How It Works

The SQL4automation Connector is a software solution for industrial applications. It enables direct connection of PLC and robot controllers to databases. Alternatively, the connector is also available pre-installed on an IPC.

The Problem

Data collection is the bread and butter of modern industrial environments, but implementing a reliable process to capture and centralise that data is rarely as straightforward as it should be.

Data collection

Combining data from different controllers and sources means navigating a jungle of middleware, OPC UA servers, and workarounds, each adding complexity without adding value.

Performance

As infrastructure grows, middleware layers like OPC UA introduce additional network hops and bottlenecks that slow down your system and affect real-time visibility.

Security

Communication of inside automation infrastructures is often unencrypted.

Our Solution

Industrial controllers connect directly to SQL databases via the SQL4automation Connector, without any middleware in between. SQL commands are programmed directly in the controller, keeping configuration simple and your infrastructure lean.

Ultra-Fast Query Execution

Direct database access is up to 80% faster than typical OPC UA solutions, with no additional network hops slowing down your data exchange.

No Middleware, No Limits

The Connector scales with your infrastructure without any network performance loss. No OPC server required, no project-specific adjustments needed on the Connector itself.

Secure

Direct database access is up to 80% faster than typical OPC UA solutions, with no additional network hops slowing down your data exchange.

SQL4automation modern & maintenance free

Check compatibility

The Modern Way of Data Management

How SQL4automation Compares to Other Software Solutions

SQL4automation

Your Advantages with SQL4automation

All programming is done exclusively in the PLC or robot controller.
Programming intermediate software is eliminated.

The SQL4automation Connector is only configured:
No further project-specific adjustments are necessary.

The controller is the master and determines when which data is written or read.

The controller retrieves data directly from the SQL database.

Performance is very high thanks to TCP/IP communication.

Only one interface for multiple controllers.

No OPC.

Others

Disadvantages of Conventional Methods

Changes usually need to be made in two places:
in the controller and in the data management software (middleware).

Project-specific data management software
is only transferable to new projects with great effort.

The controller is only a data receiver,
data management determines when data is transmitted.

Transferring large amounts of data takes a long time (usually OPC).

OPC

Compare Versions

Compatibility

Thanks to universal TCP/IP connectivity, you can seamlessly integrate almost any controller into your automation solution. For many systems like Siemens, Rockwell, Beckhoff, or B&R, ready-to-use libraries are available that you can integrate directly into your project.

Database connectivity is via ODBC, giving you full flexibility in choosing your database: Whether Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Oracle, Access, and many more!

Direct connection to MES systems is also implemented: SQL4automation creates an end-to-end connection from the controller to the ERP for maximum transparency and efficiency in your production.

The SQL4automation Connector & Tools

SQL4automation enables easy setup of database connections with Config, direct SQL communication from the PLC with Query, and fast real-time error analysis with Debugger.

S4A-Config-Tool

Simplifies setup of all connections without any programming effort.

S4A-Query-Tool

Simulate and test the data flow before implementation.

S4A-Debugger

Troubleshooting and diagnostics made easy.

Learn More

FAQs

Below you will find answers to frequently asked questions about our services.

What does the SQL4automation Connector do?

The SQL4automation Connector connects your PLC, robots, or automation devices directly to an SQL database (e.g., Microsoft SQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Oracle). Ideal for process data acquisition, MES integration, or Industry 4.0 projects, without middleware or OPC servers.

How does SQL4automation establish the connection between PLC and SQL database?

SQL4automation establishes the connection between automation devices and SQL databases. The connector communicates with your PLC via TCP/IP, and the connection to the database is via an ODBC interface. This creates a direct data flow from the controller to the database, without detours.

How are machine or process data read or written?

The controller sends SQL commands to the connector, which forwards them to the database. Likewise, data from the SQL database can be read and processed in the PLC.

Where is the connector installed?

The SQL4automation Connector runs on a Windows or Linux PC. Optionally also directly on a PC-based controller (e.g., with TwinCAT). The SQL database can, but does not have to, be on the same PC. The database can be locally or network accessible.

Can I run the connector on 2 separate networks simultaneously?

Yes. If the PC has two network cards, for example, a controller in the machine network and an SQL database in the corporate network can be connected in parallel without the networks being directly connected.

Can I write to the controller from outside?

No. With SQL4automation, the controller is always the master. Only the controller decides when data is read or written. This means maximum security for your automation environment.

Customer Testimonials

What our customers say about us.

"We use SQL4automation wherever we process data from databases directly in controllers. With the direct SQL queries in the controller, this works extremely flexibly. The central server structure ensures a clear and logical design. The application is very simple, the included code snippets are helpful, and the product has been running stable and reliably for years."

Gerd Peter

Control Engineer

Ritter-Sport

"SQL4automation enables us to centrally capture data without middleware. Additionally, we can seamlessly connect controllers from different brands directly to the same database."

Peter Michels

Electrical Engineer

NSG Group

"After experiencing various solutions, SQL4Automation convinced us with its decoupled architecture: no 254-character limitation, no WString workarounds, and significantly easier debugging. This flexibility makes it the ideal solution for our database projects."

Fabian Klumpp

Electrical Engineer

Fladt Engineering GmbH

Switch to SQL4automation Now.

Connect industrial controllers directly with SQL databases. Field-proven since 2007 for maximum performance and security, completely without middleware.

Compare Versions Try for Free Now