20 Years of Innovation: Danfoss PLUS+1® Platform

Before the iPhone gave us access to the World Wide Web in our hands via a smartphone, before YouTube captivated us with endless video entertainment, and around the same time that Mark Zuckerberg launched the first version of Facebook from his Harvard dorm room, the PLUS+1® system by Danfoss Power Solutions had already proven itself as a revolutionary force in the field of hydraulic systems for off-highway mobile machinery. The company, then known as Sauer-Danfoss, launched the PLUS+1® platform in 2004 to enable the customisation of electronic machine control with precise functions tailored to specialised equipment. Today, Danfoss celebrates the 20th anniversary of its groundbreaking system.

Today, Danfoss PLUS+1® represents a comprehensive platform of software, hardware, and engineering services. The software includes:

• PLUS+1® GUIDE – a powerful and proven platform that allows engineers to quickly build and customise complex electrohydraulic subsystems and control solutions for mobile machines;
  
• PLUS+1® Service Tool – a versatile service application that helps field technicians update, maintain, and troubleshoot equipment.
  

The programmable and compatible PLUS+1® hardware complements these software tools by ensuring seamless integration of all Danfoss electronic and electrohydraulic products within the control system. The Danfoss engineering services team can assist any OEM development team or take on full projects as an outsourced software development partner.

“Over the past 20 years, PLUS+1 has been incredibly successful in supporting our customers,” says Paola Lugo, Vice President of Software at Danfoss Power Solutions.
“PLUS+1 extends OEMs’ ability to develop their own software, enabling them to customise electronic control with unprecedented precision. It helps manufacturers achieve greater efficiency, safety, and performance in a faster, easier, and more flexible way.”

A key factor in the platform’s success is its ability to accelerate development, allowing OEMs to get machines to market faster. Its user-friendliness is another essential advantage. The software’s pre-programmed functional modules and application libraries simplify coding, even for users with limited experience. Although PLUS+1 began as a graphical development tool, over time it has evolved into a full system integration tool. The open and flexible software integrates with preferred programming languages such as Qt, C, MATLAB Simulink, and PLCopen, enabling users to import and reuse existing code for enhanced customisation and efficiency.

Danfoss continues to update the PLUS+1® platform to meet the evolving needs of the off-highway machinery market. The company plans to increase flexibility by allowing programming directly in textual languages while retaining the benefits of the PLUS+1 ecosystem. Danfoss has also introduced innovative solutions for connectivity and autonomy, which it continues to improve and expand. Planned investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning aim to boost developer efficiency and empower end-users with more data and insights for predictive maintenance. Finally, Danfoss maintains a strong focus on cybersecurity and functional safety, especially as connectivity in machine equipment advances.

John Quisenberry, General Manager at Berendsen Drive and Control Systems—a Danfoss Power Solutions distribution partner—has used PLUS+1 since its inception. He recognised its value from the start:

“Conceptually, I think of PLUS+1 like the printing press. Before its invention, only the elite had access to books. But years later, ordinary people could afford books and learn from them. It was the same with PLUS+1. We took something previously reserved for companies with vast resources and made it accessible to thousands of manufacturers. For the first time, small and mid-sized OEMs could have the same type of control system used by the big players.”