Industry 4.0 / IIoT

  Bosch Connected Devices and Solutions and Bosch Mondeville has announced that they are offering customised Industry 4.0 development and manufacturing solutions for the Internet of Things (IoT). A broad spectrum of highly integrated solutions were presented for the first time at electronica 2018.

With sensors providing the essential steps of analysing and communicating high-level data to cloud-based applications, a collaboration between Molex and Contrinex aims to further strengthen Molex’s Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solution offerings and positions the company as an end-to-end solution provider for industrial automation.

It seems a long time ago now since various malware attacks on the operational layer changed the security landscape and highlighted vulnerabilities in the de-facto automation architecture. However, as we move along the road towards Smart Manufacturing with a view to improving efficiency, productivity and reliability of supply using the principles of Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), the subject of cyber-security is becoming arguably even more important. 

Amid rapid digitisation of manufacturing, machine builders (OEMs) need to provide a better service to improve their customers' agility and market responsiveness. Schneider Electric, has announced EcoStruxure Machine Advisor, a platform that allows OEMs to Track, Monitor and Fix machines remotely, and pass significant benefits to operators.

  It has been revealed by Software AG that is has been given a positioning as a ‘strong performer’ with the highest current offering score among other strong performers in a 24-criteria evaluation of Cumulocity IoT (Internet of things) in The Forrester Wave: Industrial IoT Software Platforms, Q3 2018.

A new Cloud interface for smart Festo products is being launched by Festo. The CPX-IOT Gateway is a secure, low-cost and easy-to-implement digital solution, enabling users to enter into the world of digitalisation and data analytics in an easy-to-manage and entirely safe way. It provides the first step for companies wanting to develop Industry 4.0 proof of concept or pilot projects with simple, programming free, on-boarding.

A new series of high performance single-channel Weight Processors featuring industrial Ethernet-based communications, IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) compatibility, remote diagnostics and a user-friendly colour touch screen interface, has been introduced by Hardy Process Solutions, with the Hardy HI 6200 series.

With robolink DCi from igus, machine builders and production engineers can automate simple pick and place and assemble tasks without the associated high price tag. It is a complete automation package consisting of robotic arm and controller for intuitive operation. Suitable for lifting parts weighing up to 1kg with an accuracy of ±0.5mm.

Just as HTML spurred growth of the Web, the new Open Platform Communication Unified Architecture (OPC UA) interoperability standard will enable industrial players to unlock the full potential of Industry 4.0. In an announcement published, by the OPC Foundation, the organisation stated its vision of becoming the worldwide industrial interoperability standard. This seamless IIoT communication standard, called Open Platform Communication Unified Architecture will apply for industrial automation.

  The joint PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International) stand at the SPS IPC Drives trade fair in Nuremberg, Germany taking place from the 27th to 29th November 2018 will be located in Hall 5 / Stand 210, and will form a fundamental bridge between automation and IT.