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The Smart Industry 50

Smart Industry

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- EH&S|
  The Smart Industry 50
  
  Our 2017 honorees are making digital revolution real.
  
  By Keith Larson, Editor in Chief Even revolutions are hard to see when you’re in the midst of them. Certainly, there’s a generous dose of marketing hype around the potential of the Industrial Internet of Things, cloud computing and big data analytics to advance industrial performance and remake business models. But speak to those on the front lines of digital innovation and their stories make clear that industry is indeed in the midst of an accelerating transformation made possible by increasingly powerful and accessible digital technology. “Some say we’re in the midst of a fourth industrial revolution,” says Steve Jones of Steelcase, one of the class of 2017 Smart Industry 50 honorees. “That’s a bold statement, but I think…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Mesh networking tackles in-plant obstacles
  
  Follow the money to find case for IIoT
  
  The transformative power of enterprise connectivity
  
  How to justify your first IIoT trial
- Services Innovation|
  LIFT project optimizes use of lightweight metals
  
  An engineering path to lightweighting.
  
  LIFT (Lightweight Innovations For Tomorrow) a Manufacturing USA institute, announced the creation of a new process that enables shipbuilders to save production costs and improve build time, all while reducing distortion of lightweight materials.The initiative developed computer modeling to better predict where distortion (or warping) will occur when steel plates are welded together, ultimately reconfiguring the welding sequence, according to LIFT. Using a U.S. Coast Guard Cutter unit as a test article, the project team demonstrated a 30 percent reduction in distortion and a 13 percent reduction in production costs compared to similar, previous cutter-production units.“As naval ship designs have trended toward using thinner and…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Changing the approach to product development
  
  The last generation to remember a product-based economy?
  
  TRUMPF expands training capabilities
  
  Q&A: New York Power Authority CEO Gil Quiniones
- Process Innovation|
  LIFT project optimizes use of lightweight metals
  
  An engineering path to lightweighting.
  
  LIFT (Lightweight Innovations For Tomorrow) a Manufacturing USA institute, announced the creation of a new process that enables shipbuilders to save production costs and improve build time, all while reducing distortion of lightweight materials.The initiative developed computer modeling to better predict where distortion (or warping) will occur when steel plates are welded together, ultimately reconfiguring the welding sequence, according to LIFT. Using a U.S. Coast Guard Cutter unit as a test article, the project team demonstrated a 30 percent reduction in distortion and a 13 percent reduction in production costs compared to similar, previous cutter-production units.“As naval ship designs have trended toward using thinner and…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Bentley’s Synchro software solution for FC Barcelona Stadium
  
  IT+OT=greater resources for both
  
  Changing the approach to product development
  
  The plant operator's perspective on predictive maintenance
- Human Capital|
  Making work smarter, making workers safer
  
  IBM's Omer Arad uses digital tools to protect flesh and bone.
  
  Omer Arad, IBM researcher/developer and member of the Forbes Israel 30 Under 30 class of 2018, IBM's Omer Arad specializes in applying elements of the IoT for personal safety, using voice and gesture activation to identify workers’ behavior patterns and tapping artificial intelligence and sensor data to prevent accidents in hazardous work environments. We chatted with him about workplace safety, how age affects digital adoption, and the role of safety in IIoT initiatives. Take a look… Smart Industry: What’s new in personal safety? Omer: We are working on research connected to wearable devices, which are worn on the bodies and collect biometic data. We use ID tags that generate real-time data in order to protect workers in extreme…
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  Recent
  
  Leveraging digital tools to advance lean initiatives
  
  Publisher’s Road Notes: Educating the manufacturing workforce
  
  The Smart Industry 50
  
  Exponential IT/OT convergence will change industry
- Efficiency|
  LIFT project optimizes use of lightweight metals
  
  An engineering path to lightweighting.
  
  LIFT (Lightweight Innovations For Tomorrow) a Manufacturing USA institute, announced the creation of a new process that enables shipbuilders to save production costs and improve build time, all while reducing distortion of lightweight materials.The initiative developed computer modeling to better predict where distortion (or warping) will occur when steel plates are welded together, ultimately reconfiguring the welding sequence, according to LIFT. Using a U.S. Coast Guard Cutter unit as a test article, the project team demonstrated a 30 percent reduction in distortion and a 13 percent reduction in production costs compared to similar, previous cutter-production units.“As naval ship designs have trended toward using thinner and…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Honeywell integrates aeSolutions’ software for risk reduction
  
  Product News: Siemens Sinamics G120 Smart Access module
  
  Product News: Photoelectric all-rounder BOS 21M ADCAP
  
  ADLINK adds Foghorn Edge Intelligence to DXS
- Uptime|
  Keep it going!
  
  Data analytics and the IIoT’s role in sustainability.
  
  Keeping the plant operating is critical, of course, but there are many facets, many benefits to reliability thatAspenTech's Robert Golightly might not be obvious to everyone. We chatted with Robert Golightly, senior manager of AspenTech’s asset-performance management, to share his perspective. Take a look…Smart Industry: How are advancements in IIoT leading to increased sustainability?Robert: Using data and analytics to improve decision-making is not new for asset-intensive organizations. What is new is how the IIoT can drive business sustainability by improving operational excellence with asset optimization. This is a business-sustainability story across all pillars of operational excellence: profitability, efficiency, environmental…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  A digital approach to an ancient craft
  
  Q&A: New York Power Authority CEO Gil Quiniones
  
  Digital transformation...transforming
  
  Perusing the "library of equipment failure"
- Quality|
  Who tells the modern machine what to do?
  
