FAQ

HELIO is a modern visualization system based on web technology for creating powerful and adaptive HMIs for industrial machines. The system consists of four main building blocks:

HELIO Runtime

HELIO Runtime is the only software that needs to be run on your target device during operation. It delivers the HMIs and communicates exclusively with the controller - no connection to the Internet is required.

HELIO HMIs

HELIO HMIs bundle our years of industry knowledge into standardized components and pages, such as dashboards, parameter pages, messages and alarms, user management, and more.

HELIO Development Environment

The development environment is also completely web-based. So you can work on HMIs without installing complex software on your development computers.

It features a no-code editor that allows machine builders and PLC experts to create easy-to-use interfaces for industrial controllers - with no programming required.

After completing the development of an HMI, the HELIO runtime is transferred to the target device along with the project configuration. The machine then runs completely independently and offline.

HELIO Development Environment (On Device)

An offline development environment is automatically included in every HELIO Runtime. This allows you to make changes to the configuration even during commissioning or maintenance - the appropriate version of the development environment is always on board.

HELIO is a No-Code tool for creating industrial HMIs that is different from others. To understand why HELIO works the way it does, let's look at the challenges product teams are facing and the aspects that make HELIO unique in solving them.

1. Good UX is a great USP but it takes time and skills, that's why HELIO incorporates guardrails to create engaging and future-proof HMIs.

2. Industrial HMIs need to adapt to different output devices & panel suppliers, that’s why HELIO is a tool for content modeling first, not for creating pixel-based screens.

3. Every machine is different – customization is not the exception, but the rule, that's why HELIO is a no-code solution that allows all members of your team to participate.

4. UX consistency across different products & teams is a sisyphean task, that's why HELIO is a toolbox to scale your corporate design system.

5. Fast prototyping and quick iterations on real devices are crucial for creating compelling HMIs, that's why HELIO let’s you design & iterate as close to your machine and live data as possible.

The HELIO runtime is the only software that runs on your target device during operation. It provides the HMIs and connects them to your controller in real time.

The HELIO development environment is a graphical editor that can be used to quickly and easily create HMIs without requiring any programming effort. A major advantage is that real-time data from the machine can be displayed during project planning.

HELIO Runtime

• Operating systems: Windows, Linux, macOS
• Memory: at least 1 GB
• Processor: ARM (64-bit) or Intel

HELIO HMIs

• Operating systems: Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android
• Browser: Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge

HELIO Development Environment

• Operating systems: Windows, Linux, macOS
• Browser: Chrome, Microsoft Edge

HELIO currently supports the following protocols for accessing machine control systems:

• OPC UA
• MQTT
• KEB-Connection

To make it convenient for you and your colleagues to work on HMIs without having to install heavyweight software on your development computers, the HELIO development environment is 100% web-based. You simply run it in your browser. Your project data is securely stored on the development computer.

As soon as the development of an HMI is finished, a HELIO runtime is installed on the target device and the project configuration is transferred from the development environment to the device. After that, the machine runs completely standalone and offline.

Security and data protection are just as important to us as optimal usability. We have therefore made many architectural decisions deliberately to protect your data and controls in the best possible way.

THE HELIO RUNTIME -
100% OFFLINE CAPABLE AND SELF-SUFFICIENT
The runtime is the only software that needs to be executed on your target device during operation. It delivers the HMIs and communicates exclusively with the controller - no connection to the Internet is required. Data generated during operation, such as the historization of control values, is also stored securely on the target device.

You don't need any programming knowledge to create HMIs with HELIO. This makes HELIO an ideal tool for responding quickly and agilely to new requirements and feedback. Project planning is also easier, since HELIO does not need to be operated by control developers.

Today, there are already a number of reference projects based on HELIO that are on the market, such as PREMAS 4.0 from Schade or SIG combiLink Plusc.

The planned release of HELIO as a stand-alone product was in November 2023, just in time for the SPS trade fair in Nuremberg. Here we presented the finished version to the public for the first time.

Yes, you can test HELIO without obligation for 30 days. Contact our team and we will send you a license.

The HELIO runtime is 100% offline-capable and self-sufficient. It is the only software that needs to be executed on the target device during operation. The runtime delivers the HMIs and communicates exclusively with the controller. A connection to the Internet is not required. Even the data that accumulates during operation, such as the historization of control values, is stored securely on the target device.

An offline development environment is automatically included in every HELIO runtime. This makes it possible to make configuration changes even during commissioning or maintenance without performing an additional installation on your development computer. You work directly on the machine or the PLC.

For us, true responsiveness means being resilient to a variety of factors:

Screen sizes

Since HELIO is based on web technology, content on a screen can automatically adapt to different screen sizes. This is not only handy when your customer:s want to monitor machines from their tablet or smartphone. It is also very useful when you need to quickly adapt to different panel manufacturers due to supply shortages.

Input methods

HELIO allows input and interaction in a variety of ways. Input can be via a mouse to perform precise movements, a keyboard to type quickly and efficiently, or a touchscreen to provide an intuitive and interactive user experience.

These different options give you the flexibility to choose the method that fits your specific use case.

Control data

HELIO flexibly adapts to your control data. For example, input elements automatically respond to important metadata you enter, such as minimum and maximum values.

You don't need any programming knowledge to create HMIs with HELIO. This makes HELIO an ideal tool for reacting quickly and agilely to new requirements and feedback.

HELIO can be operated not only by control developers. It is therefore possible to distribute the project tasks on several or other shoulders in the team.