IOT & SMART MANUFACTURING


FEATURE


IOT SOLUTIONS FOR THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION


SICK offers a wide range of digital


innovations – from an intelligent IoT IO-Link master to wireless edge solutions for data collection


A


t the Smart Factory Expo, part of Smart Manufacturing Week in June, Design Solutions visited the SICK stand to learn


about the latest innovations from the company, one of world’s leading industrial solution providers for sensor-based applications. During the event, the company demonstrated


how businesses can harness sensors to unlock the power of their data thanks to the use of next-generation connectivity solutions and digital innovations designed to create safer, smarter, more flexible, self-optimising manufacturing systems. Among the innovative products available


from the company are the SIG300 intelligent IO-Link Master, the IO-Link Wireless Gateway and the powerful and secure TDC-X plant management tool.


STATE-OF-THE-ART IIOT The SIG300 intelligent IO-Link master is described by the company as a state-of-the-art IIoT device that forms a bridge between OT and IT. Offering smart connectivity for seamless energy-saving solutions, this features eight ports, can process up to 102 digital signals and features EtherNET/IP, PROFINET and EtherCAT fieldbuses, alongside the IoT communication


protocols MQTT, OPC UA and REST API. Designed to be easy to install and commission without the need for expensive cabling, this also features IO-Link and other protocols, delivering access to a wide range of data for predictive maintenance, improved efficiency, real-time monitoring and data-driven decision making. The TDC-X, meanwhile, is a robust next-


generation wireless edge solution for telematic data collection. Designed for demanding end- to-end IoT applications in harsh environments – including factory, logistics and process automation – this IP67-rated device provides powerful edge computing and multi-sensor data acquisition, acting as a wireless gateway with IoT functionality and support for SICK Digital Cloud Services. Another interesting solution is SICK’s smart


compressed air solution. Featuring intelligent connectivity for data transparency and eight pre- defined values for easy commissioning, this presents visual information on compressed air leaks, excess usage and waste, as well as the anticipated annual cost saving per factory, production hall, line or machine. A German beverage manufacturer has already used the smart compressed air monitoring solution. The company identified the means of saving one million m³ of compressed air per year and reducing compressed air usage by almost 60% within a period of eight months – simply by


addressing a small problem on its machines.


DIGITISATION PILLARS During the show Eugene Lawrence, SICK’s strategic solutions manager, and Johannes Haeringer, strategic product manager for Integration Products, spoke about how intelligent sensors are enhancing digital solutions. They outlined how SICK’s digital initiatives form three digitisation pillars: Ready-to-use solutions, Digital toolbox and C² – Competence and Consulting. The second digitisation pillar is the wide range


of flexible and compatible digital products that comply with industry standards to deliver tailored solutions that meet specific customer needs. The expanding range of intuitive digital tools includes the Field Analytics visualisation and analysis platform, gateways, SICK NOVA foundation software for configurable machine vision solutions, the SICK AssetHub, IO-Link Masters, and SICK Augmented Reality Assistant (SARA). And for the third pillar, SICK’s digital consulting


team provides support from the beginning of a project to end of lifecycle, identifying pain points, evaluating potential resolutions and implementing the right digital solution to save development time and add maximum value.


SICK www.sick.com


JULY/AUGUST 2025 DESIGN SOLUTIONS 25


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