News & stories

With ctrlX AUTOMATION, Bosch Rexroth has created a world of automation in which the specialist knowledge of companies from various domains is combined for the purpose of co-creation.  More than 60 third-party providers have already joined the partner world – most recently Salesforce and SICK.

“With our automation toolkit ctrlX AUTOMATION, developed on the principle of the “smartphone for industrial automation”, we took a radical step towards openness in automation back in 2020. In 2021, the leap from an open platform to an industrial ecosystem was achieved. And we’re going further still to allow even greater freedom and openness in industrial automation."

ctrlX CORE is well known in industrial automation as an ultra-compact, high-performance control system. The solution is the heart of the platform ctrlX AUTOMATION and can provide a solution in virtually any situation where control systems are needed. But what makes it such an all-rounder?

Freedom in automation - The next level! Bosch Rexroth presents the next level of automation at the 4^th ctrlX AUTOMATION trade press conference on September 21, 2022 at the Customer and Innovation Center in Ulm.

It is not only in the consumer sector that new sustainability concepts must continue to be developed; it is also time to break new ground in the B2B sector. A service offering geared to sustainability supports users during commissioning, operations and predictive maintenance, among other things.

On July 13, participants took to the stage for the final of the ctrlX developR Challenge. Developers from all over the world had risen to the challenge of developing new ideas for futuristic automation solutions. Five finalists ultimately won over the jury.

On July 13, 220 developers and industry experts conquered the TechPark of the Bosch Rexroth Customer and Innovation Center in Ulm. To experience a conference made exclusively for developers! Eleven speakers spoke on the main stage and 13 in the breakout sessions on topics such as: Platforms & Ecosystems, SDK, Security, IOT, API, Machine Learning....

Developing the future! Developing future-viable new solutions from ideas – that was one of the goals of Bosch Rexroth’s ctrlX developR Challenge. The international competition motivated developers from all over the world to strive for excellence and exceeded all expectations. It revealed unexpected business opportunities offered by ctrlX AUTOMATION, led to new connections and was above all one thing: great fun!

MathWorks and Bosch Rexroth are bringing together simulation and automation and are thereby supporting the simplified creation of digital twins.

Today, lean processes, flexibility and agility are core requirements for high economic efficiency. ctrlX AUTOMATION also meets these for robotics applications.

Together with the mentors, Christian Zentgraf is supporting participants during the solution phase of the ctrlX developR Challenge. In this interview, he gives exclusive insights into project ideas and explains what table tennis has to do with automation.

A conference made for developers! On July 13 and 14, we will bring together developers and industry experts at the ctrlX developR Conference in our Innovation Center in Ulm. An agenda highlight: the winners of the ctrlX developR Challenge will be announced.

The marketing campaign for ctrlX AUTOMATION has been shortlisted for the "Best of Content Marketing Award 2022" in the "Strategy Content" category.

The future of automation lies in industrial ecosystems. Bosch Rexroth will demonstrate this with ctrlX AUTOMATION at HANNOVER MESSE. The partner network is growing all the time, adding hardware to the automation solution and an increasing number of apps which are available from the ctrlX Store.

Lean manufacturing is an important competitive factor for manufacturing companies. It is a question of streamlining processes in order to act more quickly and flexibly and thus achieve greater economy.

Using a concurrent engineering process, DWFritz Automation and Bosch Rexroth worked together to design and install a flexible, high-throughput and fully automated battery production line in record time.

Industrial automation is in the middle of a transformation and is set to evolve further in 2022. Steffen Winkler provides insights into the trends in automation.

Andreas Schiffler and Cesare Bornaghi are facing a particular challenge during the competition: “Deep learning”. In this interview, the two developers talk about what makes their projects so unique and what they personally have learned from them.

Given the many movements encountered in assembly and handling systems, it is important to keep track of the cycle and execution time in each case. Bosch Connected Industry’s Nexeed portfolio offers assistance systems for assembly and production testing systems. These proven apps are also available in the ctrlX World.

The safety solution ctrlX SAFETY was awarded with the "Red Dot Award: Product Design 2022" in the category "Industrial Design" for it´s high design quality and degree of innovation of the product.

