Beckhoff has introduced TwinCAT PLC++, a powerful advancement in control technology designed to significantly enhance both engineering and runtime performance. TwinCAT PLC++ retains the well-known benefits of the TwinCAT platform—such as seamless integration, open architecture, and system compatibility—while delivering a new level of efficiency through an updated compiler and modernized system architecture.
With TwinCAT PLC++, control applications can achieve up to 1.5 times faster runtime performance compared to previous TwinCAT versions. This is made possible by the newly developed TwinCAT PLC++ compiler, which increases overall execution speed by up to 3 times. The updated architecture also enables deeper integration with the TwinCAT ecosystem, ensuring highly optimized control solutions.
A key innovation is the introduction of TwinCAT CoAgent, a next-generation engineering assistant fully embedded into the TwinCAT development environment. This tool supports both textual and graphical programming and is designed to improve the efficiency and quality of automation software development.
TwinCAT CoAgent enhances the engineering workflow by delivering precise code proposals, optimizing logic, and generating detailed documentation. These features are fully integrated into existing project workflows and can be reviewed and implemented by developers with ease. In addition, CoAgent facilitates access to Beckhoff’s extensive documentation resources and supports streamlined development of HMI solutions, allowing for faster and more intuitive user interface configuration.
The system also simplifies I/O setup—enabling efficient topology creation, terminal naming, and configuration of new modules. Future capabilities will include parameter-specific tuning, assisted by intelligent guidance to ensure optimal configuration. These improvements accelerate the I/O configuration process and offer a high degree of adaptability to meet specialized application requirements. TwinCAT CoAgent’s robust feature set makes it a powerful tool for automation professionals, enabling more productive and flexible engineering workflows across a wide range of industrial applications.