  Machines adapting to batch-of-one.
  
  Industrial machines are changing. No longer the single-purposed dinosaurs of the plant floor, modern B&R's John Kowal manufacturing assets are now computers, data-generators, data-analyzers, and—in a nutshell—more nimble than their rusting ancestors. We chatted with John Kowal, B&R director of business development, to learn more about the current state of the adaptive machine. Take a look… Smart Industry: Describe the concept of "the adaptive machine." John: Simply put, it’s a machine that adapts to the product being made or packaged, instead of running sequences of identical products and changing over between runs. Instead of a process that is sequential, each product is independently controlled. Smart Industry:…
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  Recent
  
  The nimble nature of the adaptive machine
  
  CC-Link IE field-safety embedded into Mitsubishi Servo Amplifiers
  
  Industrie 4.0: What does it mean for chemical companies?
  
  The appeal & dangers of ad-hoc evolution
- Compliance|
  Publisher’s Road Notes: Educating the manufacturing workforce
  
  A conversation with OPC Foundation's Tom Burke.
  
  By Tony D’Avino, Smart Industry publisher Digitalization has fast become a priority initiative among growth-oriented manufacturing companies. Fostering the integration of IT technologies across the complete value chain—from product-design to production to maintenance—is the work at hand. OPC-UA provides semantic interoperability for the smart world of connected systems. Very popular within industry, OPC-UA is now taking center stage within the world of Industrie 4.0 and the Internet of Things. I caught up with Tom Burke, president and executive director of the OPC Foundation, during an OPC-UA event at the Timken Faircrest Facility in Canton, OH. We chatted about educating the manufacturing workforce, driving industry standards…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Case Study: Lighthouse Systems enables 40% output increase at solar manufacturer
  
  The benefits of better medical and high-tech component manufacturing
  
  Digitalization & unlimited potential for consumer-products companies
  
  The Smart Industry 50
- Product Innovation
  Beckhoff IoT edge device optimizes Industry 4.0 process technology
  
  Industrial PC is suited for edge computing and cloud communication.
  
  Beckhoff has introduced its ultra-compact C6015 Industrial PC (IPC), touting it as the ideal space-saving, high-performance IoT edge device that fully utilizes these advantages for new and legacy systems in the process industries. Beckhoff's C6015 Industrial PC By integrating comprehensive IoT and analytics functionality, the PC-based control technology opens up a wealth of options to optimize production processes, according to Beckhoff. System consistency in the control platform ensures simple implementation and high transparency:A universal portfolio of components for explosion protection, including the ELX series EtherCAT Terminals, which enable end-to-end automation of large and complex processing plants. The TwinCAT…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  IIC announces smart printing factory testbed
  
  OnProcess Technology launches IntelliForce SM
  
  CC-Link IE technology on Renesas IE communication SoC
  
  Banner Engineering solution enabled with machine learning
Use Cases
- Decision support|
  Data helps drive compressed air management at Ford
  
  System-wide optimization, continuous monitoring key to realizing efficiency gains.
  
  By Christine LaFave Grace, Plant Services managing editor Internet-connected (and interconnected) technologies on the plant floor offer unprecedented opportunities to generate, track and analyze asset performance data. But just as important, they can be a vital tool for bolstering back-to-the-basics best practices for optimizing asset use, Joe Ghislain, recently retired senior manager at Ford Motor Co., said at Smart Industry 2017. In a session on how compressed air systems fit into and advance Ford's digital manufacturing strategy, "All of those robots are driven by compressed air." Citing a recent line overhaul that involved 500 state-of-the-art robots, Ford Motor Co.’s Joe Ghislain discussed the critical role that compressed air…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Most read of 2017
  
  The Smart Industry 50
  
  Inductive Automation and Cirrus Link release Ignition Edge
  
  Digitizing horizontal and vertical value chains
- Maintenance|
  The plant operator's perspective on predictive maintenance
  
  There is a lack of understanding of Industry 4.0.
  
  A recent study on “The Future of IIoT Predictive Maintenance” was conducted by Emory University andPresenso's Eitan Vesely Presenso, designed to gain the perspective of plant-level employees on issues relating to deployment and the expected impact of IIoT PdM on plant operations.We chatted with Eitan Vesely, CEO of Presenso, to get his insights. Take a look…Smart Industry: How does the perception of digital transformation among the plant-floor staff differ from that of senior management? Eitan: Although we deliberately did not interview executives for this report, there is a clear difference between plant-level employees and the senior management that I frequently encounter.Senior management tends to be enthusiastic about the…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Perusing the "library of equipment failure"
  
  Banner Engineering solution enabled with machine learning
  
  The impact of Industry 4.0 on safety instrumented systems
  
  Honeywell UOP pioneering 'optimization-as-a-service'
- Field Service|
  Honeywell introduces intelligent wearables for field workers
  
  Live data and real-time support to increase safety and efficiency.
  