What motivates the participants to realize their project idea for ctrlX AUTOMATION in the international competition? Three developers give exclusive insights …

The ctrlX developR Challenge is more than just an ordinary competition. In this interview with Jasmin Heim, you can find out how participants take part in the development process of ctrlX AUTOMATION, what the resonance is like, and how the challenge will continue.

How can a high-speed milling machine for dental products be turned into a high-performance automatic machining system for the automotive industry? The mechanical engineering company Akcurate & CIMT took on the challenge and solved it with a complete package of solutions from Bosch Rexroth.

Currently, the participants of the ctrlX developR Challenge are working together with their mentors to turn their ideas into reality.
Be curious to see which project will convince the jury at the big Pitch Event on July13th and win the challenge!

Our offering, your opportunities! Become now part of something big, something revolutionary, become part of the team around the automation toolkit ctrlX AUTOMATION. We need you.

From now on, ambitious developers can help to shape ctrlX AUTOMATION through the international ctrlX developR Challenge. The challenge is now under way: Numerous innovative ideas have been received, the participants have been selected and the critical phase is now beginning.

What are the requirements when it comes to modern software engineering and what potential does it offer? Dr. Andreas Angerer, Head of Research & Innovation at XITASO GmbH, looked at this question in detail with the help of ctrlX AUTOMATION.

ctrlX AUTOMATION thrives and develops based on the requirements and experiences of its users. Accordingly, the automation toolkit is always aligned with the needs of modern software engineering.

ctrlX CORE – our ultra-compact control system for automation – has received an “Honorable Mention” in the category “Control Systems: PLCs, PACs” at the Engineers’ Choice Awards 2022.

The assembly lines of the future are connected, digital and lean. Products find their own way through manufacturing and AMRs transport material to the right place at the right time.

VHE Industrial Automation has recently designed the first machine in the Netherlands to combine the function ctrlX MOTION with the control platform ctrlX CORE.

Kohlbacher has equipped a fully automatic straightening center with artificial intelligence (AI) on the basis of ctrlX AUTOMATION.

Automation solutions which offer outstanding technical performance are only worthwhile if they are reliable and efficient. It is therefore important to maintain, care for and manage them properly. In order to provide the best possible support for users, Bosch Rexroth offers a wide range of easy-to-use ctrlX SERVICES in the world of ctrlX AUTOMATION.

Growing demands as regards productivity, short set-up and CNC interpolation times are typical in the beam cutting segment. The MTX CNC system from Bosch Rexroth creates the perfect basis for machine manufacturers and users to master the growing challenges.  

Communication – for example from machine to machine – is crucial when it comes to Industry 4.0. Bosch Rexroth and third-party providers therefore make solutions available for communicating on all levels via ctrlX World, the partner network of the ctrlX AUTOMATION system.

We were very much looking forward to finally being able to welcome you in person again at the SPS in Nuremberg. With a heavy heart and in view of the currently very serious COVID-19 situation in Germany, we have now decided to cancel our participation in the trade fair in Nuremberg. The health of all participants is our top priority.

Bosch Rexroth AG and Gerhard Schubert GmbH, which specializes in robotic packaging machines, have set out the framework for their continued future cooperation. The existing partnership, which began nearly 40 years ago, has been extended for another four years.

What happens when you combine a futuristic industrial control system with the most compact drive system available on the market and apps? The world of automation gets moving. As a result, machine manufacturers can significantly reduce the time it takes to develop machines and easily integrate useful functions.

These days, innovative developments are the result of co-creation. What’s more, the new generation of users values a high degree of efficiency and agility. As such, users always need to stay up-to-date and also need to know where they can find immediate assistance if required.

Bosch Rexroth is gradually expanding its ctrlX AUTOMATION platform and related ecosystem with apps for modern engineering.

The countdown continues: on September 21, the registration period for the ctrlX developR Challenge began. From now on, ambitious developers are invited to submit their creative ideas for innovative automation solutions.

Bosch Rexroth offers users the option to quickly and easily obtain access to automation solutions or create apps themselves with ctrlX AUTOMATION.

