Kemro X - Industrial Automation Plattform

open, modular, easy-to-use

The platform for industrial automation

Kemro X is an open, modular and easy-to-use platform for industrial automation solutions. This comprehensive and flexible system combines apps, technology packages as well as software and hardware components from our extensive product and service portfolio.

Thanks to standardised interfaces such as EtherCAT, Ethernet IP and Profinet, and an open system architecture, Kemro X enables easy integration of third-party know-how. This enables us to respond to individual customer requirements, but also to offer cross-industry solutions.

Automation solutions to suit your taste

Create your own automation solution

Build your automation solution as easily as you would choose the ingredients for a burger. The components of the Kemro X product and service portfolio can be flexibly combined to create an integrated solution. Thanks to the open system architecture and standardized interfaces, third-party components can be easily integrated into Kemro X as additional "ingredients".

Let us advise you individually on your specific requirements.

The benefits of Kemro X at a glance

Open system architecture

The core of the Kemro X platform is a Debian-based Linux operating system. Linux is open-source and is easy to run, analyse, share and modify. In contrast to closed systems, existing suppliers and competences can be retained.

Flexible und scalable

For decades, we have acquired in-depth industry knowledge and designed industry-specific solutions that can be reused and expanded. As a result, more and more modules are being created on the Kemro X platform that are tried and tested, adaptable and quickly ready for use.

3rd party integration

Thanks to the standardised EtherCAT, Ethernet IP and Profinet interfaces, customer-specific hardware and software components and software from third-party providers can be integrated more easily into Kemro X. This enables a high degree of customisation for customers.

Safe & reliable

We focus on holistic security solutions and do not consider OT and IT security separately. Ensuring data security, protecting innovations and confidential information are our top priorities.

Fast time-to-market

From the initial consultation to system design, installation and series support, the KEBA experts are always available with their in-depth knowledge. Fast response times to customer-specific adaptations or optimisations are a matter of course at KEBA.

Global service & support

From the long-term and reliable availability of spare parts, on-site service and remote support to comprehensive technical documents and downloads, KEBA responds flexible and quickly to individual support and service requests.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have questions about our automation platform? We have compiled answers to the most frequently asked questions for you here.

What does ‘open’ platform mean?

Kemro X stands for openness in hardware and software. Drives, HMI devices,... can also be operated on 3rd party controllers via various standard interfaces (EtherCAT, Profinet,...). The Kemro X Runtime Environment software is based on a Debian-based Linux. This is open source and a modular operating system which is being further developed by software developers all over the world.

What does ‘modular’ and ‘easy-to-use’ mean?

Applications can be easily installed and uninstalled by the user. This can be done either ‘offline’ via USB stick (if desired, fully automatically when plugged in) or online via a software server (on-premise or in the cloud). The standard Debian repository mechanism is used in the background.

For which applications is Kemro X suitable’?

Kemro X offers the greatest advantages in series machine construction or in plant construction with a high degree of reutilisation. Kemro X is less suitable for the process industry. The focus is on applications where fast, dynamic, precise movements are required - i.e. where servomotors are used.

Which interfaces are used or required?

We distinguish technically between ‘master’ and ‘slave’. Our focus is on EtherCAT (as a master or slave), as it is widely used in series machine construction. We support the ‘slaves’ (called differently depending on the fieldbus - ‘adapter’ for EtherNet IP, ‘device’ for Profinet) for connections to higher-level systems or for individual product sales within a machine.

What basic hardware and software is required?

This depends heavily on the required application. Kemro X is designed for series machine construction, i.e. the product portfolio for equipping a typical machine is available from KEBA. If a product is missing, it can be integrated relatively easily due to the openness (e.g. a special device that is integrated via EtherCAT).

Which operating system(s) are used/supported?

Kemro X controllers use Linux/Debian as the operating system. You can choose between Windows and Linux for our HMI devices. Linux is widely used (IoT, server, cloud), scalable, reliable, runs very stably (even on older hardware) and is rarely the target of malware attacks compared to other operating systems. Debian is a well-known Linux distribution. Windows is often used for visualisation devices. The main purpose is when existing Windows-based tools are already available and reused.

Which programming languages are used/supported?

Kemro X enables real C/C++ programming (it is not transformed in the background to another language, e.g. IEC code). External C libraries can be used and programming with any IDE is possible (KEBA offers an IDE as an out of the box solution). C/C++ is platform-independent and therefore very portable. IEC61131-3 programming based on CODESYS is also possible. Scripting languages such as LUA or Python can be used in a non-real-time context.

What is the difference to other automation platforms?

In addition to numerous Kemro X apps, 3rd party applications can also be installed. The software architecture is designed to be largely hardware-independent. In combination with KEBA controllers, there is added value in the area of service, hardware EtherCAT with reduced jitter and fast control, utilisation of real-time clock, retain data (SRAM,...)

Blog: How open should an automation solution be?

For the successful implementation of a modern automation system, the mere integration of hardware into a higher-level system is no longer sufficient. What is needed is a shared and software-based "ecosystem" that must be flexible, transparent, scalable and, above all, open.

Read the article