  Honeywell announced a handsfree, wearable Connected Plant technology that allows industrial workers to more safely, reliably and efficiently accomplish their tasks in the plant or the field, according to its maker. Honeywell’s Skills Insight Intelligent Wearables feature a head-mounted visual display that responds to voice and brings live data, documents, work procedures, as well as health and safety information into view. Honeywell's Connected Plant technology The new wearable technology connects field workers with remote experts in real time and enables them to assimilate valuable skills and knowledge while working, according to Honeywell. “This new Honeywell Connected Plant technology offers industrial workers the information they…
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  Recent
  
  Making work smarter, making workers safer
  
  Compressed air: Capital investment or paid utility?
  
  New York unveils its end-to-end digital utility
  
  The Smart Industry 50
- Asset Performance|
  Product News: Photoelectric all-rounder BOS 21M ADCAP
  
  A smart sensor for the Internet of Things.
  
  Balluff announced the IoT Photoelectric all-rounder BOS 21M ADCAP, a newly developed opticalBalluff's BOS 21M ADCAP multifunction sensor in its BOS 21M series.According to its maker, this versatile all-rounder uses red light and lets operators choose from four sensor modes: background suppression, energetic diffuse, retroreflective or through-beam sensor. All the sensor functions can be configured over IO-Link while the system is running, so that a remote teach-in can be initiated by the controller. In addition, the sensor detects actual operating conditions, collects and processes information and provides far more data than just the switching signal over IO-Link. Detection signals are prepared and pre-processed in the sensor, which…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Beckhoff IoT edge device optimizes Industry 4.0 process technology
  
  IIC announces smart printing factory testbed
  
  H2O.ai enables Stanley Black & Decker’s manufacturing processes
  
  The plant operator's perspective on predictive maintenance
- Planning & Execution|
  Changing the approach to product development
  
  What are anthropologists and psychologists doing in the manufacturing space?
  
  At the Smart Industry 2018 Conference in September, Uwe Scharf presents “Accelerating Product Development In An Industry 4.0 World." Today the executive vice president of Rittal's industrial global business unit previews his presentation and shares his perspective on customer-driven innovation, mega-trends and the role of psychologists in the manufacturing space.Take a look...Smart Industry: Is studying customer needs the first step in innovation?Take a look…Mr. Scharf: Yes. Before a team starts developing a new product they must find out what challenges their customers are facing and analyze these issues, which is often mixed up with asking the customers what they want. In the case of developing our VX25 large enclosure, for example,…
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  Recent
  
  Scaling your IIoT project?
  
  The nimble nature of the adaptive machine
  
  Featured Speaker: Haresh Malkani on the democratization of smart manufacturing
  
  Uptake acquires Asset Performance Technologies
- Supply Chain|
  Featured Speaker: Haresh Malkani on the democratization of smart manufacturing
  
  Think big, start small, get quick wins and feed the frenzy.
  
  In September, Haresh Malkani presents the keynote “The Democratization of Smart, Sustainable Clean Energy Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute's Haresh Malkani, who keynotes the 2018 Smart Industry Conference Manufacturing” at the fourth-annual Smart Industry Conference. Today the chief technology officer with the Clean Energy Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CESMII) shares his thoughts on the journey to smart manufacturing, the strategic use of tools and the opportunities for small manufacturers to take part in digital transformation. Smart Industry: Explain what is meant by "The Democratization of Smart, Sustainable Manufacturing?" Haresh: Smart Manufacturing is not something that materializes overnight. It is a…
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  Recent
  
  Blockchain for the manufacturing supply chain
  
  Part working factory. Part showroom. All smart.
  
  Most read of 2017
  
  The Smart Industry 50
- Control & Optimization
  Beckhoff IoT edge device optimizes Industry 4.0 process technology
  
  Industrial PC is suited for edge computing and cloud communication.
  
  Beckhoff has introduced its ultra-compact C6015 Industrial PC (IPC), touting it as the ideal space-saving, high-performance IoT edge device that fully utilizes these advantages for new and legacy systems in the process industries. Beckhoff's C6015 Industrial PC By integrating comprehensive IoT and analytics functionality, the PC-based control technology opens up a wealth of options to optimize production processes, according to Beckhoff. System consistency in the control platform ensures simple implementation and high transparency:A universal portfolio of components for explosion protection, including the ELX series EtherCAT Terminals, which enable end-to-end automation of large and complex processing plants. The TwinCAT…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Honeywell migration tool facilitates upgrades of PLCs
  
  Who tells the modern machine what to do?
  
  Q&A: New York Power Authority CEO Gil Quiniones
  
  Digital transformation...transforming
Enabling Tech
- Data Analytics|
  The road to RxM
  
  Industry leaders in energy, oil and gas are mapping a smarter future for maintenance.
  
  By Sheila Kennedy, CMRPWho would have imagined how dramatically the industrial internet of things (IIoT) would elevate reliability and maintenance practices? Today, we have sophisticated sensors monitoring multiple variables, closing information gaps, eliminating data silos, and populating Big Data repositories in the cloud, where artificial intelligence (AI), advanced pattern recognition (APR), machine learning (ML), and advanced analytics work their magic on common industrial challenges.Predictive maintenance (PdM) gave us our first taste of the power of monitoring individual machine conditions. With prescriptive maintenance (RxM), data is assimilated from diverse process and performance variables and woven into actionable…
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  Recent
  
  Keep it going!
  
  Scaling your IIoT project?
  
