IIoT: The Industrial Internet of Things

Technology is changing at its fastest pace ever, with the current trend being to join the Internet of Things. What at first was relegated to cell phones and wifi refrigerators has now encompassed industrial heating blankets and pipe flow meters. How is your industry making the switch to digital transformation to IIoT platforms?

Industrial Internet of Things

In the world of growing technologies, the phrase “Internet of Things” has garnered quite the buzz. Put simply, the Internet of Things, or “IoT”, is the use of the internet to connect objects and enable them to send and receive data. IoT has the potential to connect anything with an on switch to the internet (toasters, large-scale production machinery, cars, etc.) as well as specific parts of machines such as airplane engines or oil rig drills. The Internet of Things allows these objects or components to share data which is sent to a storage cloud and shared with users via smartphone, tablet, or computer. The application of IoT is nearly endless. Smart homes, smart cities, and self-driving cars are just a few of the developing IoT technologies expected to revolutionize our day-to-day tasks.

When it comes to industrial business, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is one of the most notable disruptive trends. According to a report released by the McKinsey Global Institute, Industrial Internet of Things will have an economic impact of up to $6.2 trillion by the year 2025 and has the potential to drive operating costs across several industries, the top three being manufacturing, healthcare and mining. 

Industrial IoT applications include machine to machine (M2M) communications for machine auto-diagnosis, indoor air quality control at chemical plants, and the temperature monitoring of storage containers containing sensitive materials, just to name a few.

Industrial IoT Benefits

The benefits of the utilization of Industrial IoT are compelling and countless. Internet of Things technology allows users to integrate and utilize data from different sources (humans, machines, parts). This data can provide valuable new insights to drive smarter, faster business decisions. For example, real-time production data may reveal additional capacity for increased production. Data collected for Industrial IoT can significantly increase efficiency and productivity, decrease production costs, and improve safety by providing data relevant to predictive maintenance. Additionally, Industrial IoT simplifies day-to-day operations by putting access to any and all industry machines and technologies at a user’s fingertips.

Have You Met Beacon?

The Beacon Wifi Temperature Monitor is an example of an Industrial IoT device that simplifies day-to-day tasks and provides valuable data gathered from multiple temperature-control products, all at your fingertips. The Beacon Wifi Temperature Monitor allows users to monitor and control Powerblanket products (or any other device that would benefit from temperature control) from a smartphone or computer. More importantly, it allows users to receive text, email or push notifications when the temperature goes outside the specified limits, so users can set the temperature and walk away with complete peace of mind. If you are interested in integrating IoT technology into your industrial business, The Beacon Wifi Temperature Monitor is an excellent place to start.

To recap, the Beacon Wifi Temperature Monitor: 

• is compatible with a wide variety of heating or cooling devices
• offers both local and remote control through Wi-Fi or Cellular networks
• enables scheduling of alerts, temperature changes, and ramping
• allows for multiple users with varying levels of access and control for added security
• has 120/208/240V AC options, and can switch up to 24 amps

With Beacon, you are in complete control. No more having to regularly go out to your equipment one by one to check gauges and monitors, or needing to install miles of wiring and electrical equipment from your in-field equipment back to the control room. Focus on getting the job done by implementing Beacon Wifi Temperature Control Monitors into your system instead of workplace distractions.

Getting in to the Industrial Internet of Things

Smart controllers are the future of manufacturing and industrial equipment management. It’s entirely possible that most of the equipment we manually operate everyday might be automated or controlled remotely through IIoT platforms. As we inch closer to that reality, it’s essential to find ways we can use Industrial IoT technology to speed up process times, more efficiently deploy energy and employees, and make the workplace safer for everyone.

Trust Powerblanket to help your industrial systems make the digital transformation into the Internet of Things. By manufacturing Beacon Wifi Temperature Monitors, we’re giving you total control and access to data critical to making your operations as efficient as possible. Call us at 866.945.4203 or email us at [email protected] for more information.