GEA Omni NG control panels for heating and cooling systems

GEA has introduced the next generation of its control panel, GEA Omni NG. The solution is aimed at operators of heating and cooling systems, combining advanced cybersecurity, scalability, and digital connectivity to support transparent, secure, and efficient plant control.

Challenges in machine control and plant monitoring
With increasing automation in industrial plants, demands for protection against cyber threats are rising. Control systems in heating and cooling plants can become targets for such attacks, leaving operators with the task of increasing plant security and preventing unauthorized access to programmable logic controllers.

Hardware and software upgrades of the platform
GEA Omni NG builds on its predecessor introduced in 2014, of which tens of thousands of units have been sold worldwide. The system includes major hardware and software upgrades that enable improved access to real-time data. For instance, the industrial PC (IPC) has been replaced by a Wi-Fi-enabled GEA G-Plex electronic module and a separate touchscreen monitor, increasing operational flexibility. Operators, service partners, and plant managers can now connect via their own devices such as tablets or mobile phones to facilitate remote monitoring and view historical data. In addition, the operating system has been migrated from Windows to Linux to create a faster, more secure, and more customizable system. For smooth upgrades, GEA Omni NG is backward compatible with GEA Omni.

Cybersecurity and regulatory compliance
To protect critical plant processes, GEA Omni NG provides a digital control system designed for higher plant security. The control panel is on track for compliance with the EU Machinery Regulation 2023/1230, the Cyber Resilience Act, the NIS-2 Directive, and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0.

Digital networking and cloud connectivity
Through digital networking, the control panel helps operators run their systems more reliably, efficiently, and sustainably. Because the panel is GEA Cloud-enabled, it provides access to digital solutions for plant monitoring as well as applications for energy efficiency and sustainability. Real-time data is converted into actionable information, which can reduce costs and improve plant availability.

Customer-centric development approach
GEA software engineers follow a customer-centric development approach in which direct user feedback is incorporated into further development. Combined with factory experience and testing, this enables shorter development cycles to be achieved.

Additional context
This section contains technical specifications and competitive benchmarking not included in the original product announcement

In the market for industrial control panels and HMIs in refrigeration and air conditioning technology, the GEA Omni NG competes with specialized controller systems from manufacturers such as Danfoss (MCX series) or Carel (pCO system). While traditional control terminals often rely on closed Windows CE environments and hardwired Ethernet connections for service inspections, the GEA platform is characterized by complete migration to Linux and the native integration of the GEA G-Plex Wi-Fi module. This allows direct diagnostics via mobile devices in the field. In addition, by proactively aligning with the Cyber Resilience Act and the NIS-2 Directive, GEA positions itself at the forefront of regulatory compliance for critical industrial facilities, whereas older control concepts often require retrofitted firewall expansions to achieve comparable security standards.

Edited by Maria Brueva, Induportals editor – adapted by AI.

www.gea.com