  A digital approach to an ancient craft
  
  Sprint launches its IoT Factory
- Simulation & Modeling|
  Bentley’s Synchro software solution for FC Barcelona Stadium
  
  4D construction modeling provides immersive construction management
  
  Bentley Systems presented Synchro, a 4D construction-modeling solution at the Microsoft Inspire conference.Synchro will be used for FC Barcelona’s major renovation to the Espai Barça sports arena in Barcelona, Spain, which will accommodate more than 100,000 fans. In conjunction with time-lapse monitoring footage of the construction site provided by EarthCam, Bentley’s Synchro will help the stadium-project team to visualize and compare construction progress with the 4D construction model.Synchro 4D construction-simulation software will help the project team visualize construction progress of major renovations to FC Barcelona’s Espai Barça sports arena. Greg Demchak, technical architect for Bentley, said, “The scope of this…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Honeywell introduces intelligent wearables for field workers
  
  Lightning strikes twice...reliability modeling to the rescue
  
  The intelligence of productivity
  
  DMDII opens its manufacturing floor to the community
- Integrated Design|
  Part working factory. Part showroom. All smart.
  
  The Trumpf Smart Factory brings digital-transformation concepts to life (and invites guests to poke around).
  
  Late last year, metal-fabricating giant Trumpf opened the doors of a new type of facility—the Trumpf Smart Factory. Part working factory. Part showroom. Part tour destination. All digital transformation, demonstrating how a fully networked production system works in the real world. Trumpf's Tobias Reuther The $30 million facility demonstrates fully transparent digital networking, offering customers the ability to continuously monitor the status of their projects. Indirect procedures are automated. Processes become more controllable, a particular advantage for small lot sizes. While the facility, located in suburban Chicago, can serve global sheet-metal processors of all sizes, the target group is small/medium-sized contract…
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  Recent
  
  Most read of 2017
  
  The Smart Industry 50
- Cloud|
  Coca-Cola Bottlers leverage Liaison technology
  
  Program aims to provide path to modern, cloud-based architecture.
  
  Liaison Technologies announced the launch of its “Embrace & Replace” program, which gives enterprises that currently use legacy technologies a low-risk, transformational path to the cloud. Liaison also announced that the Coca-Cola Bottlers’ Sales & Services (CCBSS) Company is its first Embrace & Replace program customer. CCBSS, which is owned by independent U.S. Coca-Cola bottlers, supports the operations for the Coca-Cola System. CCBSS sought a more modern architecture for its supply chain operations to enhance the experience for its stakeholders and move away from a do-it-yourself strategy for connecting legacy technologies to cloud-based services, according to Liaison, whose Embrace & Replace strategy leverages…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Beckhoff IoT edge device optimizes Industry 4.0 process technology
  
  IEEE adopts OpenFog Reference Architecture
  
  FogHorn partners with Google Cloud to deliver IIoT solution
  
  Honeywell debuts cloud historian for connected plant
- Cybersecurity|
  DMDII names director for manufacturing cybersecurity center
  
  Center focuses on awareness, workforce development and tools.
  
  The Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII) announced that information-security expert Koushik Subramanian has been named director of the National Center for Cybersecurity in Manufacturing. DMDII launched the center in March with $750,000 in seed funding from the U.S. Department of Defense.As manufacturing begins to retrofit or build assembly lines with such software and sensors, the attack surface only expands, according to DMDII. Thirty-five percent of all cyber-espionage attacks in the US are addressed at the manufacturing sector, the largest amount of any single sector, according to the 2017 Verizon data breach investigation report.Tour the DMDII during the 2018 Smart Industry Conference in September. Click here…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Your IoT devices may be weaponized
  
  Guidance for improving IIoT-endpoint security
  
  Q&A: New York Power Authority CEO Gil Quiniones
  
  Digital transformation...transforming
- Industrial Networks|
  Product News: Future-proof chip connects devices to the IIoT
  
  Supports Fieldbus, Real Time Ethernet and IIoT protocols.
  
  Hilscher announces the netX 90, an addition to its netX family of single-chip network controller ASICs. The chip addresses the fact that a large proportion of slave devices in use today will have to be replaced and/or updated if cyber risk threats are to be countered adequately for cloud-based and IIoT applications, according to Hilscher.According to its maker, the netX 90 provides universal connectivity for all popular Real Time Ethernets (RTEs), is "IoT-ready" with support for OPC UA and MQTT, and can interface to all modern sensor buses. "netX 52, its predecessor, was already a powerful interface for sensors and actuators," said Nico Mäding, Hilscher netX business development manager. "With netX 90 we've incorporated low-level drivers…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Schneider Electric's EcoStruxure Augmented Operator Advisor
  
  Beckhoff IoT edge device optimizes Industry 4.0 process technology
  
  Changing the approach to product development
  
  How many are really using IoT tech?
- Mobility|
  Product News: Siemens Sinamics G120 Smart Access module
  
  The module simplifies drive commissioning and maintenance.
  
