04/02/2026 – Highly innovative system enables single-operator control of multiple plant sections
Primetals receives ‘Best of Industry’ award for its Central Operation Cockpit solution
On January 22, 2026, Primetals Technologies was honored with the ‘Best of Industry’ award, presented by leading German industry media at an event in Würzburg, Germany. Winners in each category were chosen entirely by the market, with more than 25,000 votes cast. Primetals Technologies received the award in the ‘Process automation’ category for its Central Operation Cockpit (COC) solution.
Primetals Technologies receives the ‘Best of Industry’ award for their ‘Central Operation Cockpit’ (COC). © Primetals
The COC system enables a single operator to control several plant sections. © Primetals
The Central Operation Cockpit employs intelligent, AI-based assistants to provide operators with a comprehensive, bird’s-eye view of the entire production process. By minimizing manual interventions and streamlining monitoring, the system ensures consistent high-quality production, maximized efficiency, and long-term operational excellence.
“Winning the ‘Best of Industry’ award highlights the significance of our Central Operation Cockpit. As production processes become increasingly automated, monitoring can become overwhelming. We developed the COC to address this challenge and to advance toward the autonomous plant.” says Hans-Juergen Zeiher, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Business Unit Electrics and Automation at Primetals Technologies.
Central Operation Cockpit
The Central Operation Cockpit is designed with operator comfort in mind, featuring intuitive and ergonomic controls.This design makes it easier for operators to access information and manage plant operations, resulting in higher job satisfaction. By improving the operator experience, the solution supports increased productivity and helps attract and retain top talent.
With the COC, a single operator can control multiple plant sections using an intuitive interface. A large display wall presents all relevant information and can instantly switch between multiple cameras throughout the mill. This feature is particularly valuable when an assistant system detects an urgent issue or a user-defined event occurs.
In addition, text-to-speech alerts convert system messages into voice notifications, ensuring immediate attention to critical matters. This enables operators to respond swiftly to issues, improving safety and reducing downtime. The system’s comprehensive setup empowers operators to manage complex processes efficiently and optimize both plant performance and safety.
Implementation of the COC is advancing worldwide, with projects underway in China, North America, and Germany, and more developments planned globally to meet the evolving needs of the steel and aluminum industries. Primetals Technologies has also opened three COC showrooms, located in Erlangen, Germany; Linz, Austria; and Beijing, China, where the solution is showcased.
The ‘Best of Industry’ award is presented by the German media companies ‘MM Maschinenmarkt’, ‘Konstruktionspraxis’, ‘Process’, ‘Laborpraxis’, ‘Devicemed’ and ‘Automobil Industrie’.
