Operational edge computing for brownfield industrial integration, visibility and performance
In one sentence: E2C Factory turns compatible Robustel gateways into industrial operational edge platforms. It unifies mixed-vendor data, processes and visualises it locally, supports OEE, and integrates structured information with OT, IT and cloud systems without replacing proven PLCs, machines or SCADA. |
1. Problems it solves
Customer situation | Role of E2C Factory | Business result |
PLCs, machines and meters from different vendors remain isolated. | Use common drivers and a consistent tag model, with reusable configuration. | Reduce point-to-point integration and commissioning effort. |
Reliable equipment cannot connect to modern systems. | Add an edge integration layer between legacy assets and SCADA, MES, ERP or cloud. | Protect existing investments and reduce retrofit risk. |
Data is forwarded without context or local action. | Filter, calculate and organise data locally, then trigger rules and alarms. | Reduce cloud dependency and accelerate response. |
Small or distributed sites lack visualisation. | Provide browser-based Edge SCADA, trends and alarms on the gateway. | Reduce additional server and client software. |
Equipment status is visible, but production losses are not. | Pro provides OEE analysis of availability, performance and quality. | Elevate connectivity projects into production-performance initiatives. |
2. Best-fit customers
- Manufacturers and process industries modernising brownfield automation.
- Machine and equipment OEMs adding remote monitoring, diagnostics and digital services.
- System integrators standardising mixed-vendor projects with a reusable edge architecture.
- Utilities and industrial infrastructure requiring local logic, continuity and multi-system integration.
3. Core capabilities
Capability | Key content | Where it creates value |
Industrial acquisition | Modbus, OPC UA, Siemens, Mitsubishi, Omron, Allen-Bradley, BACnet and extensible private protocols. | Mixed-vendor and brownfield environments. |
Edge automation | Scenario Management, JavaScript, dedicated Node-RED nodes, containers and custom applications. | Local filtering, transformation, event handling or control. |
Continuity and data management | Local tables, archives, retention, offline buffering and store-and-forward. | Unreliable networks, retention or reduced cloud traffic. |
Alarm management | Rules, severity, acknowledgement, history and multiple notification channels including Email, SMS, Telegram, WhatsApp and WeCom. | Downtime reduction and maintenance response. |
Edge SCADA | Browser-based development and runtime, screens, trends, alarms, templates and permissions. | Dashboard, small sites and distributed visualisation. |
OEE | Availability, performance, quality, trends and multidimensional analysis. Pro edition only. | Production-loss analysis and continuous improvement. |
Northbound integration | MQTT/TLS, HTTPS/REST, Sparkplug B, OPC UA Server, Modbus TCP Slave and BACnet/IP Server. | SCADA, MES, EMS, BMS and cloud integration. |
4. Edition selection
Edition | Best for | Edition Feature |
Free | Evaluation, PoC and small sites | Up to 200 collection tags and 100 SCADA tags; 18 mainstream industrial protocols; no OEE. |
Core | Standard industrial projects and small/medium factories | Up to 2,000 collection tags and 2,000 SCADA tags; full protocol library; no OEE. |
Pro | Large deployments and production-performance analysis | Up to 5,000 collection tags and 5,000 SCADA tags; full protocol library and OEE; 8 GB RAM is required for stable 5,000-tag operation. |
A tag is one external variable exchanged with a field device, such as temperature, pressure or switch status. Virtual variables are excluded. Recheck the latest Version Comparison before purchase.
5. Recommended reading order
Order | Document | Purpose | Reference Articles |
1 | E2C Factory Overview | Understand the problems, boundaries and value. | This overview article |
2 | E2C Factory Version Comparison | Select an edition and verify tags, protocols, SCADA, OEE and memory. | |
3 | E2C Factory APP Download / Release Notes | Verify gateway, firmware and application compatibility. | |
4 | E2C Factory Quick Start Guide | Complete a Modbus TCP, MQTT, script, alarm and cloud-command workflow. | |
5 | Relevant southbound How-to | Modbus TCP for example | |
6 | Relevant northbound User Guide | MQTT for example | |
7 | E2C Factory Software Manual | Learn full modules, permissions, logs, configuration reuse and operations. | |
8 | E2C Trinity SCADA Manual | Design production screens, history, alarms and reusable templates. |
6. First-PoC acceptance criteria
- E2C Factory reads representative tags from one PLC or simulated device.
- Tag values are visible and updating correctly in E2C Factory.
- One threshold-based alarm is triggered when the test value exceeds the limit.
- Tag data is published to an MQTT broker.
- The MQTT broker receives the expected tag values.
