On December 10, 2025, Phoenix Contact's ''SoftPLC & vPLC Open Automation Software Technology Seminar'' was held in Nanjing. The seminar focused on the main theme of "Integrating 4T Technologies in the Digital Industrial Era." It brought together over a hundred leading companies and research institutions to discuss innovative practices involving cutting-edge technologies such as open automation, industrial AI, and edge computing.

Forlinx Embedded, a key ecological partner of Phoenix Contact, was invited to participate in the seminar. The person in charge of Forlinx Embedded's market ecosystem delivered a keynote speech titled ''Combination and Application of Embedded SoMs and vPLCnext.'' In this presentation, he provided a comprehensive overview of the company's latest achievements in the field of open automation.

Embedded SoMs Empower vPLCnext to Break the Boundaries of Industrial Control

As the digital industry rapidly evolves, the deep integration of Operational Technology (OT), Information Technology (IT), Communication Technology (CT), and Data Technology (DT) is transforming the industrial control architecture. As a next-generation open virtual control software, Phoenix Contact's Virtual PLCnext Control, centered around ''software-defined control,'' overcomes traditional technological barriers with a flexible architecture and establishes a compatible base platform for the industrial ecosystem.

The person responsible for Forlinx Embedded's market ecosystem highlighted in the keynote speech that industrial control is transitioning from being hardware-dominated to a blend of both hardware and software. As the foundational hardware, the performance and openness of embedded SoMs significantly impact the innovation efficiency of higher-level applications.

At the seminar, the StarterKit jointly developed by Forlinx Embedded and Phoenix Contact attracted attention. It is a product designed based on Forlinx Embedded's SoM and can directly run vPLCnext. Previously, the two parties had adapted SoftPLC & vPLC based on multiple SoM products.

Collaborating with Phoenix Contact to Create Benchmark Industry Applications

The partnership between Forlinx Embedded and Phoenix Contact represents not just a technical complement but also a profound ecological integration. By sharing R & D resources and conducting joint market promotion, the open automation standard is being promoted from ''proof of concept'' to ''large - scale implementation''. This collaboration brings innovative changes to industrial automation and supports digital transformation and intelligent manufacturing for enterprises.

The essence of open automation is found in its "openness," which necessitates collaboration among hardware suppliers, software developers, and system integrators to drive innovative solutions together. Forlinx Embedded is committed to strengthening its partnership with companies like Phoenix Contact. By focusing on the technological advancement and ecological growth of embedded SoMs within an open ecosystem, Forlinx aims to deliver more efficient and secure control solutions to customers worldwide.

Note: Some pictures are from the official sources of Phoenix Contact.