Information Technology (IT) is becoming a key part of manufacturing operations and we are seeing more convergence between the factory floor and high-level IT levels. Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) offers an interesting way to…
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Is a middle layer the key to IT/OT integration?
Moving data between IT and OT systems is a key element of digital integration, but far from straightforward for most manufacturers. Is a middle layer the key to IT/OT integration between the plant floor…
Manufacturing Digitisation with Edge Box – Part 2
Part one of this article looked at ways smart machine solutions can bolster manufacturing flexibility. Here we look at how one manufacturer put this into practice using Schneider Electric’s IIoT Edge…
Time Sensitive Networking in Manufacturing Automation
There is much hype about one of the most significant and transformational developments in standard Ethernet technology – Time Sensitive Networking (TSN). Enabling technology for industrial communications, it delivers Information and Operational Technologies (IT/OT)…
Biomass Automation Doubles Returns for Roana Farm
Maximising the use of agricultural by-products reduces waste and improves sustainability. Other advantages include reducing a businesses environmental impact and maximising an important profit opportunity. Thus, farm Roana invested in a biomass automation plant…
How TSN can Future-Proof Factory Automation
Adopting the right technology provides greater transparency, higher productivity and better process management. Users are more able to move forward and adapt to the new manufacturing landscape. The secret is to pinpoint the technologies…
How is Secure Remote Access Transforming Manufacturing?
The collaboration between Advantech and Secomea illustrates the benefits that secure remote access delivers for remote maintenance users. Remote applications provide corrective, preventative, and predictive maintenance to address all aspects of remote machine servicing…
Smart Controllers make Machines easier to Build and Sell
Machine builders are finding it hard to remain competitive and need to find ways to capture new markets. Moreover, with more competition from abroad, they need to differentiate their offering in ways customers find…
5G in Automation may not be what you think
5G accesses previously unused frequency spectrums to increase capacity and remove bandwidth limitations. It will be a game-changer in the world of mobile communications. For consumers, it will allow high-speed streaming of video, better…
Manufacturers Collaborate on Secure Remote Access Security Challanges
Manufacturers Advantech and Secomea are collaborating to meet the remote communication security challenges arising from the growth of Industry 4.0/IIoT. As a result, Secomea’s secure remote connectivity software solution is now embedded in Advantech’s ruggedised Uno IPCs…
What are the Key Benefits of Remote Production Management?
Remote monitoring and management of factories has long been in use by many organisations although others still question its tangible benefits. But the COVID epidemic has shown that organisations can work remotely when they…
Blockchains: In manufacturing and not heard of them?
IoT and Industry 4 are creating data on an unimaginable scale and it needs new tools to handle and extract information. One of these will be blockchains. If you have not heard of blockchains…
Manufacturing Data: How to harness it quickly
Industry 4.0 promises to bring manufacturing to the next level by creating ever more efficient processes. But none of this can happen without a network system that ensures timely delivery of manufacturing data to…
How do I find out about Time Sensitive Networking (TSN)?
Mitsubishi Electric believes it is import for industrial automation users to understand more about time-sensitive networking (TSN). Their importance is in their ability to enable data sharing across different Industrial Ethernet networks. Moreover, it…
The Changing Role of the Industrial Control Engineer
Industrial control technology has evolved at a manageable pace over last twenty years, but that time has come to an end. Producers recognising the benefits of new technologies want to capitalise on new forms…
Mitsubishi Releases FX5U Micro PLC for Smart Machines
Describing its new FX5UC controller a micro PLC risks its dismissal by users of so called proper PLCs. However, in doing so, they seriously risks undervaluing this new generation micro PLC from Mitsubishi Electric….
Smart Visualisation offers Manufacturing Transformation
As industry adopts smarter machines, the role of the operator will also change supported through smart visualisation tools. In this article, we take a look at how smart visualisation offers manufacturing transformation.
Change will also…
Edge Micro Data Centres for Consumer Goods Production
A recent blog from Schneider Electric considers how digitisation of production and operations bring business benefits to companies in the consumer-packaged goods industry and how it drives…
Addressing Edge Data Centre Cybersecurity
For Schneider Electric, connectivity is central to the adoption of its EcoStruxure IT platform, whose integrity results from continuous dynamic vulnerability scanning. In a recent blog, they consider the importance of edge…
Phoenix Contact joins growing CC-Link IE TSN Support
Mitsubishi Electric is releasing its first 102 factory automation products compatible with the CC-Link IE TSN next-generation industrial open network. Increasingly, many third-party makers are also joining them. Phoenix…