Industrial automation is evolving significantly: systems need to interact across organizational and technological borders, share data instantly, and embed increasing levels of software intelligence directly within machines and processes. Transparency is emerging as a catalyst for innovation, whereas security is essential for building trust. At SPS 2025 – in hall 7, booth 450 – Bosch Rexroth will showcase the practical integration of its automation system ctrlX AUTOMATION and the operating system ctrlX OS.
Currently, machine makers encounter the difficulty of concurrently developing, integrating, and ensuring solutions for control, motion, safety, image processing, and data management. ctrlX AUTOMATION greatly streamlines automation. The modular system efficiently integrates hardware, software, applications, and digital services. This shortens project timelines, decreases integration risks, and accelerates the route to value generation
ctrlX AUTOMATION: more intelligence, more performance
At SPS 2025, Bosch Rexroth will be presenting new developments from the ctrlX AUTOMATION portfolio. The control platform ctrlX COREplus is now available with AI functions on all performance levels. An optional AI module enables local data processing directly at the edge – for example, for predictive maintenance or quality control in real time. At the same time, high-performance Industrial PCs with NVIDIA GPUs expand computing and image processing capacity for demanding vision applications.
In the area of motion and drives, Bosch Rexroth is presenting compact, energy-efficient, and cabinet-free drives from the ctrlX DRIVE portfolio, which cover virtually all performance ranges. These are complemented by the Motion, CNC, and Robotics software ctrlX MOTION, which is ideal solution for automating production machines and systems.
A particular highlight is the new Safety PLC app, which enables functional safety without the need for special hardware. Previously, safety features required a second CPU to ensure redundancy. Now these functions can be integrated directly into existing control systems such as ctrlX CORE.
“The software-based safety solution makes safety concepts simpler and more efficient,” explains Steffen Winkler, Senior Vice President Sales, Business Unit Automation & Electrification Solutions at Bosch Rexroth. “Machine manufacturers require no additional hardware and can integrate safety functions directly into their control systems. This reduces effort and space requirements and creates new degrees of freedom.”
In addition, the company will be presenting two enhancements to its innovative motion systems for intralogistics: the planar system ctrlX FLOW6D is receiving a smaller mover size, while a switch for specific topologies and arrangements is being added to the high-speed solution ctrlX FLOWHS. Both systems are fully integrated into the ctrlX AUTOMATION portfolio and benefit from its openness and security.
ctrlX OS: flexible, connected, secure
The Linux-based operating system ctrlX OS forms the software basis for all ctrlX AUTOMATION solutions and enables seamless communication between Operational Technology (OT) and IT. It runs independently of hardware – from the field level, to edge devices, through to the cloud – and thus creates a common digital basis for control, analysis, and management.
In the future, ctrlX OS will be available in three editions – Standard, Customized, and Premium – to cover diverse integration requirements, from a turnkey solution to customized systems.
In addition, a virtualized solution is now also available. “With the virtualization of ctrlX OS, we are breaking down the final boundaries between IT and OT,” says Winkler. “Users can run their software in a completely flexible manner, wherever it provides the greatest benefit – be it in real time on the machine or centrally on the server.”
Secure by design – ready for the Cyber Resilience Act
As the world becomes more and more connected, the demands on cybersecurity are also rising. With this in mind, Bosch Rexroth consistently implements the “secure by design” and “secure by default” principles. ctrlX OS is designed from the ground up with security in mind and meets the requirements of IEC 62443-4-2, Security Level 2. This means that it is already prepared for the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA).
The new Security Scanner app, available in the ctrlX OS Store, also enables a full, network-level inventory of machines and assessment of their security status. This allows operators to identify potential weaknesses at an early stage and take suitable countermeasures.
“In the future, it won’t be enough for automation to be efficient; it will also have to be secure,” emphasizes Winkler. “With ctrlX OS and our security concept, we are already laying the foundation for implementing the CRA today – without significant integration effort.”
ctrlX World: open networking continues to grow
The open partner network ctrlX World, which expands the solution space around ctrlX AUTOMATION, is growing steadily. It now unites over 110 partner companies and 86 apps in the ctrlX OS Store, encompassing everything from motion and communication to IoT, security, and AI.
This year, solutions from the following partners from across the ctrlX OS Ecosystem will be presented at the Bosch Rexroth booth: 36ZERO Vision GmbH, Advantech Co., Ltd., Balluff GmbH, Cognibotics AB, congatec GmbH, Eaton Automation GmbH, IXON B. V., SEW Eurodrive GmbH & Co KG, TXOne Networks B.V., and XITASO GmbH.
AI-powered services: knowledge on demand
With the new digital assistant Ask iXi, Bosch Rexroth is integrating generative AI directly into its service and engineering platforms for the first time. The assistant answers questions about products, functions, and documentation around the clock – both online and in the engineering tool ctrlX WORKS.
Live shows at SPS 2025
Visitors can experience the automation system ctrlX AUTOMATION in daily live demonstrations at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Presentations on cybersecurity and the challenges of the Cyber Resilience Act will take place at 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.