Siemens Smart Infrastructure has launched its new building automation controllers Desigo PXC4

Siemens Smart Infrastructure has launched its new building automation controllers Desigo PXC4 and PXC5 to transform buildings into high-performing, energy efficient assets. The new generation of Desigo building automation controllers offers a wide range of benefits for automating small and medium-sized buildings to get the most flexible and scalable building automation.

Thanks to the new, licence-free Desigo Engineering Framework, devices can now be integrated in the same framework for intuitive engineering. Features such as open by design for successful integration of different protocols and easy wireless access facilitate building automation. Both controllers were designed to expand and strengthen the Desigo portfolio and focus on one specific automation element – the Desigo PXC4 for HVAC plants and Desigo PXC5 for system functions and integration.

The new controllers were simultaneously released with the Desigo Engineering Framework, which consists of the HIT Portal, a web-based planning and selection tool; the engineering and commissioning tool ABT Site for PC users and the commissioning tool ‘ABT Go’ app for mobile use. The framework doesn’t require a license and can support the building throughout its entire lifecycle. With a wide number of pre-configured functions as well as program blocks and various example sites, the engineering tool ABT Site offers simplified programming to highly reduce engineering complexity. Thanks to the open by design approach, multiple protocols can be integrated and mixed easily. With this setup, projects can now be processed easier, faster and more reliably – on- site or remotely.

The new Desigo controllers PXC4 and PXC5 facilitate not only the engineering process, they also help the user reduce project time and cost. Unnecessary travel to physical sites can be avoided due to integrated cloud connectivity. Additionally, the controllers can be accessed with the Desigo Engineering Framework at any time and anywhere to perform remote engineering, operation and monitoring.

On-site, the user has wireless access to the controller and can process alarms on- site or remotely. The controllers have been designed with security in mind, offering certificate handling as well as signed firmware to prevent malware and viruses. Both devices, the PXC4 and the PXC5, have stringent system hardening tests and are prepared for BACnet Secure connect, the addendum to the BACnet protocol. What’s more, the communication with the embedded server is encrypted via https. Password protection and the disabling of the hotspot are two other features that improve security.