7. When not to choose it
- For small protocol-conversion and secure-forwarding requirements without local processing, visualisation or automation, assess lightweight Edge2Cloud (another product from Robustel) first.
- E2C Factory should not replace a PLC or SIS where deterministic or certified safety control is required.
8. Built-in protocol list
Different gateway models may require different minimum RobustOS Pro versions. Check the latest application download and compatibility information for the selected hardware model.
E2C Factory built-in protocol list
Southbound protocols connect field assets. Northbound interfaces deliver standardised data to cloud platforms or forward it to systems such as SCADA, MES and BMS.The following is the full E2C Factory protocol list for Core and Pro. Free supports only the 18 protocols listed in the Version Comparison.
Type | Category | Protocols |
Southbound | General Protocols | Modbus TCP, Modbus RTU, OPC UA, Full DLT645 series (DLT645-2007, DLT645-2007 OverTcp, DLT645-1997 overTCP, DLT645-1997), Full DLT698 series (DLT698, DLT698TcpNet, DLT698OverTcp), CJT188-2004, DI/DO/AI, BACnet IP, BACnet MS/TP |
Siemens | S7, FetchWrite, PPI, PPIOverTcp, WebApi | |
MITSUBISHI | FxLinks, FxLinksOverTcp, FxSerial, FxSerialOverTcp | |
Omron | Fins-Tcp, Fins-UDP, HostLink, HostLinkOverTcp, CMode, CmodeOverTcp, CipNet, ConnectedCipNet | |
Allen-Bradley | ConnectedCIP, CIP, MicroCIP, SLC, PCCC | |
Delta | Serial, SerialAscii, TCP, SerialOverTcp | |
XinJE | Serial, SerialOverTcp, Modbus TCP, Private TCP | |
Keyence | MC3E, Nano, NanoOverTcp | |
Inovance | Serial, TCP, SerialOverTcp | |
Panasonic | MC3E, Mewtocol, MewtocolOverTcp | |
Fuji | SPB, SPBOverTcp, SPHNet | |
FATEK | Program Port, Program Port over TCP | |
Beckhoff | ADS | |
Vigor | Serial, SerialOverTcp | |
Yokogawa | LinkTcp | |
Northbound | Data to Cloud | MQTT (TLS encryption, compatible with AWS IoT, Azure IoT and mainstream IoT platforms), HTTPS/RESTful, Sparkplug B |
Data Forwarding | Modbus TCP Slave, BACnet/IP Server, OPC UA Server |
9. Function list
Module | Functions | Description |
Data Collection | Device Management, Tag Management, Import/Export | Unified connectivity for mainstream protocols with millisecond-level high-speed data collection. Supports real/virtual tag management, batch import/export. |
Scenario Management | Scenario Management, Action Management, History Log | Supports scheduled, cycle, power-on, data linkage, alarm, and cloud command triggers with execution logging. |
Data to Cloud | MQTT, HTTP, Sparkplug B, Breakpoint Resume | Multi-protocol cloud connectivity (MQTT, HTTP, Sparkplug B) with AWS IoT, Azure IoT, and custom platforms.Auto-cache with FIFO/LIFO strategies for network resilience. |
Data Forwarding | OPC UA Server, Modbus TCP Slave, BACnet IP Server | Multi-protocol data forwarding via OPC UA, Modbus TCP, and BACnet IP with security modes, certificates, access control, read/write mappings, BBMD, and BDT support. |
Alarm Management | Alarm Rules, Alarm Notification | Comprehensive alarm lifecycle management with configurable rules, severity levels, tags, and multi-channel notifications (SMS, email, WeCom, WhatsApp, Telegram). |
Logic Orchestration | Node-RED-based Logic Orchestration | Four dedicated Node-RED nodes for data subscription, device updates, and DO control with visual flow-based edge logic processing and virtual tag integration for cloud reporting. |
Debug Logs | Real-time Logs | Real-time monitoring of data collection status, performance, and custom function execution with log download and cache clearing for diagnostics. |
Data Management | Data Table Management，Storage and Cleanup | Custom business tables, OEE statistics integration, and automated cleanup with retention policies. Processed tables can be sent to cloud via Data Table Groups. |
System Settings | System Level Settings | Serial Port Settings, Storage, Custom Params, Certificate Management, License Activation, Service Status, Export, Import, RDMS Collaboration, User Management, Role Management, System Logs |
Data Analytics | Device OEE Dashboard and SCADA Management | Built-in OEE analytics with auto-generated efficiency metrics, status maintenance, and preset dashboards. Full SCADA suite with WYSIWYG development environment, production runtime, and reusable templates for rapid deployment. |