For the third time: We win the automation app award

We are thrilled to have won the "automation app award" again this year! Once again, we convinced readers in the online vote. This year, the Universal Machine Connector (UMC) app from our partner Bosch Manufacturing Solutions prevailed in the "Industrial IoT" category and took first place. And that's not all: The Security Scanner app, another ctrlX OS app, was also nominated and made it into the Top 3. We thank everyone who voted for our apps. It fills us with great pride and is at the same time a strong signal that we are actively shaping the future of automation and are always Two Steps Ahead.

The award is presented by the trade magazine Elektrotechnik AUTOMATISIERUNG in cooperation with ZVEI (German Electrical and Digital Industry Association) and recognizes the best apps in automation. The award ceremony took place on May 21, 2026 at the Vogel Convention Center in Würzburg.

Award ceremony automation app award

But what makes the ctrlX OS app Universal Machine Connector so special? It addresses one of the central challenges of modern production: It connects industrial controllers, shopfloor devices, and IT systems – via a wide variety of protocols including Bosch Rexroth, Ethernet/IP, OPC UA, and MQTT. Bidirectional data exchange works in real time or time-delayed, depending on requirements. Whether SCADA, MES, process monitoring, or predictive maintenance – the UMC app connects exactly where it matters.

The fact that the Security Scanner app also landed in the Top 3 is no coincidence. It enables cybersecurity assessments of machines at the network level, captures connected devices, MAC addresses, and open network ports, and helps identify potential attack surfaces at an early stage. Results are provided as a PDF report and in machine-readable format – enabling machine operators to more easily meet legal requirements.

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