OnLogic debuts flexible control hardware at IMTS 2026

OnLogic is preparing to unveil a new line of industrial computing hardware at the International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago this September. The company’s central argument is that traditional factory control systems are too rigid and expensive to maintain. By moving intelligence directly to the machines, manufacturers can avoid the latency and security risks associated with relying entirely on cloud infrastructure.

The core of this strategy is a new product called the EdgeLogic SoftPLC appliance. This device is designed to replace traditional proprietary Programmable Logic Controllers, which often require complex setup and carry high licensing fees. Instead, the EdgeLogic offers a pre-validated environment where software and hardware are already optimized to work together, allowing engineers to deploy real-time control systems without spending days on driver configuration.

Flexible control reduces integration costs

The primary advantage of the EdgeLogic appliance is its ability to bypass the steep learning curve of legacy systems. Traditional proprietary controllers often lock manufacturers into specific hardware ecosystems, leading to ongoing licensing costs and limited upgrade paths. The new appliance uses open software standards, specifically the CODESYS SoftPLC platform, which runs on general-purpose industrial hardware.

This approach allows system integrators to use the same hardware for both standard control tasks and more advanced AI applications. The trade-off is that this flexibility requires a higher level of expertise in software integration compared to plug-and-play legacy units. However, for companies looking to scale their automation, the reduction in long-term licensing fees and the ability to upgrade components without replacing the entire control system is a significant financial benefit.

Rugged hardware handles factory conditions

Factory environments are hostile to standard consumer electronics. Dust, heat, and vibration can degrade performance or cause complete failure. To address this, the new hardware lineup features fanless designs that eliminate the need for moving parts, which are common points of failure in industrial settings. These units are built to operate reliably in harsh conditions without the maintenance overhead of traditional cooling systems.

The devices are powered by Intel Core Ultra processors that include dedicated Neural Processing Units. These specialized chips allow the computers to run machine vision models locally, enabling instant defect detection without sending data to the cloud. This local processing ensures that quality control decisions are made in milliseconds, a critical requirement for high-speed production lines where network latency is unacceptable.

Partner demos show real-world applications

OnLogic will not be demonstrating its hardware in isolation. At the show, the company will collaborate with major industry partners to show how the hardware integrates with existing software stacks. Microsoft will demonstrate how Azure local workloads can be managed on these small form factor devices. Nokia will showcase private wireless network solutions that support mission-critical operational technology.

Other partners will display how the hardware supports enterprise-wide data collection and centralized management. For example, Inductive Automation will show how the systems handle SCADA data, while ZEDEDA will demonstrate cloud-native orchestration of the edge devices. According to GN technics/hardware, these live demonstrations are intended to prove that the hardware can securely extend cloud-like intelligence to the physical edge where data originates.