Build smarter. Program faster. Explore what’s possible.
Design and program AC500-eCo, AC500, AC500-S Safety PLCs and CP600 HMIs, all within one powerful engineering environment. Configure standalone or fully redundant solutions, build complete connectivity maps, and handle drive parameterization and programming with ease. Diagnose and optimize your automation projects faster — all in one integrated Automation Builder platform.
Connect with confidence
AC500 communicates across every level of your automation architecture, from the control network managing real-time operations, to the site network coordinating systems across the factory, and up to the IT and cloud network enabling secure data exchange.
With support for a wide range of industrial protocols, AC500 keeps your data flowing, ensuring everything stays connected, consistent, and future-ready.
IT network/Internet
- FTP(S), HTTP(S), MQTT, NTP/SNTP, OPC UA, SMTP(S)
Factory/site network
- BACnet, DNP3, IEC 60870-5-104, IEC 61850, KNX, MySQL/MSSQL, OPC UA/DA/AE, SNMP, TCP/IP, UDP
Control network
- CANopen, CAN 2A/2B, EtherCAT, Ethernet/IP, Modbus RTU, Modbus TCP, PROFIBUS DP, PROFINET, PROFINET/PROFIsafe, SAE J1939
Supporting tools for every step of your Automation builder journey
Plan and select with guidance
Use ABB GoSelect to choose the right hardware. In Automation Builder, configure devices, networks, and IP settings, and define safety parameters. Reduce engineering effort with ECAD roundtrip integration and set a solid foundation for your system configuration.
Configure hardware with precision
Intuitively configure hardware for single or redundant setups, or automate complex systems using Python scripting. - Flexible configuration concepts allow one PLC application to be reused across multiple hardware combinations. -Import PLC tags directly into Panel Builder 600 for fast HMI design, integrate ABB drives via Drive Composer Pro, and prepare your system for programming in record time. Validate safety code with dedicated analysis tools, program ABB Drives using IEC 61131 languages, and simulate CP600 HMI projects together with PLC logic before deployment. OPC Server integration ensures seamless system communication, while License Manager enables scalable functionality. Multi-download capabilities accelerate large installations.
Program, test, and simulate
Develop automation projects efficiently with multi-user engineering, advanced simulation tools, and C/C++ programming to refine control logic. Validate safety code with dedicated analysis tools and program ABB drives using IEC 61131 languages. Simulate CP600 HMI projects alongside PLC logic before deployment. OPC Server integration and a wide array of communication protocols ensure seamless connectivity across systems, while the License Manager enables flexible scalability. Save time and accelerate large installations with multi-download capabilities.
Deploy with confidence
Hardware meeting cybersecurity standards (IEC 62443) simplifies compliance, while secure protocols such as MQTT, OPC UA, and various fieldbus options ensure reliable system communication. The License Manager offers flexible scalability, and a wide range of application libraries shortens engineering time. Deploy confidently — locally or remotely — and speed up large installations with multi-download capabilities.
Maintain, update, and optimize for the future
Activate or transfer licenses, archive and restore projects, and run remote diagnostics securely using encrypted protocols. Use change management and project comparison tools to track modifications and maintain consistency. With side-by-side version installation, comprehensive device repositories, and Drive Composer Pro for fine-tuning ABB drives, your system remains optimized and up to date.
Keep systems reliable throughout their lifecycle
Perform PLC firmware updates quickly and safely to keep systems current, reliable, and compliant, long after commissioning and throughout their lifecycle.
Libraries and software packages
Speed up development and ensure consistency with pretested library packages designed for ABB PLCs. Reuse proven functions for communication, motion, safety, and application control — reducing programming effort and minimizing errors. With modular, scalable libraries, you can standardize engineering across projects and focus more on optimization, not routine coding. When installing Automation Builder, simply activate the libraries and software packages you need in the installer and start working with them right away!
The library package for solar trackers increases energy efficiency, and ensures quick commissioning and excellent positioning accuracy.
Use the energy efficiency functionalities in this library for quick commissioning of water applications, such as pump stations with remote communication.
This library package is ideal for the advanced PID temperature control of demanding applications, for example extrusion.
Preconfigured function blocks will help you to achieve functional safety certification levels such as SIL.
Quickly integrate ABB ACS drives using different fieldbuses with this function block library.
Make complex motion applications simple with this library for decentral, central and coordinated motion according to the PLCopen standard.
This package adds the BACnet-ASC Device Profile for communication to Building Management Systems (BMS) in infrastructure projects.
This library package adds High Availability system functionality for redundant hot standby using Ethernet via Modbus TCP.
This engineering and protocol package seamlessly integrates ETS and Automation Builder for connecting KNX devices to the PLC.
Engineering tool and library package for 61850 Ed.1 MMS Server and GOOSE publish and subscribe functionalities for energy distribution applications.
Integration of revision management systems is key to collaborate with multiple persons on the same project or for keeping track on the version history.
Following design guidelines typically leads to better code quality and easier maintainability of the software.
Comfortable engineering and full featured Level 4 - DNP3 communication according IEEE1815
Outstation (server) for use in distributed infrastructure.
Engineering tool and powerful library package for IEC60870-5-104 communication.
Substation (server) and control station (master) for use in distributed infrastructure.
Unlock more features with AC500 libraries and functions
AC500 libraries provide additional functionality in form of solution-oriented libraries to complement the standard libraries. They are delivered by the Automation Builder installer.
A growing range of AC500 features, such as protocols, libraries, and editors can be unlocked through additional licenses.
These are available as installation options within Automation Builder, which also provide example projects, documentation, and supporting tools for faster implementation.
AC500 Library for solution-specific application
Runtime licenses - Installation options for Automation Builder
The Automation Builder platform
Engineering productivity
Automation Builder is ABB's integrated programming, simulation, commissioning and maintenance environment for PLCs, safety, drives, motion and control panels.
One tool for all devices
Automation Builder is used for all of our AC500 PLCs and CP600 control panels, no matter if you have purchased the cost-efficient, high-end or safety versions.
Free license option
ABB offers three different licenses, starting with the Basic license which is free of charge, and scaling up to the Standard and Premium licenses for more functionality and efficiency.