Beckhoff showcases integrated building automation at Smart Buildings Show

Control specialist Beckhoff Automation is set to demonstrate how integrated control technology can enhance the energy efficiency and intelligence of modern facilities at the Smart Buildings Show 2026. Taking place at ExCeL London on October 14 and 15, the event will feature Beckhoff on stand C47, presenting four dedicated demonstrations that cover essential aspects of modern building automation.

Unified automation architecture
Beckhoff’s PC-based control technology integrates diverse building functions—including lighting, HVAC, and energy measurement—within a single automation platform. By eliminating the need for disparate, siloed control systems, this approach simplifies the overall building automation architecture and facilitates comprehensive data collection. Visitors to the stand will see two demonstration walls focusing on lighting solutions and building automation topology. These exhibits illustrate how different functional areas can be consolidated into a common architecture, granting facility operators enhanced visibility and centralized control across all building systems.

Energy monitoring and EV integration
In addition to core building controls, the stand will feature two demonstrations focused on electric vehicle (EV) charging and energy monitoring. "Smart buildings depend on more than simply connecting individual technologies," explained Karl Walker, market development manager at Beckhoff UK. He emphasized that the real opportunity lies in unifying building functions so they can share information and be managed as one coherent system. The scalable PC-based platform supports various communication standards, offering system integrators and building owners the flexibility to adapt solutions ranging from individual room controls to the extensive integration of wider building services.

Additional Context: PC-based control and protocol convergence
The transition toward PC-based control systems in building automation addresses the historical challenge of protocol fragmentation. Traditional commercial buildings often rely on isolated networks for different subsystems—such as DALI for lighting, BACnet for HVAC, and Modbus for energy metering. A unified PC-based automation platform acts as a universal gateway, consolidating these disparate communication standards into a single software environment. This convergence not only reduces hardware redundancy but also enables advanced data analytics, predictive maintenance, and machine learning applications. By centralizing data from environmental sensors, power meters, and EV chargers, facility managers can optimize energy consumption dynamically to meet stringent energy efficiency classifications, such as DIN EN ISO 52120 Class A.

Edited by Lekshman Ramdas, InduPortals editor – adapted by AI.

www.beckhoff.com