Inductive Automation
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Industrial automation software |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Founder | Steve Hechtman |
| Headquarters | Folsom , United States |
Key people | Colby Clegg (CEO), Kat Jeschke (COO), Carl Gould (CTO), Steve Hechtman (Executive Chairman, founder) |
| Products | Ignition SCADA platform, FactorySQL, FactoryPMI, MES Modules (in collaboration with Sepasoft), HMI/SCADA Modules, OPC-UA module |
| Website | inductiveautomation |
Inductive Automation is a privately held firm located in Folsom, California, specializing in industrial automation software delivered via web technologies. Its premier offering, the Ignition SCADA platform, caters to a broad spectrum of sectors including oil and gas, wastewater, food and beverage, utilities, energy, transportation, chemical processing, mining, aerospace, printing, plastics, construction, and manufacturing, with a presence in more than 140 countries. The company partners with over 1,200 independent automation integrators around the globe.
Established in 2003 by Steve Hechtman, Inductive Automation was among the first to introduce a server-centric design for SCADA systems through early solutions such as FactorySQL and FactoryPMI. The firm prioritizes interoperability by embracing open standards like OPC UA and launched the industry’s first native Java OPC-UA stack in 2010. This advancement guarantees full cross-platform compatibility, setting the company apart from many commercial SCADA providers.
The leadership team includes CEO Colby Clegg, COO Kat Jeschke, CTO Carl Gould, along with Executive Chairman and founder Steve Hechtman, who served as the head of the company until 2022. Inductive Automation’s strategy revolves around delivering scalable software products that integrate effortlessly with existing industrial infrastructures, fostering growth through innovation and extensive global reach.
Licensing
Inductive Automation utilizes an unlimited licensing framework charging per server, without imposing fees based on clients, PLC or SQL database connections, SCADA tags, or visualization screens. This licensing model promotes scalability and cost-effectiveness for enterprises. Additionally, the company provides limited editions of its SQL Bridge and Vision modules featuring constrained functionality and caps on concurrent users.
Ignition platform
Ignition is a unified software suite designed for SCADA applications that supports cross-platform, web-based deployment via Java Web Start technology for both runtime clients and development tools. After Oracle announced in 2018 the end of Java Web Start support, Inductive Automation responded by releasing proprietary Java-based launchers in November 2018 to preserve its cross-platform deployment capabilities.
MES Module Layer
In collaboration with Sepasoft, Inc., Inductive Automation delivers MES Modules built atop the Ignition platform that offer sophisticated, industry-tailored features requiring minimal custom development. These modules include "OEE Downtime," "Statistical Process Control" (SPC), "Track and Trace," and "Recipe/Changeover," providing ready-to-use functionality alongside flexible scripting options. Sepasoft also offers utility modules such as "Instrument Interface," "Web Services," and "Barcode Scanner." In 2019, the Sepasoft Business Connector Suite was introduced, incorporating SAP ERP integration and enhanced MES Enterprise features on Platform 3.0.
HMI/SCADA Module Layer
The HMI/SCADA Module Layer encompasses core components of the Ignition Platform. Prominent visualization modules include Perspective, which supports HTML5-enabled devices like smartphones and tablets, and Vision. Other modules consist of Historian for two-way SQL timeseries data logging, SQL Bridge facilitating OPC-to-SQL database transactions, Reporting for generating dynamic PDFs, and WebDev to create web endpoints and manage hosted resources.
Additional offerings include "OPC-COM," "OPC-UA," "Alarm Notification," "SMS Notification," "Voice Notification," and "SFC modules." Planned releases during 2014-2015 featured the "Enterprise Administration Module," an updated Reporting Module, and a DNP3 Driver Module.
Platform Layer
The Platform Layer delivers fundamental services utilized across all components, encompassing OPC-UA Client functionality, database administration, web hosting, system event logging, licensing management, a unified development environment, auditing capabilities, user authentication, module APIs, core alerting mechanisms, database interfacing, a scripting engine, a real-time tag database, store-and-forward features, and redundancy support.
Security
Inductive Automation prioritizes security through IT-aligned best practices. The Ignition Platform integrates:
- SSL/TLS protocols to encrypt all network communications.
- Active Directory Authentication for seamless identity management.
- Auditing tools to review and track system activity logs.
Following a US-CERT alert regarding a vulnerability that permitted unauthorized access to project configuration files, Inductive Automation swiftly resolved the issue in version 7.2.8.178 and subsequent releases.
Linux
In response to industry demand for secure and dependable platforms, Inductive Automation ensures cross-platform compatibility. Although Windows was initially required due to OPC-DA's reliance on DCOM technology, many enterprises favor Linux for its enhanced security and stability. Linux support was introduced in January 2010 with the release of the OPC-UA module.
Legacy products
FactorySQL served as an OPC-based middleware solution connecting industrial PLCs with SQL databases. It operated as a drag-and-drop .NET application running as a Windows service. Launched in 2003, FactorySQL was phased out at version 4 in 2010 following the introduction of Ignition.
FactoryPMI was a Java-driven SCADA system composed of runtime, gateway, and design components. Released in 2003, FactoryPMI reached end-of-life at version 3 in 2010 when Ignition was launched.
History
Both FactorySQL and FactoryPMI were introduced in 2003.
In January 2010, Inductive Automation consolidated these products into the modular Ignition platform. FactorySQL evolved into the SQL Bridge Module, while FactoryPMI transformed into the Vision Module. The initial Ignition release also featured Reporting and OPC-UA Modules, representing the first comprehensive industrial software solution compatible with both Windows and Linux environments.
The inaugural Ignition Community Conference occurred in September 2013 in Folsom, California, with subsequent annual gatherings continuing through 2016.
Inductive University debuted on September 25, 2014, broadening the company's educational resources.
The most recent major version, Ignition v8.0, was released in spring 2019.
OPC-UA
Current Ignition drivers enable connectivity with Allen-Bradley, Modbus TCP, Siemens S7, and basic TCP/UDP protocols. This facilitates integration with a wide range of devices such as PLCs, solar panels, generators, flow meters, and barcode scanners.
Inductive Automation created the first native Java OPC UA stack for its OPC-UA server. The OPC-UA module is provided free of charge by the company, strengthening its position in industrial automation connectivity solutions.
SQLTags
SQLTags is proprietary technology that utilizes any SQL database as a tag database. Tags can originate from sources including OPC, expressions, or constants, with configurable options like alerting, scaling adjustments, and historical data storage. These tags reside within "Tag Providers," which are automatically generated tables inside an SQL database.
The SQLTags Historian handles historical data storage within supported SQL databases by establishing an Ignition "SQL database connection" and activating this feature per tag. It automates table creation and management without requiring direct SQL commands from users. "Historical Scan Classes" permit variable logging intervals and adaptive logging rates to provide high-resolution history when necessary while conserving resources during lower-demand periods. The system partitions data across multiple tables to optimize performance and facilitate data archiving and pruning processes.
Open source
Inductive Automation is a strong advocate for and contributor to the Open source community. Its FactoryPMI platform integrates several open-source technologies, including MySQL, Apache, JFreeChart, Jython, Hsqldb, jTDS, and Bean Builder.
Awards
In 2011, Inductive Automation was honored with the Duke's Choice award at the JavaOne conference. Oracle acknowledged Ignition as an important Java-based solution in Industrial Automation, particularly due to its implementation of a native Java OPC UA stack.
The company was recognized as the Partner of the Year by the Control System Integrators Association in 2015.
During the 2020 Leadership in Automation Awards, Automation World presented Inductive Automation with seven distinct awards, underscoring its prominence and leadership within the industry.