In this February edition of Electricity + Control, as the world meets new challenges and the technologies of Industry 4.0 are increasingly adopted at varying levels, we present some indicators for the way forward in terms of industrial automation systems, energy management, connectivity in sensors and switches, and new tools that support efficient plant maintenance.
In Industry 4.0 + IIoT, considering the challenges the industrial sector is facing and the changing expectations of customers and other stakeholders, Tessa Myers, Senior Vice President intelligent devices at Rockwell Automation highlights three trends industry is adopting to power growth. In parallel with the continuing digitalisation of operational systems, these include the transformation of production logistics to support agility, producing locally to build resilience in supply chains, and embracing data to achieve sustainability goals.
Similar trends are noted by Brian Andrew, Managing Director at RS South Africa, in a piece where he highlights how disruptive technologies – and new possibilities – came to the fore in dealing with the disruption caused by the pandemic.
Energy management is an increasingly critical concern – particularly in South Africa at present, as Editorial Technical Director Professor Ian Jandrell notes in his Comment upfront in this issue – and globally, where tighter supplies, escalating prices and the continuing drive towards cleaner energy urge companies to search for greater efficiencies to reduce their energy usage.
Here, Beckhoff Automation, Germany, sets out the steps it has taken and the hardware and software it has in use, to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions successfully – and on a continuing basis – across its facilities. As Fabian Assion, Product Manager I/O at the company says, “It pays to save energy. It is good for our environment, and it helps counteract the impact of massive price increases for primary energy sources. Every kilowatt hour of unused energy, every kilogram of unreleased CO2 counts.”
Looking at Sensors + switches Pepperl+Fuchs explains how the development of Ethernet-APL benefits the process industries by enabling high-speed network access to devices in the field – and all the related advantages that brings. Opening up universal, barrier-free pathways to real-time data, it supports better operating procedures, less maintenance, reduced risk, and greater efficiencies.
In Plant maintenance, test + measurement too, Comtest shares the view of Paul Feenstra Vice President of Fluke (Europe, Middle East & Asia) EMEA who highlights that energy management has taken priority position in managing plant operations. Challenges posed to industrial operations managers by the pandemic have been superseded by the rising cost of energy and the need to deliver on net zero ambitions. Companies are re-evaluating processes and seeking new tools and technologies to reduce waste and optimise plant performance.
There is plenty to learn from in this issue of Electricity + Control.