ABB has unveiled its Automation Extended programme, marking a strategic evolution in its distributed control systems (DCS). This initiative is designed to help industries modernise efficiently without operational disruption. Building on ABB’s leadership with the world’s largest DCS installed base, Automation Extended outlines how future automation capabilities can be progressively introduced to preserve system integrity while enabling the flexibility, scalability, and efficiency required for the next era of industrial operations.
Industries today are navigating volatile markets, cybersecurity challenges, regulatory pressures, and a rapidly evolving workforce. ABB’s Automation Extended addresses these issues by enabling innovation with agility and continuity, supporting advanced analytics and IoT integration, and simplifying operations for diverse skill levels.
Operators can continue relying on trusted ABB systems, such as ABB Ability™ System 800xA®, ABB Ability™ Symphony® Plus, and ABB Freelance. The introduction of new technologies is managed progressively, ensuring no interruption to operations. This approach provides a structured, low-risk path to modernisation, maintaining continuity while enabling innovation.
Automation Extended offers a structured approach to modernising automation for operators across various sectors, including power generation, oil and gas, chemicals and life sciences, food and beverage, water, and low-carbon industries. By leveraging ABB’s trusted platforms, Automation Extended delivers immediate gains for leaner, cleaner, and smarter operations, while ensuring long-term confidence with a pathway towards more autonomous operations.
“In industries we serve — many operating large and complex infrastructures that deliver essential resources — our customers rely on modernisation without disruption,” said Peter Terwiesch, President of ABB’s Automation business area. “Automation Extended delivers exactly that: bringing future-ready capabilities into the systems they know and trust, with security and interoperability at the core.”
The programme is implemented through a modern, open, and modular environment designed for interoperability, scalability, and seamless integration across industrial domains. The automation ecosystem includes two distinct yet securely interconnected environments: a control environment ensuring robust and reliable control for critical processes, and a digital environment enabling advanced applications and real-time analytics. This space leverages AI and machine learning for decision support without disturbing proven control structures.
A unified automation service approach for ecosystem lifecycle management and optimisation is applied for managing and maintaining these diverse technological environments. By integrating technologies such as an Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture (OPC UA) backbone and a Cloud-Native Architecture, the ecosystem enables enhancements ranging from process anomaly detection to optimising maintenance strategies through continuous condition monitoring of critical assets. This architecture delivers scalability and agility while ensuring robust performance.
Access to Automation Extended will be available through the next releases of ABB Ability™ System 800xA®, ABB Ability™ Symphony® Plus, and ABB Freelance process automation systems.