Bosch Rexroth offers the individually configurable IndraDrive ML and ctrlX DRIVE solutions for highest quality performance and efficiency in battery diagnostics.

Kohlbacher’s fully automatic HAMMERHEAD 3000 straightening center is now equipped with Bosch Rexroth’s ctrlX AUTOMATION solution.

Digital Transformation is reality today: SICK Solution World is a physical tradeshow and online conference to showcase digital transformation solutions – with world leading partners and university students.

More than 300 companies have now implemented ctrlX AUTOMATION in their applications. The system’s radical degree of openness is its most widely appreciated feature.

At this year's trade-press conference, which traditionally takes place in September, we presented our innovations around ctrlX AUTOMATION to the public. At the new Customer and Innovation Center in Ulm, Germany, we delighted journalists with updates on the automation platform.

Travel the world of automation via app technology – this was Bosch Rexroth’s vision when it launched the platform ctrlX AUTOMATION in 2019. In 2021, the step from an open platform to an industrial ecosystem has been been taken successfully with ctrlX World.

Bosch Rexroth is investing around 25 million euros in the electronics manufacturing and logistics of its automation area in Lohr-Wombach and is supporting the positive development of its factory with automation business.

The ctrlX developR Challenge is your big chance to prove your programming talent. Take part in an international competition and show your skills using the technology of the future today. Don’t miss this chance and apply now!

We are convinced that automation means software development today and show you how we will serve the customer needs of today and in the future with our open automation platform ctrlX AUTOMATION and actively shape the change in the industry.

Automation without boundaries – Bosch Rexroth presents industry trends and innovations on ctrlX AUTOMATION at this year's trade press conference, including a guided tour through the model factory.

Traditionally, information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) have always been separate worlds. But the times are changing.

The degree of automation in intralogistics is increasing in favor of high safety and speed. Therefore, automation solutions and robot technology are increasingly used in logistics and warehousing.

Industry networking and the associated Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) are redefining security requirements – and thus also the demands on the automation solutions used.

ctrlX developR – our video series by developers for developers – has been awarded at the “Deutscher Preis für Onlinekommunikation" with the 3rd place in the category "Industry & Mechanical Engineering" and is therefore among the best of more than 700 entries.

Less is often more: Lean manufacturing is an important competitive factor for manufacturing companies. It is a question of streamlining processes in order to act more quickly and flexibly and thus achieve greater economy. This also includes bearing logistics and intralogistics.

In modern automation, machine control, IT and the Internet of Things are connected seamlessly. With the ctrlX AUTOMATION platform, Bosch Rexroth is connecting these worlds.

Simple implementation of IoT use cases according to the modular principle – this is what Node-RED stands for. ctrlX AUTOMATION users benefit from the advantages of the open source software.

A young Berlin-based company is developing durable, freely combinable machines with an innovative punching process for the plastics industry. A key feature is the highly dynamic servodrive technology from Bosch Rexroth.

Both machine manufacturers and users are keen to achieve efficiency gains through automation. The trend here is for increasingly simple processes.

An innovation that changes an entire market: ctrlX AUTOMATION from Bosch Rexroth completely redefines automation in industry. This innovative power has now been underlined with an important award: “Der Deutsche Innovationspreis” 2021.

Whether in relation to components, machinery or complete production processes, these days digital twins play an important role in product lifecycles.

Unbeatable in terms of compactness, safety and scalability: the compact drive system ctrlX DRIVE combined with ctrlX CORE.

Machine vision is an integral part of automation. HD Vision Systems simplifies automation with visually guided object localization, tracking, acquisition and QR code scanning.

Both our automation platform ctrlX AUTOMATION and our modular drive system ctrlX DRIVE received the "Plant Engineering Product of the Year" award.

Time flies so fast! In the last episode of the 2nd season of ctrlX developR Christian shows a real pick-and-place application.

In this episode, a web-based HMI application is created for visualization and operation of the ctrlX CORE using a web panel.

Increasing digitization and networking bring new technologies and processes, but above all a lot of potential for automation and optimization.

Episode 4 of season 2 is all about machine safety: compact design, scalability, efficient engineering and much more.

While industries such as mechanical engineering have been automating for many years, electric automation solutions are also making their way into newer industries.