  Siemens has expanded its Sinamics G120 drive series to include an option for wireless commissioningG120 Smart Access Module links mobile devices wirelessly over Wi-Fi to Sinamics G120 and G120C drives. and service. The Sinamics G120 Smart Access module enables wireless connectivity of mobile devices over Wi-Fi to Sinamics G120 and Sinamics G120C drives, according to its maker. The module sets up in a few steps using a standard web browser and any standard operating system. Its built-in web server functionality eliminates the need to download additional software, and with its intuitive user interface and menu, the Smart Access module offers users outstanding convenience, according to Siemens.The Sinamics G120 Smart Access Module is…
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  Recent
  
  Mobility rises above
  
  The Smart Industry 50
  
  Enabling the mobile worker, optimizing growth
- IIoT Platforms
  Advantech launches 30 IIoT solutions
  
  The key to success is platform-technology suppliers.
  
  Advantech announced the co-creation of IoT Solution Ready Packages (SRPs) in partnership with various domestic and international companies. Advantech Chairman K.C. Liu noted how IIoT applications are about to become widely implemented in various industries, but the key to success is platform-technology suppliers, as well as in working closely with industry professionals to integrate and form standardized and easily duplicated SRPs based on a combination of software and hardware products. These SRPs can be installed by system integrators at the client site. Eventually, IIoT industry chains will be formed as SRPs become established as comprehensive field solutions, according to Liu. Therefore, the IoT industry chain must include sensors,…
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  Recent
  
  Realizing 2030: A Divided Vision of the Future
  
  Keep it going!
  
  IIC publishes edge computing in IIoT white paper
  
  Hexagon announces Xalt to harness potential of IoT data
Emerging Tech
- Additive Manufacturing|
  The Smart Industry 50
  
  Our 2017 honorees are making digital revolution real.
  
  By Keith Larson, Editor in Chief Even revolutions are hard to see when you’re in the midst of them. Certainly, there’s a generous dose of marketing hype around the potential of the Industrial Internet of Things, cloud computing and big data analytics to advance industrial performance and remake business models. But speak to those on the front lines of digital innovation and their stories make clear that industry is indeed in the midst of an accelerating transformation made possible by increasingly powerful and accessible digital technology. “Some say we’re in the midst of a fourth industrial revolution,” says Steve Jones of Steelcase, one of the class of 2017 Smart Industry 50 honorees. “That’s a bold statement, but I think…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  GE ‘all in’ on digital transformation
  
  Siemens/Stratasys partner on additive manufacturing
  
  A deeper reality via modeled reality
  
  Gateway bridges any two industrial Ethernet Networks
- Robotics|
  Robotics-as-a-Service to unlock market development
  
  Global revenues for RaaS to reach US$34 billion by 2026.
  
  By Rian Whitton, research analyst at market-foresight advisory firm ABI Research Robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) is an elastic concept and can mean different things. It broadly refers to robotics ABI Research's Rian Whitton providers that do not simply sell their products, but rather rent or lease their products with solutions to customers as a full service. Though the robotics market continues to grow, ongoing pressure on robotics vendors to maintain margin means that they are looking to widen market opportunities beyond just selling robots as products. Our recent report highlights the potential of RaaS in unlocking the next phase of market development in robotics, estimating that the installed base for RaaS will grow from 4,442 units in…
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  Recent
  
  Mobility rises above
  
  The Smart Industry 50
  
  Enabling robots to adopt more tasks
  
  Robotics' role in the digital transformation
- Smart Systems|
  Product News: Future-proof chip connects devices to the IIoT
  
  Supports Fieldbus, Real Time Ethernet and IIoT protocols.
  
  Hilscher announces the netX 90, an addition to its netX family of single-chip network controller ASICs. The chip addresses the fact that a large proportion of slave devices in use today will have to be replaced and/or updated if cyber risk threats are to be countered adequately for cloud-based and IIoT applications, according to Hilscher.According to its maker, the netX 90 provides universal connectivity for all popular Real Time Ethernets (RTEs), is "IoT-ready" with support for OPC UA and MQTT, and can interface to all modern sensor buses. "netX 52, its predecessor, was already a powerful interface for sensors and actuators," said Nico Mäding, Hilscher netX business development manager. "With netX 90 we've incorporated low-level drivers…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Honeywell integrates aeSolutions’ software for risk reduction
  
  Bentley’s Synchro software solution for FC Barcelona Stadium
  
  Beckhoff IoT edge device optimizes Industry 4.0 process technology
  
  Changing the approach to product development
- Machine Intel|
  IIC announces smart printing factory testbed
  
  Automates print production and predictive maintenance.
  
  The Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC) announced the Smart Printing Factory Testbed. Led by Fujifilm and supported by IIC members Fujitsu, IBM, RTI and Toshiba, the testbed automates print production and predictive maintenance for factory-based printing equipment.The Smart Printing Factory Platform collects job status, machine-condition and production-quality data for factory-based printing equipment using integrated sensors. It then delivers optimized production and predictive maintenance plans to users who can monitor and control printing equipment through a secure IT/OT management console. For legacy printing facilities without digital devices, sensors can be attached to send, store and analyze data. “As in other…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  The plant operator's perspective on predictive maintenance
  
  Who tells the modern machine what to do?
  
  Sprint launches its IoT Factory
  
  Digital transformation...transforming
- Blockchain|
  The benefits of blockchain in food processing
  
  Blockchain can transform information-transfer in supply chains.
  
