Whenever the word “supply chain” is uttered, most professionals usually think of logistics, because the concept has been embedded in their thought processes for the past four decades. When optimization of supply chain is explored, the goal is to optimize the flow of materials from the raw material state to the distribution center where finished goods are auctioned.

The wide-scale adoption of the Internet of Things and automation technologies is inevitable. For the past decade, many industrial companies are seriously considering IoT and automated processes. This means every single physical parameter is up for grabs and should be utilized to increase the competitive edge for a business.

IIoT is no longer a concept limited to research papers, conferences and keynote speeches; it is here. The deployment of the Internet of Things within manufacturing and other sectors has been building over the years and has now adopted an exponential pattern. Big Data Paradigm, M2M communication, and advanced sensory technologies are just some of the hotspots of Industrial IoT. The benefits are visible and include operational efficiency, greater on-site safety, and higher productivity.

Globalization has been a driving force for the industrial world for decades now. Multinational enterprises no longer limit themselves to a single geographical area for the production needs and often spread their plants across continents. While such diversity does lead to lower costs when serving a specific area, it does bring its own pitfalls, most serious of which is extending technical support.

Things often go wrong, and it isn’t always feasible to have an engineering team on-site to diagnose, troubleshoot, and fix the problem. Even if there is an engineering team, they won’t always have the skills required to fix problems belonging to a wide spectrum.

It's important to make sure motors can function properly, and electronic brakes are one method that keeps them working smoothly. The Solbrake, a DC Injection Brake by Solcon, is capable of bringing three-phase AC motors to a smooth stop through the controlled transmission of DC current into the motor’s windings. After the AC current has been cut off, the DC current injected into the motor’s windings builds up a stationary magnetic field that provides braking torque.

As cost-effective and time-saving devices, soft starters are essential pieces of equipment for motor control. Most are used in plants with older motors and fan or pump controls, but some applications can be unique to a specific problem.  

Dubbed Solcon’s most advanced soft starter, the iStart is an advanced low voltage soft starter rated at 17–1100 Amps, 208–690 Volts. It is designed to provide optimal performance during motor starts and stops so that top-tier performance can be guaranteed for all connected appliances.

Solcon’s HRVS-DN is a high-end, heavy-duty, microprocessor controlled Medium Voltage Soft Starter designed for asynchronous and synchronous motors. The soft starter is optimal for applications that require fluid acceleration/deceleration and elimination of mechanical shocks.

The HRVS-DN has been designed to meet all relevant IEC standards, as well as regulations falling under ISO 9001:2000. The medium and low voltage compartments are completely isolated from each other, and each starter undergoes a partial discharge test as per EN 50178/625.1. Both starting/stopping characteristics are unique and can be supplemented with power factor contactors upstream to the contactor.

The identification of objects is a vital part of any assembly line, which as a whole serves a bigger purpose within the entire industrial process. Barcodes have been in use for industrial tasks for decades, and have established themselves as reliable and robust.

Leuze Electronic, dubbed ‘the sensor people,’ have a comprehensive lineup of barcode sensors that are fit for any application. The two major classifications offered by Leuze are stationary and mobile, both having unique purposes within an industry.

Manufacturing companies are locked in an all-out war of productivity, with factors such as government regulations, stringent labor costs and increasing energy prices serving as pressure builders. In such hostile environments, competition can only be given a befitting reply if innovations in the field of technology are adapted.

Machine to machine communication gives organizations exciting new avenues to approach their problems and provides solutions that instill efficiency, productivity and security within the automation infrastructure. Furthermore, it provides a perfect way for companies to make the shift from conventional technologies and get on the Industrial IoT bandwagon.

Remote operation of machines has perhaps been a universal desire of all industrial manufacturers. This is especially true for the industrial age we’re currently living in, where plants often spread on considerable acreage, and are commonly separated by continents, if not city-lines. The complexity that originates from ensuring the necessary up-time and visibility presents a very intriguing case into the practicalities of remote machine access.