In this episode, Michael shows how to program Python scripts directly on the ctrlX CORE without installing external tools on the engineering PC.

Additive manufacturing (AM) is currently on the threshold of mass production. Innovative automation solutions are needed to make this leap.

Today, a modern automation system no longer consists of the know-how of just one supplier, but is made up of specialized knowledge and solutions from various partners.

In episode 2, our experts explain how easy it is to configure ctrlX CORE for a handling application.

ctrlX developR is back with the second season! The first season shows how users can configure intuitively, easily and flawlessly with the ctrlX Configurator.

Industry 4.0 means networking - with goals such as increasing productivity and tapping new value creation potential.

ctrlX AUTOMATION supports the openness of the smart gearbox cynapse and enables easy integration of corresponding applications.

Today's printing machines have to be versatile - increasing individuality requires quick changeover times.

Under the motto "It's in your hands!", visitors to the EPLAN Virtual Fair can expect a diverse program covering all aspects of professional engineering.

The automation solution no longer dictates the processes to the user, but the other way around. Digital tools from the ctrlX SERVICES toolbox provide this support.

Solutions tailored to requirements? The openness of ctrlX AUTOMATION allows components from existing and new product lines to be combined.

Rhebo relies on ctrlX AUTOMATION as an integration platform and additional marketplace for its industrial monitoring solutions.

With the SDK, the specific development and deployment of apps becomes conceivably simple. Own software and know-how can be integrated into the ecosystem.

The increasing challenges in automation can only be met by complete solutions.

A push towards automation: The demand for open, easy-to-use and flexible automation solutions is increasing.

Manufacturing companies are forced to further digitalize processes in order to keep production processes efficient and guarantee delivery capability.

Bosch Rexroth's revolutionary ctrlX AUTOMATION automation platform provides users with an open ecosystem.

Our automation solution ctrlX AUTOMATION won the "Robert Bosch Innovation Award" in the category "Core".

Clamping and gripping systems significantly determine the flexibility and precision of automated manufacturing processes. Schunk optimizes processes with ctrlX AUTOMATION.

Programming easier than ever: we've packed graphical programming into its own application, based on Google Blockly, which creates Python scripts, for example.

Our Game Changers show what can be done with Python and ctrlX AUTOMATION, especially in the field of artificial intelligence.

Our ctrlX AUTOMATION Game Changers Benjamin Beisel and Hans Michael Krause participated as keynote speakers at Canonical's Ubuntu Masters Conference.

The ctrlX AUTOMATION Community offers a platform for developers - knowledge exchange, application examples and tips.

Basic requirements for an open and future-proof platform are standardized interfaces. More about using the REST interface.

ctrlX AUTOMATION builds on a holistic security concept: Episode 7 shows why, among other things, remote maintenance has become more important with Industry 4.0.

With its compact ctrlX CORE control system, Bosch Rexroth has defined the industrial control system of the future.

Become a partner and integrate own apps. With our partner Mirasoft, we show how easy it is.

With our SDK, we enable developers to program and integrate exactly those apps they need for their individual functions and requirements.

At this year's virtual SPS, Bosch Rexroth will be presenting all the innovations relating to the ctrlX AUTOMATION automation platform.

At SPS Connect 2020, Bosch Rexroth will bring the ctrlX AUTOMATION automation platform to life digitally.

A central device management is absolutely not a standard for industrial devices, but it is urgently needed.

ctrlX Data Layer - the nervous system of our automation platform - it connects the individual apps with each other.

In episode 2, we show how easy it is to get the ctrlX CORE up and running.

The first episode of our ctrlX developR series is live. Here we first give some exciting background information about ctrlX AUTOMATION.

ctrlX AUTOMATION has reached the next level: with the launch of ctrlX I/O, we have developed our own I/O system for the platform.

Bosch Rexroth want to revolutionize professional automation and make life as easy as possible for digital natives.

With ctrlX AUTOMATION, we focused on classic machine and factory automation in the first phase of the market launch. ctrlX AUTOMATION, however, also solves problems from numerous other industries.