  By Nathan Jin, Ivy Everyone is clamoring for greater traceability and sustainability. And as we all move toward technological operating frameworks, enterprises are seeking solutions to boost traceability and recordkeeping. The potential for blockchain technology to change the information-transfer of food supply chains has become a hot topic. Blockchain has its roots in 2009 as a distributed ledger for recording monetary transactions in the Bitcoin network. Here's how it works: transactions between participants on the system are bundled into blocks, which are then linked to the previous block, forming a chain. Each subsequent block is based on the previous block, so retroactively changing entries in previous blocks is functionally…
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  Recent
  
  Blockchain for the manufacturing supply chain
  
  Part working factory. Part showroom. All smart.
  
  The Smart Industry 50
- Smart Materials|
  The Smart Industry 50
  
  Our 2017 honorees are making digital revolution real.
  
  By Keith Larson, Editor in Chief Even revolutions are hard to see when you’re in the midst of them. Certainly, there’s a generous dose of marketing hype around the potential of the Industrial Internet of Things, cloud computing and big data analytics to advance industrial performance and remake business models. But speak to those on the front lines of digital innovation and their stories make clear that industry is indeed in the midst of an accelerating transformation made possible by increasingly powerful and accessible digital technology. “Some say we’re in the midst of a fourth industrial revolution,” says Steve Jones of Steelcase, one of the class of 2017 Smart Industry 50 honorees. “That’s a bold statement, but I think…
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  Recent
  
  The near future of smart roads
- Digital Twin|
  Q&A: New York Power Authority CEO Gil Quiniones
  
  From Thomas Edison to the digital twin.
  
  In 1882, Thomas Edison built the nation’s first powerplant in Manhattan. Recently in nearby White Plains, New York, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) unveiled its Integrated Smart Operations Center, a state-of-the-art headquarters that uses GE Digital's predictive-analytics software to forecast and prevent equipment failures and significant outages at the NYPA's 16 power plants and 1,400 circuit miles of transmission lines. Online monitoring of power plants, sub-stations and power lines increases plant efficiency and productivity, reduces unplanned downtime, lowers maintenance costs and minimizes operational risks. The technology will help NYPA progress toward meeting their state’s Governor's Clean Energy Standard, which requires…
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  Recent
  
  Part working factory. Part showroom. All smart.
  
  Digital twins for the asset operator
  
  The Smart Industry 50
  
  Digital twin to enable asset optimization
- Augmented Reality
  Bentley’s Synchro software solution for FC Barcelona Stadium
  
  4D construction modeling provides immersive construction management
  
  Bentley Systems presented Synchro, a 4D construction-modeling solution at the Microsoft Inspire conference.Synchro will be used for FC Barcelona’s major renovation to the Espai Barça sports arena in Barcelona, Spain, which will accommodate more than 100,000 fans. In conjunction with time-lapse monitoring footage of the construction site provided by EarthCam, Bentley’s Synchro will help the stadium-project team to visualize and compare construction progress with the 4D construction model.Synchro 4D construction-simulation software will help the project team visualize construction progress of major renovations to FC Barcelona’s Espai Barça sports arena. Greg Demchak, technical architect for Bentley, said, “The scope of this…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Schneider Electric's EcoStruxure Augmented Operator Advisor
  
  Honeywell introduces intelligent wearables for field workers
  
  Part working factory. Part showroom. All smart.
  
  The Smart Industry 50
Industries
- Machinery|
  Beckhoff IoT edge device optimizes Industry 4.0 process technology
  
  Industrial PC is suited for edge computing and cloud communication.
  
  Beckhoff has introduced its ultra-compact C6015 Industrial PC (IPC), touting it as the ideal space-saving, high-performance IoT edge device that fully utilizes these advantages for new and legacy systems in the process industries. Beckhoff's C6015 Industrial PC By integrating comprehensive IoT and analytics functionality, the PC-based control technology opens up a wealth of options to optimize production processes, according to Beckhoff. System consistency in the control platform ensures simple implementation and high transparency:A universal portfolio of components for explosion protection, including the ELX series EtherCAT Terminals, which enable end-to-end automation of large and complex processing plants. The TwinCAT…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  The plant operator's perspective on predictive maintenance
  
  Who tells the modern machine what to do?
  
  Data doctors in the IIoT era
  
  Perusing the "library of equipment failure"
- Food, Beverage, CPG|
  A digital approach to an ancient craft
  
  Data analytics meets craft beer. Cheers!
  
  In September, Tim Alexander presents “Deschutes Boosts Quality, Throughput with Predictive Analytics” atDeschutes' Tim Alexander the 2018 Smart Industry Conference. Today the brewery-operations technology manager previews his presentation and shares his thoughts on data in the world of craft beer, boosting consistency and speeding processing times. Take a look...Smart Industry: Describe your role in this era of digital transformation.Tim: I oversee operations technology at the brewery. This includes process automation, our process historian, operational interactions and integrations with the company ERP system, databases for collecting/organizing/storing quality and recipe data, and creating reports and combining data as required…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Food processing, meet IIoT
  
  The benefits of blockchain in food processing
  
  The Smart Industry 50
  
  Transformation in Action Profile: Jonathan Riechert
- Life Sciences|
  The Smart Industry 50
  
  Our 2017 honorees are making digital revolution real.
  
