints, commands and values written back to devices.

What can SIA Connect do with the data?

Data reading Collection from multiple sources at the same time

Data can be read from one or more PLCs, machines, meters and technical systems using different protocols.

Mapping Connecting source and target points

The configuration defines where a value is read from, where it is written and in which direction each data flow operates.

SQL SELECT, INSERT and UPDATE

SIA Connect can write production values to a database and also read production orders, recipes or parameters from the database.

Standardisation Conversion to OPC UA, MQTT and REST API

Different industrial protocols are standardised into interfaces suitable for SCADA, MES, ERP, cloud services and custom applications.

Bidirectional operation It not only reads data, but also writes it

Values can be transferred between PLCs, data can be read from a database into a PLC, or parameters can be sent from the cloud back to a device.

Reliability Store & Forward

If the connection to a database or cloud service is interrupted, data is stored locally and automatically sent after the connection is restored.

Where can the collected data be stored and delivered?

SQL databases

MS SQL and Azure SQL, MySQL and MariaDB, PostgreSQL, InfluxDB, MongoDB and other supported databases.

OPC UA applications

SIA Connect can operate as both an OPC UA server and client and deliver data to SCADA, HMI, MES and other applications.

MQTT brokers

Sending production data via MQTT with support for security, authentication, QoS and retained messages.

REST API and custom applications

Integration with web services, enterprise applications and custom data or analytical tools.

Cloud platforms

For example Azure IoT Hub, AWS IoT Core, ThingWorx, MindSphere, Cumulocity and other services, depending on the connector used.

Grafana, BI and reporting

Preparing data for dashboards, trends, OEE, energy management, condition monitoring, reporting and long-term analysis.

Choose the SIA Connect variant

Complete device for installation in a control cabinet SIA Connect HW

A compact industrial DIN-rail gateway with pre-installed software. It has two isolated LAN ports, RS232 and RS485. It reads and writes up to 500 values in total and does not require a separate production computer.

View SIA Connect HW
Deployment on your own infrastructure SIA Connect SW

Software for a server, industrial computer, virtual machine, Linux, Docker or an embedded device. It is suitable for a higher number of values, centralised collection and larger projects. The licence is selected according to the number of data points.

View SIA Connect SW

Quick comparison of the HW and SW variants

Area SIA Connect HW SIA Connect SW
Solution format DIN-rail device Software for your own hardware
Number of values Up to 500 items in total Licence based on the number of data points
Deployment Fast all-in-one solution Server, PC, VM, Linux, Docker or embedded device
Own computer or server Not required Yes
Typical project size Standalone machine and smaller project Medium-sized and larger data-collection projects
Databases, OPC UA, MQTT and cloud Yes Yes
Bidirectional transfer and Store & Forward Yes Yes

Typical SIA Connect projects

Data collection from a standalone machine

States, production counts, cycles, alarms, recipes and process values transferred to a database or higher-level application.

PLC data to an SQL database

Automatic storage of operating and production data for reporting, OEE, energy management or maintenance.

Production orders and recipes from a database to a PLC

Reading production data using SQL SELECT and writing the required values or parameters to the control system.

Connecting different PLCs

Data transfer, for example, between Siemens and Allen-Bradley PLCs or between devices using different communication protocols.

Collection of consumption and energy data

Electricity, gas, water, compressed air and technical variables for monitoring and evaluation.

Sending data to the cloud

Secure transfer via MQTT, REST API or a specific cloud connector, including temporary local storage during an outage.

When is SIA Connect the right choice?

We recommend SIA Connect for projects in which one solution needs to collect data from different devices, store it in a database, provide it through OPC UA, send it via MQTT or REST API and optionally write values back. For extensive centralised collection from a large number of PLCs, consider Kepware Server. For complex data transformation and integration with SAP, MES and ERP, we recommend OPC Router.

How can FOXON help?

  • We verify the data sources and supported protocols.
  • We determine the number of devices and communicated values.
  • We select the appropriate HW or SW variant.
  • We design the database structure and data flows.
  • We configure PLC, database and cloud connectors.
  • We assist with OPC UA, MQTT, APIs and security.
  • We provide testing, training and commissioning.
  • We provide technical support and further development of the solution.
Official distribution and technical support: FOXON supplies and supports SIA Connect in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. We assist from the initial data-collection design through configuration and implementation to training and long-term support.
Jaroslav Blažek tested the SIA Connect module.

Jaroslav Blažek tested the SIA Connect module.

A device for data transfer between PLCs, databases, and the cloud reads data from machines, enables bidirectional data transmission, and connects devices from different manufacturers. How did Jarda Blažek (blaja.cz) find working with the module from the Danish manufacturer SIA Connect?

Question or Inquiry

Are you looking for a spare part, a repair, one of our products, or do you need to check availability or get advice on a technical solution? Send us the order number, a photo of the nameplate, or a brief description of your request. We will usually get back to you within one hour during business hours.

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