Interview with Martin Floeer, Program Manager for u-OS at Weidmueller
Weidmueller is a successful manufacturer of electrical connection technology and electronics. Since the end of the nineties, automation technology has been added as an important second mainstay. Its customers are in mechanical engineering, the process industry and energy. In 2020, the company began developing the open, Linux-based u-OS platform, which was presented to the market for the first time at the SPS trade fair in Nuremberg in 2022. Since April 2024, Weidmueller has been represented in the Smart Automation market overview with u-OS and the easyConnect cloud platform.
I was able to get Martin Floeer, Program Manager for u-OS, for an interview in which he answered my questions about Weidmueller’s strategy with this platform.
Martin Floeer, Programmmanager u-OS bei Weidmueller. (Foto Sendler)
Ulrich Sendler: Mr. Floeer, Weidmueller has also been active in automation technology since the late 1990s. Why did u-OS only come onto the market in 2022?
Martin Floeer: One of the basic concepts of u-OS is that the user can easily expand the function with apps. The prerequisite for this is that the app providers can rely on a broad technological basis completely independently of u-OS. The real-time capability of Linux has been available in the main Linux development line for a few years now. On the other hand, we have seen a standardization of processors in recent years, driven in particular by the Raspberry community.
Based on these prerequisites, we then started to develop u-OS as an open system for industrial apps. It was the logical further development of our u-create web firmware. With u-OS, the customer can now use apps from partners and Weidmüller for every device, as well as integrate their own applications.
u-OS and u-Software
Ulrich Sendler: Is u-OS the basis for Weidmueller’s u-Software?
Martin Floeer: No. u-Software is a communicative bracket for all of Weidmueller’s software offerings. In addition to u-OS and easyConnect, there are a number of software products that also run on other operating systems, such as PROCON-WEB, ResMa or edgeML.
Ulrich Sendler: What new products and services does Weidmueller offer on u-OS and easyConnect?
Martin Floeer: There are a number of new apps and services, such as PROCON-Connect, a no-code gateway for IoT use cases. But the openness of u-OS is more important to us than the number of applications. We see that this is the biggest advantage for our customers. It is the prerequisite for user independence and future-proofing.
Ulrich Sendler: Can you explain that?
Martin Floeer: If we take the number of apps that are now offered on u-OS, there are currently 17. Eight of these come from partners, nine from us. It’s the openness, it’s the open standards that allow us to find good technology and solution partners. The focus is on working with our partners and customers as equals. Co-creation is the magic word. This allows us to serve the customer’s use cases and requirements more quickly.
And even more important is what our customers develop. These are usually mechanical engineers with their own R&D department who want to develop or integrate applications with u-OS in the programming languages they use. They can do this on u-OS, and they are making increasing use of this possibility. We can’t even say how many apps there are already, because they are not usually for sale in any app marketplace. The app principle works.
Openness as a principle of the platform
Ulrich Sendler: How open is your platform to other platforms, for example from the market overview?
Martin Floeer: Our customers can link u-OS and our software with whatever they want. There are no limits. We even have a technology partnership with individual providers, such as Industrial Edge from Siemens, Nupano from Lenze or Flecs from Flecs Technology. Another important partnership is the close cooperation with Codesys. Customers no longer want to be dependent on individual providers, but want to be flexible and agile. We support this with all our strength.
Ulrich Sendler: Does Weidmueller have its own way of monetizing apps? For example, via its own app store?
Martin Floeer: Not really, but our u-OS APP Hub allows our customers to install apps extremely easily. In fact, it feels very similar to installing an app on a cell phone. In conjunction with the easyConnect cloud platform, internet technology and app use are now also arriving on the shop floor. You can also install apps from other platforms using Siemens Industrial Edge, Nupano or Flecs Marketplace. But we don’t see the monetization of apps as part of our offering; our value proposition is the simple use of apps.
Ulrich Sendler: Have Weidmueller’s target markets changed with u-OS? Have new ones been added?
Martin Floeer: Weidmueller is primarily at home in mechanical engineering, where we offer customers open automation and the corresponding engineering. Together with Codesys, we have brought their system to our control system. And will soon also be available in the Codesys Store. Our main business is still electronics and electrical engineering, which is now complemented by our various software products.
Advertising board at the Weidmueller booth during SPS 2024 (photo Sendler)
Energy technology as a whole is also of great interest to us. Generation, storage and distribution of energy, and of course energy management in industrial plants. Finally, the increasing networking of the various trades is also a driver of open software.
A network of ecosystems
Ulrich Sendler: How would you describe the ecosystem around u-OS?
Martin Floeer: Our aim is not to build our own ecosystem. Rather, we want to connect existing and developing ecosystems with each other. The containerization of software is the main driver and therefore also a driver for innovation. One focus in the coming months will be the integration of partner solutions for IT security. At SPS in November, for example, we presented FortiNet and Orange Cyber Defense as our first two partners.
Martin Floeer during the SPS 2024 in Nuremberg (Photo Sendler)
On the other hand, we attach great importance to our partner network, which includes technology and solution partners as well as a whole network of education partners from universities, institutes and other institutions. And we are very active in a number of organizations such as Open Industry 4.0, the leading-edge cluster it’s OWL and the Labs Network Industry 4.0.
Ulrich Sendler: What can the market expect from u-Software in the near future? What does the roadmap say?
Martin Floeer: The u-OS Data Hub, which was only presented in November, will take center stage at u-OS in the near future. It is now getting a real-time layer, and further extensions are in the works. The Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) is just around the corner. easyConnect will help us to meet the new requirements of the CRA. And easyConnect is the bracket around all the services we offer, including the security bracket. Cybersecurity is also a high priority at u-OS. We are currently implementing the requirements of IEC 62443-4-2. Further developments are on the way, but are not yet ready to be implemented.