More and more providers are joining ctrlX World. Users can use apps from Bosch Rexroth, third-party suppliers' apps, or apps they have created themselves.

With the launch of ctrlX I/O, the platform, which is characterized by app technology, receives additional interfaces to the field and control level.

Bosch Rexroth is adding new services for users to its ctrlX AUTOMATION platform: an app store, a device portal, and an online community.

Bosch Rexroth brings a novelty to the automation market with ctrlX SAFETY: the most responsive and compact safety solution of its kind.

ctrlX AUTOMATION enters the 2nd phase: Bosch Rexroth presents the innovations around the automation platform at the Headquarter.

Digitalization and connectivity require a radical change in the market. Learn more!

Virtual discovery tour through the world of factory automation. September 30 and October 1, 2020.

Generation change: What challenges does Daniel Developer face and how can he solve them with ctrlX AUTOMATION.

Shawn has already discovered the benefits of ctrlX AUTOMATION for himself. Complicated becomes simple and the future becomes the present.

Are you ready for the new world of automation? A world in which you can reduce component and engineering costs by up to 50 percent and effortlessly surmount the boundaries between machine control, IT world and IoT? We will show you how ctrlX AUTOMATION solves these challenges on our Digital InfoDay on July 21^st 2020 from 10:00 - 12:00.

As the Hannover Messe could not take place as planned this year, Bosch Rexroth is presenting ctrlX AUTOMATION at the Digital Days.

What do safety functions in automation have in common with airbags? Read the article to find out.

Programming a motion control is complex and time-consuming? Not with ctrlX AUTOMATION.

ctrlX AUTOMATION on Tour. Meet experts live and experience automation and software showcases.

ctrlX DRIVE: The drive system from ctrlX AUTOMATION - for less complexity, maximum scalability and minimum space requirements.

Even without detailed knowledge of the Rexroth portfolio, topologies can be easily assembled graphically. An automatic control check is provided by the ctrlX Configurator.

The automation platform ctrlX AUTOMATION has convinced the jury and was honored with the "German Innovation Award 2020" in the category Machines & Engineering.

Mechanical engineering today means software development. ctrlX AUTOMATION therefore offers a new freedom in engineering.

Current challenges can only be mastered by machine manufacturers working closely with partners - more about the cooperation with CIMCORP.

Johannes Albrecht, ctrlX AUTOMATION Game Changer, shows how automation is developed without hardware - with ctrlX CORE.

Game Changer Maurus Bien introduces the new smartphone of automation in a short video.

The ctrlX CORE control system was awarded with the "Red Dot Award: Product Design 2020".

Remote access to all controllers from one place - to update all controllers centrally. This is what the ctrlX Device Portal offers.

The ten unique selling points of our 360° automation platform in a nutshell.

With minimal space requirements, reduced engineering and an openness to contemporary programming languages, ctrlX AUTOMATION offers the perfect solution for Cartesian systems.

Insights into the first use cases of ctrlX AUTOMATION in the field of robotics and handling.

What would automation look like if it were reinvented by Google, Apple or another digital company?

To provide a scalable and compact automation platform, we have optimized each component individually, but also considered the overall system.

The SPS as the most important trade fair of the automation industry was the perfect place to present the new automation platform ctrlX AUTOMATION. Experience the show again here.

In the past, we have adapted to the latest technologies, but with ctrlX AUTOMATION we have overcome physical boundaries and opened new horizons.

SPS is the most important trade fair in the automation industry. The perfect place to present ctrlX AUTOMATION to the world.

In September, public communication started with a press event in Ulm. This was followed by a forum for global sales. In November, 65 customers participated in a sneak preview.

App-based engineering in automation? That's what the ctrlX AUTOMATION platform offers.

With its new automation platform ctrlX AUTOMATION, Bosch Rexroth is breaking down the traditional boundaries between machine control, IT, and the Internet of Things.

When developing ctrlX AUTOMATION, we set ourselves the goal of creating the most open and future-proof automation platform on the market - for OT and IT.

Put an end to the complexity of integrating features into an automation system. Machine manufacturers now integrate features simply via app.

The mission statement for the development of ctrlX AUTOMATION: Question everything - create something completely new - the future of automation.