INTERVIEW
Why is the convergence of technology and energy becoming such a critical issue for manufacturers in Ireland, and what is driving this shift?
In conversation with Alex Richards, Schneider Electric’s new Business Vice President of Industrial & Process Automation for the UK & Ireland
F
or manufacturers in Ireland, technology and energy can no longer be treated as two separate conversations The same digital technologies that are
transforming how factories operate are also creating much greater visibility and control over how energy is consumed, while creating new opportunities for innovation across the wider industrial ecosystem. That convergence is being driven by several
factors: continued pressure on energy costs, with factory managers reporting the ‘steepest increase’ in average costs since June, decarbonisation targets, increasing electrification and the need to remain globally competitive. At the same time, Irish manufacturers are under pressure to produce more efficiently, with greater flexibility and resilience, often without significantly increasing their physical footprint. This is creating a growing need to connect technology, investment and operational expertise in ways that can deliver practical improvements at scale. This is where automation, electrification and digitalisation come together. By connecting operational technology with energy data, manufacturers can understand not just what they are producing, but how much energy and resources are being used to produce it. That creates an opportunity to improve productivity and sustainability at the same time, while building greater resilience into day-to-day operations. With world-class tech firms and a deep culture of innovation, Ireland has all the right ingredients in place. For Schneider Electric, bringing that digital capability together with industrial infrastructure is how we build genuine resilience for the future Many manufacturers have ambitious digitalisation and decarbonisation targets. What are the biggest barriers preventing those ambitions from becoming practical, measurable progress?
The biggest challenge is often turning ambition into a practical plan. Many sites rely on legacy equipment, disconnected systems and data spread across machines and processes, making it difficult to understand performance, decide where to begin and prioritise investment.
Visibility is the critical first step: organisations cannot manage what they cannot measure. While manufacturers may have significant data, it is often fragmented and difficult to turn into actionable insight.
Complexity can also slow progress. With
margins and capacity under pressure, businesses are reluctant to disrupt production for large-scale transformation. Skills gaps, ageing infrastructure and uncertainty around return on investment add further barriers. The most effective approach brings
24 September/October 2026 Irish Manufacturing
digitalisation and decarbonisation together around shared outcomes: improving productivity, reducing energy use, increasing uptime and building resilience. A clear baseline and a small number of meaningful KPIs provide a practical, measurable starting point. How can technologies such as AI, automation, data analytics and smart energy management help manufacturers improve both operational efficiency and energy performance? These technologies give manufacturers a clearer, real-time view of operations, enabling
www.irish-manufacturing.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
