smart factory

Field Wiring: The Backbone of Complex Industrial Environments

A consistent infrastructure, from the control cabinet to the field, can create significant added value in terms of efficiency, safety, and flexibility of production and automation processes. Networking automation and control technology is an important aspect of wiring in the field, also known as field wiring. At the highest technical level, this is a smartRead More

ODVA Standards for Industrial Automation

ODVA standards help ensure interoperability, safety, and security in facilities that that are integrating advanced information and communication technologies into industrial automation. From materials sourcing to the production of goods to final-mile logistics,  multiple levels of connectivity have become an essential part of the manufacturing world. Facilitating seamless communications between a wide range of devicesRead More

Industrial Controls: Demystifying SCADA

In a manufacturing setting, SCADA is the system of interconnected applications that controls everything from how the machines are programmed to the visual representation of the product as it makes its way through the machines, to the collection of data about the machines’ functionality, and more. Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) is the pieceRead More

Wi-Fi 6 Eases the Wireless Connectivity Traffic Jam

New technologies make this latest protocol more efficient by addressing reliability, lower latency, greater throughput, battery life, and security. Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), released in 2019, is the latest wireless standard currently available. While it is faster than its predecessors, Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), the main concern during its development was not actuallyRead More

Connectivity Innovation Boosts Battery Performance 

Our on-the-go society demands wireless connectivity and more power than ever. New technology brings the freedom of battery power to more devices while extending battery life. The proliferation of connectivity has led to increased demand for battery-powered devices that are connected without having to be plugged in. Batteries allow devices to be portable or to beRead More

Industry 4.0: Welcome to the Fourth Industrial Revolution

Inexpensive sensors, fast networks, industrial globalization, and software advances including AI and machine learning have created an environment where factories, supply chains, workers, consumers, and investors can be connected everywhere, all the time. Industry 4.0, propelled by the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), is transforming business by embracing connectivity. IIoT connects the full scope ofRead More

The Future of Field Device Infrastructure

Industrial communications strategies are shifting in favor of real-time communications at the field device level, with automation engineers and installers preferring single-pair Ethernet-enabled devices to collect field data. Industrial field device infrastructure trends Industrial communications strategies are shifting in favor of real-time communications at the field device level, with automation engineers and installers preferring Ethernet-enabledRead More

What is Single-Pair Ethernet?

Meet the Connector: Single-Pair Ethernet Single-pair Ethernet (SPE) is a single, twisted pair of copper wires that replaces the traditional 2- or 4-pair Ethernet configurations. SPE technology has been developed to bring Ethernet the “last mile” to the factory floor — the sensor/actuator level, specifically monitoring devices at the edge of industrial networks such asRead More

Why Connectors are the Enabler of Industry 4.0

Industry 4.0. Industrial Internet of Things, IIoT, Smart Factory. These aren’t just buzzwords; they are generation-defining trends that are changing manufacturing. Connectors play an important role in enabling the future of industrial automation. That raises the question: how can a single component play such a huge role in revolutionizing the entire manufacturing process?  More thanRead More

Smart Manufacturing Turns 15

Automation, robotics, and a mix of human and machine decision-making combine to create factory floors that are efficient and safe, while also addressing energy, materials, decarbonization, and environmental sustainability. This is the essence of smart manufacturing. In his article, “The 15th Anniversary of Smart Manufacturing – Grassroots Leadership, Greater Good, Timing, and Perseverance,” Jim Davis,Read More

The Benefits of Edge Computing

Smart factories are optimizing production methods and output with the help of automation edge controllers and sensors that collect, network, and evaluate data. Networked, intelligent, self-controlling, self-optimizing, and resource-efficient production comprise the smart factory, the central scenario of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Industry 4.0. Manufacturers are facing increasing materials, labor, and energyRead More

Our Latest eBook Explores Connectivity for Smart Technology

Download this free resource to learn more about new solutions. In our Fall 2022 eBook, Smart Connectivity, Connected Infrastructure, and the Internet of Things, industry experts explore the role interconnects play in the vast array of connected technology. Connected devices are part of nearly all areas of life, from consumer gadgets to industry technology to medicalRead More

eBook 2024 Bright Ideas
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