Plug-and-Produce Automation in Modul4r
In the Modul4r project, our colleagues at NxtControl (NXT) are pushing the boundaries of industrial automation by developing modular hardware interfaces.
Plug. Produce. No Downtime.
At the heart of our work is the “plug and produce” concept. Imagine dropping a new machine or component into an existing production line and having it automatically configure itself with no manual setup, no delays, and no engineering bottlenecks. That’s the level of flexibility Modul4r aims to bring to modern manufacturing.
To make this goal a reality, NXT relied on the IEC 61499 international automation standard. Why was this specifically selected?
It offers modular and distributed programming of control systems;
It boosts interoperability across devices from different vendors;
It activates scalable and reusable automation solutions.
By adopting IEC 61499, NXT has created a platform that dramatically simplifies integration and accelerates factory reconfiguration, a major leap toward fully modular industrial environments.
Sharing these Results on the Global Stage
Earlier this year, the team showcased the Modul4r approach and significant results at the ETFA 2025 conference in Porto, one of the world’s leading events in industrial automation. The event offered fertile ground not only to demonstrate NXT’s technical leadership but also to increase Modul4r’s visibility among international experts and innovators, who were enthusiastic about the project’s developments.
