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Why SIMATIC APC?

Siemens’ SIMATIC APC is a next-generation Advanced Process Control platform engineered to maximize profitability and operational stability in a scalable way. By combining an intuitive modern engineering studio, a wide range of modelling approaches including industry standard linear or advanced nonlinear physics based or machine learning, and comprehensive dynamic economic optimization approach, it empowers complex industrial processes to operate safely at their absolute theoretical limits.

Cut down engineering hours with intuitive workflows

Modern engineering environment for end-to-end MPC engineering – from data processing and system identification to controller design, simulation, testing, and deployment – all within a single, cohesive environment.

Find the best solution to your specific challenge

Assess modeling approaches from standard ARX to first-principles gPROMS and Neural ODEs in one workspace. Engineers can choose the best mathematical tool for each process dynamic without switching platforms.

Engineer solutions for dynamic economic optimization

Traditional MPC splits optimization into a steady-state economic optimization and a dynamic control problem – this misses economic benefits during transient operation. SIMATIC APC optimizes economics over transient operation.

Featured capabilities

Next generation system identification and modelling

Identify models based on data, or import first-principles models built in gPROMS to represent process dynamics. For data-based model identification, choose from industry standard transfer function or ARX linear models to cutting edge neural ODE nonlinear models to find the best performing model for your optimization.

SIMATIC APC IDENTI 4x3

Intuitive controller configuration and tuning

Configure controller behavior with cycle times and optimization horizons matched to process dynamics. Define physical limits, rate constraints, and cost penalties for MVs, plus target setpoints, operating ranges, and priorities for CVs.

SIMATIC APC Config 4x3

Comprehensive controller testing and emulation

Use the highly advanced, integrated offline testing suite to validate every component of the controller with absolute confidence. Simulate hours or days of scenarios in minutes with the accelerated emulator to stress test the performance of the state estimator and the optimizer and speed up tuning of controller parameters prior to deployment into production.

SIMATIC APC Testing 4x3

Seamless integration and data connectivity

Configure reliable, high-speed access to plant data and contextual information from external IT and OT systems. SIMATIC APC supports industry-standard connectors including OPC UA, OPC HDA, Industrial Edge, SQL Server, ODBC, PI historians, Excel, and seamless integration across the Siemens portfolio.

SIMATIC Connection 4x3

Getting started

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What's included?

SIMATIC APC MPC Engineering Studio can be used for offline configuration, testing and monitoring of SIMATIC APC Runtime Applications. Applications become ""Runtime Applications"" when deployed with connections to external data systems, and require additional licenses to execute in this mode.

For Runtime Applications, Digital Application Tokens are required as follows:

  • Soft-sensor: 60 tokens
  • Linear MPC: 60 tokens per Manipulated Variable (MV)
  • Nonlinear MPC - machine learning: 60 tokens per MV
  • Nonlinear MPC - gPROMS based: 75 tokens per MV

Discover how others use SIMATIC APC

Case study for SIMATIC APC

New revenue streams through flexible operation with MPC

Company: Confidential
Location: Germany
Industry: Industrial Gases
Tech Stack: SIMATIC APC running on an IPC connected to OPC UA server in DCS

SIMATIC APC ensured stable operation of the process while adjusting power consumption of the compressors based on grid signals - this helped the grid operator stabilize the grid, generated a new income stream that reduced OPEX for the plant, and achieved a Return on Investment (ROI) in approximately 4 months.

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SIMATIC Advanced Process Control in Chemical Industry

SIMATIC APC maximizes purity and throughput in distillation columns by coordinating reflux, reboiler duty, draw rates, and pressure targets using LMPC. Soft sensors combined with tray temperatures infer product composition, replacing delayed analyzer readings. Constraint-aware control keeps purity, column loading, and utility limits within bounds — delivering 2–8% lower steam duty, 20–50% less off-spec time, and 1–3% higher stable throughput.

SIMATIC APC in Chemicals

Frequently asked questions