  By Keith Larson, Editor in Chief Even revolutions are hard to see when you’re in the midst of them. Certainly, there’s a generous dose of marketing hype around the potential of the Industrial Internet of Things, cloud computing and big data analytics to advance industrial performance and remake business models. But speak to those on the front lines of digital innovation and their stories make clear that industry is indeed in the midst of an accelerating transformation made possible by increasingly powerful and accessible digital technology. “Some say we’re in the midst of a fourth industrial revolution,” says Steve Jones of Steelcase, one of the class of 2017 Smart Industry 50 honorees. “That’s a bold statement, but I think…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Creating value from smart manufacturing
  
  Watch out for regional data privacy rules
- Oil, gas, chemicals|
  Making work smarter, making workers safer
  
  IBM's Omer Arad uses digital tools to protect flesh and bone.
  
  Omer Arad, IBM researcher/developer and member of the Forbes Israel 30 Under 30 class of 2018, IBM's Omer Arad specializes in applying elements of the IoT for personal safety, using voice and gesture activation to identify workers’ behavior patterns and tapping artificial intelligence and sensor data to prevent accidents in hazardous work environments. We chatted with him about workplace safety, how age affects digital adoption, and the role of safety in IIoT initiatives. Take a look… Smart Industry: What’s new in personal safety? Omer: We are working on research connected to wearable devices, which are worn on the bodies and collect biometic data. We use ID tags that generate real-time data in order to protect workers in extreme…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Industrie 4.0: What does it mean for chemical companies?
  
  The benefits of better medical and high-tech component manufacturing
  
  Gas processor advancing remote control methodologies
  
  Predictive-analytics solutions for oil & gas
- Automotive, Aerospace, Defense|
  Banner Engineering solution enabled with machine learning
  
  Applications with monitoring of motors, pumps, blowers and more.
  
  Banner Engineering today announces its wireless condition-monitoring solution with machine learning for more intuitive predictive maintenance. The QM42VT wireless vibration-monitoring sensor continuously measures RMS velocity, high frequency RMS acceleration and temperature, enabling the sensor to identify machine problems before they become severe and result in unplanned downtime, according to Banner. It also allows facility managers to plan maintenance more efficiently and reduce labor costs by eliminating manual checks. Using a proprietary machine-learning algorithm, Banner’s condition-monitoring solution collects data from the QM42VT vibration-detection motor sensor to establish a machine’s vibration baseline and automatically set…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Navistar closes the loop on reliability and innovation
  
  The Smart Industry 50
- Metals & Mining|
  Autonomous Solutions & Barrick Gold autonomous haulage
  
  The goal is to deliver improvements in safety, efficiency and production.
  
  Autonomous Solutions, Inc. has begun work on a project with Barrick Gold Corporation to retrofit and automate a fleet of haul trucks at the company’s Arturo Joint Venture operation in Nevada. “This represents the first major autonomous deployment within the continental United States and signals a larger movement to adopt automation across the mining industry,” said Drew Larsen, director of business development for ASI Mining. During the initial phase of the project, ASI will retrofit five Komatsu 930-E Ultra Class haul trucks to autonomous operation at the Arturo mine, located on property adjacent to Barrick’s Goldstrike operations. This phase will consist primarily of waste haulage, prior to moving into production. Subsequent…
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  Recent
  
  The Smart Industry 50
- Power & Water
  Q&A: New York Power Authority CEO Gil Quiniones
  
  From Thomas Edison to the digital twin.
  
  In 1882, Thomas Edison built the nation’s first powerplant in Manhattan. Recently in nearby White Plains, New York, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) unveiled its Integrated Smart Operations Center, a state-of-the-art headquarters that uses GE Digital's predictive-analytics software to forecast and prevent equipment failures and significant outages at the NYPA's 16 power plants and 1,400 circuit miles of transmission lines. Online monitoring of power plants, sub-stations and power lines increases plant efficiency and productivity, reduces unplanned downtime, lowers maintenance costs and minimizes operational risks. The technology will help NYPA progress toward meeting their state’s Governor's Clean Energy Standard, which requires…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Digital transformation...transforming
  
  Making work smarter, making workers safer
  
  Uptake acquires Asset Performance Technologies
  
  Water, optimized, with a digital approach
Roles
- IT/OT convergence|
  Product News: Future-proof chip connects devices to the IIoT
  
  Supports Fieldbus, Real Time Ethernet and IIoT protocols.
  
  Hilscher announces the netX 90, an addition to its netX family of single-chip network controller ASICs. The chip addresses the fact that a large proportion of slave devices in use today will have to be replaced and/or updated if cyber risk threats are to be countered adequately for cloud-based and IIoT applications, according to Hilscher.According to its maker, the netX 90 provides universal connectivity for all popular Real Time Ethernets (RTEs), is "IoT-ready" with support for OPC UA and MQTT, and can interface to all modern sensor buses. "netX 52, its predecessor, was already a powerful interface for sensors and actuators," said Nico Mäding, Hilscher netX business development manager. "With netX 90 we've incorporated low-level drivers…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Bentley’s Synchro software solution for FC Barcelona Stadium
  
  Product News: Siemens Sinamics G120 Smart Access module
  
  Product News: Photoelectric all-rounder BOS 21M ADCAP
  
  Industrial compact gigabit media converter with fixed fiber
- Research|
  IIC announces smart printing factory testbed
  
  Automates print production and predictive maintenance.
  
