Automation Studio
Automation Studio is a unified engineering software environment that provides a single tool for controlling, visualizing, and configuring all your industrial automation components and robotic systems in one place.
Honeywell Forge
Honeywell Forge is an enterprise performance management software that integrates data from assets, processes, and people to help you optimize industrial operations, improve sustainability, and enhance worker productivity.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Automation Studio | Honeywell Forge |
|---|---|---|
| Website | br-automation.com | honeywell.com |
| Pricing Model | Custom | Custom |
| Starting Price | Custom Pricing | Custom Pricing |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 90 days free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 1979 | 1906 |
| Headquarters | Eggelsberg, Austria | Charlotte, USA |
Overview
Automation Studio
Automation Studio is the integrated engineering environment for B&R automation components. You can manage every aspect of your machine's lifecycle—from controller programming and drive configuration to HMI design and safety functions—within a single workspace. This unified approach eliminates the need to switch between different tools, helping you reduce development time and maintain consistency across your entire hardware fleet.
You can develop complex applications using standard languages like C, C++, or IEC 61131-3 while simulating your entire machine in a virtual environment before any hardware arrives. This allows you to catch errors early and optimize performance without risking physical equipment. Whether you are building high-speed packaging lines or complex robotic cells, the platform provides the modularity you need to scale your designs efficiently.
Honeywell Forge
Honeywell Forge helps you transform massive amounts of raw industrial data into actionable insights. By connecting your physical assets, processes, and human capital in a single cloud-based environment, you can monitor real-time performance across multiple sites. Whether you manage a single building or a global fleet of industrial plants, the platform identifies inefficiencies and provides predictive recommendations to prevent costly downtime.
You can use the software to lower your operational costs and meet sustainability goals by tracking energy consumption and carbon emissions. It serves large-scale enterprises in sectors like aerospace, manufacturing, and real estate, helping decision-makers move from reactive maintenance to proactive optimization. The platform integrates with your existing hardware to create a digital twin of your operations, giving you a clear view of your entire enterprise performance.
Overview
Automation Studio Features
- Unified Engineering Configure your controllers, drives, HMI, and safety components in one environment to ensure total system compatibility.
- Hardware Simulation Test your code on a virtual twin of your machine to identify bugs and optimize cycles without physical hardware.
- Multi-Language Support Write your logic in C, C++, or any IEC 61131-3 language to match your team's existing programming expertise.
- Modular Software Architecture Create reusable software components that you can easily deploy across different machine variants to save development time.
- Integrated Diagnostics Access real-time system data and trace variables remotely to troubleshoot performance issues and minimize machine downtime.
- Visual HMI Design Build modern, web-based operator interfaces using drag-and-drop tools that look great on any industrial touch screen.
Honeywell Forge Features
- Predictive Maintenance. Identify potential equipment failures before they happen so you can schedule repairs and avoid expensive unplanned downtime.
- Sustainability Tracking. Monitor your energy usage and carbon footprint in real-time to reach your environmental goals and reduce utility costs.
- Asset Performance Management. Track the health and efficiency of your industrial assets across all locations through a single, centralized digital dashboard.
- Cybersecurity Monitoring. Protect your operational technology with continuous monitoring that detects threats and vulnerabilities across your connected industrial network.
- Connected Worker Tools. Equip your field technicians with mobile access to digital instructions and remote expert assistance to improve safety and accuracy.
- Real Estate Optimization. Analyze building occupancy and air quality data to create healthier environments while reducing wasted HVAC and lighting energy.
Pricing Comparison
Automation Studio Pricing
Honeywell Forge Pricing
Pros & Cons
Automation Studio
Pros
- Single environment for all hardware components
- Excellent simulation capabilities reduce commissioning time
- Supports standard high-level programming languages
- Highly stable performance for complex machinery
Cons
- Steep learning curve for new users
- Proprietary to B&R hardware ecosystems
- Documentation can be dense for beginners
Honeywell Forge
Pros
- Excellent visibility across complex global asset portfolios
- Strong predictive analytics help prevent major equipment failures
- Deep integration with existing Honeywell industrial hardware
- Effective tools for tracking and reporting sustainability metrics
Cons
- Significant initial setup and configuration time required
- High price point targets large enterprise budgets
- Steep learning curve for non-technical staff members