45 - Why PLCnext Technology Is Changing Industrial Automation Forever with Martin Boers

45 - Why PLCnext Technology Is Changing Industrial Automation Forever with Martin Boers

March 3, 2026 · 1h 3m · Episode 45

About this episode

This episode discusses how PLCnext Technology is transforming industrial automation and the implications of IT/OT convergence.

Join host Ed and Phil as they explore how PLCnext Technology is redefining what industrial controllers can do, and why openness in automation is both a massive opportunity and a serious responsibility. Martin Boers, Technical Specialist at PLCnext Technology with Phoenix Contact, joins to discuss the origins of the PLCnext ecosystem, what IT/OT convergence really looks like on the plant floor, and how partnerships with companies like Festo and Yaskawa are shaping the future of automation platforms. Key topics in this episode: - The four pillars of PLCnext Technology: Control, Engineer, Store, and Community - IT/OT convergence: LDAP, firewalls, certificates, and the EU Cyber Resilience Act - Docker containers and the PLCnext Store app ecosystem - PLCnext Technology partnerships and the all-electric society ---------------------------------- This episode is proudly made possible by PLCnext Technology PLCnext Technology is the ecosystem for industrial automation consisting of open hardware, modular engineering software, a global community, and a digital software marketplace. Learn more at: ⁠https://www.plcnext-community.net/news/synergy-edge-cloud/…

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