Business Models Affected by Industry 4.0 and IoT/IIoT in Canada

Source: Navgator 2018
ABB has been part of digital industrial innovation ever since the first computerized control systems were introduced back in the 1950s. Today, their solutions enhance efficiency, safety, quality, and reliability of industrial operations, helping customers unlock data-driven insights to make smarter decisions. Of all digital innovations, AI holds perhaps the most potential to create new value through contextualization of industrial data. It is truly transformative, particularly with the rapid advancements in Generative AI (GenAI) seen in recent years. The power of digital and AI makes its adoption a strategic priority for industry. But this adoption must work alongside customers’ existing infrastructure and minimize the risk of disruption. At ABB, their deep industry knowledge is combined with innovation expertise to deliver practical, scalable solutions such as ABB Genix Industrial IoT and AI Suite. Their digital portfolio empowers ABB’s customers to get more from their existing infrastructure, while accelerating innovation. It’s an exciting time: with digital and AI, they are just getting started. Read on to discover how ABB is helping their customers to turn potential into performance.
You’ve decided it’s time to invest in digital technology to drive better performance from your industrial plant assets. But how do you get started? There are many options vying for your attention. Different technical solutions from multiple vendors, different pain points you’re trying to address, even different priorities and objectives within your organization. Should you focus on minimizing lifecycle risk? Ensuring you have an optimal quantity of critical spares in your storeroom?
In the not-so-distant past, planning a road trip meant poring over maps and dealing with uncertainties like road construction, accidents, or bad weather. But with modern technology like GPS navigation, travelers can now anticipate and adjust their routes in real-time. Similar to road trips, the journey of panel builders, machine builders, and system integrators in industrial enclosures has evolved. Previously, designing and producing electrical panels and enclosures was a manual process prone to errors and delays. Rittal and EPLAN now provide digital tools to create scalable and cost-effective solutions for this journey. Industry 4.0 and automation are driving forces in today’s manufacturing landscape.
With the growth of e-Commerce, comes major changes in global retail and logistics. Because of this, companies are seeking automated warehouse solutions to meet this growth. New automated technologies are providing these companies with the capabilities they need to optimize their use of resources. By minimizing operational space, automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) enable retailers to not only maximize their resources but also ship products faster and more efficiently.
Of all the new Industry 4.0 technologies, Augmented Reality (AR) is the one that, to many people, seems the most surprising. AR devices are often worn like glasses upon which software can project images or instructions as an overly to reality. This technology is more or less sophisticated depending on the application. In some cases, it’s as simple as a way to project instructions to the user. In others, it combines GPS data with vision technology to add visual graphics to a user’s field of view that can accurately identify and track moving objects. Despite the growing accessibility of this technology and the clear advantages, it offers when applied effectively, too many it still seems like a futuristic idea that’s more of a gimmick than a practical manufacturing tool. However, when used intelligently in an automated workflow, augmented reality can significantly improve manufacturing processes. Here’s how.
A developer of distinctive urban workspace and data centre space in Canada’s major cities, Rittal provides knowledge-based organizations with distinctive environments for creativity and connectivity.

Please join ECS Electrical Cable Supply in welcoming Priscilla Gara as the new Branch Manager at their Edmonton branch! Priscilla brings over 12 years of sales experience, with a proven track record of exceeding targets and cultivating lasting customer partnerships across diverse industries. With a background in the trades and commercial diving, she brings a… Read More…

Valid Manufacturing is excited to share a major milestone in their journey—Valid Manufacturing has been acquired by Ampere Alliance. This partnership marks a powerful step forward, bringing together Valid’s proven manufacturing expertise with Ampere’s vision for innovative, sustainable power solutions. Together, they are positioned to accelerate growth, expand their capabilities, and deliver even greater value… Read More…

The way to the Industrial IoT does not have to be complicated. Whether access to valuable data is required or new, data-driven services are to be generated, Weidmuller enables its customers to go from data to value the easy way. Weidmuller’s comprehensive and cutting-edge IIoT portfolio applies to greenfield and brownfield applications. Weidmuller offers components and solutions from data acquisition, data pre-processing, data communication and data analysis.
Visit Weidmuller’s Industrial IoT Portfolio.

Advanced Motion Controls is proud to announce the addition of six new CANopen servo drives with Extended Environment capabilities to their FlexPro line. These new drives join AMC’s existing EtherCAT Extended Environment FlexPro drives, making the FlexPro line the go-to solution for motion control applications in harsh environments.
Many motion control applications take place in conditions that are less than ideal, such as extreme temperatures, high and low pressures, shocks and vibrations, and contamination. Electronics, including servo drives, can malfunction or sustain permanent damage in these conditions.

Bruce Kesler and Mark Gatewood have been given new titles and responsibilities for Service Wire Co.
Bruce Kesler has assumed the role of Senior Director – Business Development. Bruce will be responsible for Service Wire’s largest strategic accounts and our growing Strategic Accounts Team.
Mark Gatewood has been promoted to the role of Vice President – Sales & Marketing. In this role, Gatewood will lead the efforts of Service Wire Company’s entire sales and marketing organization in all market verticals.

Recently, Tri-Mach Inc. was thrilled to announce the addition of a new 45,000 sq ft. facility. Located at 285 Union St., Elmira, ON, this facility expands Tri-Mach’s capabilities, allowing them to better serve the growing needs of their customers.
Positioning for growth, this additional facility will allow Tri-Mach to continue taking on large-scale projects, enhance product performance testing, and provide equipment storage for their customers. The building will also be the new home to their Skilled Trades Centre of Excellence.

Convergix Automation Solutions has completed the acquisition of AGR Automation (“AGR”), a UK-based provider of custom, high-performance automation design and systems integration primarily to the life sciences industry.
Following Convergix’s acquisitions of JMP Solutions in August 2021 and Classic Design in February 2022, AGR marks the third investment in Crestview’s strategy to build Convergix into a diversified automation solutions provider targeting the global $500+ billion market, with a particular focus on the $70 billion global systems integration and connectivity segments. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

In today’s fast‑paced industrial environments, operators need control devices that are not only tough and reliable, but also intuitive, stylish, and easy to integrate into modern automation systems. Siemens SIRIUS ACT delivers exactly that—a complete portfolio of push buttons, indicator lights, and switches engineered for demanding applications and designed to elevate the user experience. Read More…

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) can be an annoyance to radio listeners, but in industrial environments, EMI problems are increasing as today’s power systems scale up to improve efficiency. On this larger scale, the effects are more damaging than poor reception. Today’s power systems are designed for efficiency. A common tactic is the use of variable-frequency drives… Read More…
This project is funded [in part] by the Government of Canada.
Ce projet est financé [en partie] par le gouvernement du Canada.
