Brisq Automation, an industrial automation company, is pioneering the use of new technology. They are the first in the Netherlands to develop an application using Simatic AX. This innovative engineering environment was created to meet the market’s demand for open ecosystems. The features of Simatic AX, including object-oriented programming in a text-based format, version control, and smaller software packages, persuaded Brisq to adopt this platform.

With a decline in traditional PLC programmers, Brisq is open for innovtions to add value for their customers. Mark Kuiper, managing partner at Brisq, asserts that text-based programming is here to stay due to its appeal to young people and its application in other disicplines, like robot programming.  Although IT and automation are distinct fields, they can benefit from each other, such as by adopting object-oriented programming in industrial automation. 
Kuiper highlights the rapid expansion of software in PLCs, now surpassing 10,000 lines of code, which requires tools for manageability and unit testing. Simatic AX’s open architecture is future-oriented, integrating PLCs with other systems or cloud environments. 
An electrical engineering graduate, explored Simatic AX, developing an object-oriented program and a robot demo. He found Simatic AX more user-friendly than TIA Portal, appreciating its extensions and collaborative features, and emphasizing its openness and version control. 
Simatic AX is lighter and more modular than TIA Portal, continuously evolving to address requirements from the users. Brisq plans to implement Simatic AX in more projects, advising customers to adopt text-based programming. Kuiper anticipates high demand due to the increasing complexity of software in PLCs, which necessitates more structure. Customers are looking for modular applications that evolve with their machines, similar to continuously updated car software. Brisq aims to make programs self-explanatory, reducing the need for documentation, and has high expectations for Simatic AX.

Text based programming environment for PLCs