  The Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC) announced the Smart Printing Factory Testbed. Led by Fujifilm and supported by IIC members Fujitsu, IBM, RTI and Toshiba, the testbed automates print production and predictive maintenance for factory-based printing equipment.The Smart Printing Factory Platform collects job status, machine-condition and production-quality data for factory-based printing equipment using integrated sensors. It then delivers optimized production and predictive maintenance plans to users who can monitor and control printing equipment through a secure IT/OT management console. For legacy printing facilities without digital devices, sensors can be attached to send, store and analyze data. “As in other…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  A deep dive into your thoughts
  
  The Smart Industry 50
- Conference Content|
  Bosch retools assembly operations for Industry 4.0
  
  Empowering industrial engineers to lead an agile approach to line-design.
  
  Next month Rodney Rusk presents “Bosch Retools Assembly Operations for Industry 4.0” at theBosch's Rodney Rusk fourth-annual Smart Industry Conference. Today Bosch Rexroth’s i4.0 business leader previews his presentation and shares his thoughts on the shifting role of solution providers in the digital era.Take a look… Smart Industry: How does your new approach enable greater flexibility and boosted efficiency at the same time? Rodney: Over the last seven years, the entire Bosch world has been taking the theory of i4.0 solutions and making them real in a number of our facilities worldwide. During the course of this experience, we have learned many hard lessons, but also found ways to implement i4.0 solutions to drive better…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  The Smart Industry 50: Class of 2018
  
  Changing the approach to product development
  
  Your IoT devices may be weaponized
  
  Excelling in the age of information abundance
- Business Strategist|
  LIFT project optimizes use of lightweight metals
  
  An engineering path to lightweighting.
  
  LIFT (Lightweight Innovations For Tomorrow) a Manufacturing USA institute, announced the creation of a new process that enables shipbuilders to save production costs and improve build time, all while reducing distortion of lightweight materials.The initiative developed computer modeling to better predict where distortion (or warping) will occur when steel plates are welded together, ultimately reconfiguring the welding sequence, according to LIFT. Using a U.S. Coast Guard Cutter unit as a test article, the project team demonstrated a 30 percent reduction in distortion and a 13 percent reduction in production costs compared to similar, previous cutter-production units.“As naval ship designs have trended toward using thinner and…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Bosch retools assembly operations for Industry 4.0
  
  Honeywell integrates aeSolutions’ software for risk reduction
  
  The Smart Industry 50: Class of 2018
  
  The road to RxM
- Operational Strategist|
  LIFT project optimizes use of lightweight metals
  
  An engineering path to lightweighting.
  
  LIFT (Lightweight Innovations For Tomorrow) a Manufacturing USA institute, announced the creation of a new process that enables shipbuilders to save production costs and improve build time, all while reducing distortion of lightweight materials.The initiative developed computer modeling to better predict where distortion (or warping) will occur when steel plates are welded together, ultimately reconfiguring the welding sequence, according to LIFT. Using a U.S. Coast Guard Cutter unit as a test article, the project team demonstrated a 30 percent reduction in distortion and a 13 percent reduction in production costs compared to similar, previous cutter-production units.“As naval ship designs have trended toward using thinner and…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  Bosch retools assembly operations for Industry 4.0
  
  Product News: Future-proof chip connects devices to the IIoT
  
  Honeywell integrates aeSolutions’ software for risk reduction
  
  The Smart Industry 50: Class of 2018
- Technology Strategist
  Product News: Future-proof chip connects devices to the IIoT
  
  Supports Fieldbus, Real Time Ethernet and IIoT protocols.
  
  Hilscher announces the netX 90, an addition to its netX family of single-chip network controller ASICs. The chip addresses the fact that a large proportion of slave devices in use today will have to be replaced and/or updated if cyber risk threats are to be countered adequately for cloud-based and IIoT applications, according to Hilscher.According to its maker, the netX 90 provides universal connectivity for all popular Real Time Ethernets (RTEs), is "IoT-ready" with support for OPC UA and MQTT, and can interface to all modern sensor buses. "netX 52, its predecessor, was already a powerful interface for sensors and actuators," said Nico Mäding, Hilscher netX business development manager. "With netX 90 we've incorporated low-level drivers…
  Full Story
  
  Recent
  
  The Smart Industry 50: Class of 2018
  
  Product News: Vision sensors for color inspections
  
  Bentley’s Synchro software solution for FC Barcelona Stadium
  
  Product News: Siemens Sinamics G120 Smart Access module

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Your IoT devices may be weaponized

What are you gonna do about it?
Guidance for improving IIoT-endpoint security

"People will be surprised that it’s only 13 pages!"
Q&A: New York Power Authority CEO Gil Quiniones

From Thomas Edison to the digital twin.
Digital transformation...transforming

There is a lot of creativity happening in this space right now.

White Papers: In Depth Research

BASF to Treat Wireless as Basic Infrastructure

Posted: Mar 30, 2015
Five Ways the Industrial Internet is Changing the Oil and Gas Industry

Posted: Mar 09, 2015
Remote Wellhead Surveillance and Data Acquisition

Posted: Feb 06, 2015
Securing Your Automation Network

Posted: Feb 03, 2015

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MacLean-Fogg Uses IIoT to Gain Industry Advantage
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Can the IoT eliminate human error?
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IoT devices compromising your business today

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Fifty individuals helping to advance their organizations’ digital transformations.
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Machines are adopting greater ownership of their actions.
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