Wireless Industry: how to achieve network independence

You certainly want to offer a better technology for your company. After all, the availability of the machines and the improvement of the processes depend a lot on your vision. This is because industrial production is developing side by side with IT, and that is where the wireless industry comes in.

The concept of Industry 4.0 makes reference to a fourth industrial revolution, in which, through the Internet of Things, a communication between all the elements of an industry is created. However, the interesting thing of all this is to establish this communication without the use of signal cables, that is, only with wireless connections.

So, to better understand the advantages of the wireless industry and how it is possible to guarantee mobility in the industrial environment, continue reading this article. However, let’s see first why the network is so important in the industry.

What is the role of the network in the industry?

An industrial network connects the various components involved in the automation of a plant. As for automation, it involves the processing of a lot of information and a lot of controls. Since the increase in productivity is directly related to operational excellence, it is necessary to increase the efficiency of automation, which can be achieved with a well structured network.

This network provides communication between machines and computers, through actuators, sensors, PLCs and other components. This way, the operator can, from the control room, have an overview of the plant. Thus, with several information at his disposal, he can make the decisions related to the plant operation.

The ideal is that the industrial automation follows the advance of the technology, which leads us to the wireless industry, which involves establishing communication between the components of a plant without the use of signal cables, taking advantage of all the power of wireless technology.

What are the advantages of a wireless industry?

There is no denying that wireless technology has brought many facilities to us all in our daily lives. After all, it has eliminated the need for cables to connect to the Internet and other devices.

What about the industrial environment? Is wireless technology beneficial to industries as well? Here are the advantages of a wireless industry. You will notice that it is much more than just an alternative to using cables.

Flexibility

You know how laborious it is to have to provide cables and conduits to add equipment in the process. On the other hand, in an industrial wireless network there is no need for cables, making the task of including and excluding components a lot simpler.

Reliability

The idea that cables are always more reliable than wireless solutions is well rooted in the industry. However, this thinking is changing because of the advances that manufacturers have made in wireless technology.

Even cables face certain drawbacks. For example, when they are connected to machines that vibrate a lot, they are subject to breakage and disconnection, no matter how tough they are. Wireless technology prevents this kind of damage without sacrificing reliability of operation.

Efficiency

One of the characteristics of a good operation is the ability to evaluate a large amount of information in real time and use it as a basis for right decisions with agility.

When the entire plant is connected to a network, the information is centralized in a control room. However, it is also possible to make available plant operation data on the intranet, so that managers can access it from smartphones and tablets, in order to make decisions with greater agility.

Reduction of expenses

Think about all the costs involved in cable installation and maintenance. In addition to the cost of purchasing the wires themselves, it is necessary to purchase and install conduit and cable conveyor belts. It is also necessary to perform preventive and corrective maintenance in order to keep the machines working properly.

Certain physical barriers can make the project even more expensive, given the need to include an extra amount of cables and conduits to get around obstacles. Wireless communication avoids all these inconveniences.

Comfort

A wired network centralizes operations in a control room. On the other hand, the wireless industry creates the possibility to control a factory remotely, which is a great operational advance.

How to ensure mobility in the industry?

Although it is possible to make several parallels between conventional and industrial wireless, the truth is that the latter has some differentiated characteristics, since the operation of machines requires extra security and availability.

Therefore, when purchasing wireless products for a factory, they need to be certified for use in the industry. The hardware must have resistance to withstand harsh environments, which includes, for example, very high or very low temperatures.

In addition, these devices must have mechanical protection so that they have the necessary resistance for the industrial environment. They must resist impact, vibration and even extreme noise.

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