Today, I want to examine the new Ethernet Advanced Physical Layer (Ethernet-APL) specification that will eliminate the challenges that are holding back Ethernet adoption in the process control industries, especially in hazardous environments.

Deutsche Telekom and TRUMPF are cooperating in the field of positioning systems for connected industries. The solution, based on 5G and omlox technologies ensures more flexibility in production both inside and outside manufacturing halls.

DATAEAGLE technology from Schildknecht and the EchoRing concept developed by R3 Reliable Realtime Radio demonstrate a method to ensure high-speed reliable wireless communication in difficult environments utilizing the 5.8 GHz frequency band. Learn more about what they achieved.

Over the years, you’ve amassed smart field devices through different area owners, different project owners, and even purchasing, and now you are backed into a tough spot; you have to extract the 'smarts' from these pricey devices acquired from different manufacturers, connected to different PLCs, and in some cases across different protocols. What to do?

The Campus Positioning of T-Systems and its components focus on combining different localization technologies like mobile cellular technology and complementary technologies like UWB, BLE, RFID, GPS, WiFi, etc. The connectors and APIs are all based on omlox, the first open and independent industry standard for localization services.

It is not surprising that automation control suppliers develop an ecosystem of solutions hoping to keep you returning to their platform for all their core and adjacent products. The message?  One vendor, one ecosystem, built, designed, and tested as one complete system. Sometimes this works, other times not. Should you employ one supplier? Or best-of-breed?