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Smart Solutions for Smart Machines with Industry 4.0

Over recent years, Industry 4.0 has transformed factories into truly smart environments. Changes in technology have made it possible to create networks that incorporate an entire manufacturing process. But how is Industry 4.0 improving efficiency across factory floors and beyond?

The integration of Industry 4.0 has enabled a new way of targeting and reducing inconsistency. In manufacturing, early correction, increased efficiency and a reduced number of defects are benefits that are already evident, particularly for industries that use sensors for precision placement of components.

start smart factory

Engineers are now able to deduce valuable insights generated from this data, specifically from processes that monitor elements such as temperature and pressure. Such benefits have been realised across markets including:

Commercial vehicle.

Manufacturers within the transportation market are streaming sensor data from vehicles to identify potential breakdowns and perform preventative and predictive maintenance.

Agricultural and mining.

Companies are using sensor networks to coordinate the movement of equipment in the field, develop driverless fleets, improve fleet maintenance, and enhance safety.

Automotive.

Manufacturers are using onboard diagnostic data that can detect equipment failure, safety risks, and defects.

Oil and gas.

Downtime is a major issue for oil producers and refiners, and the industry is using more and more sensors, networks, and analytics to generate predictive insight into equipment performance and predictive maintenance.

Molex Smart Machines

The examples above show that the use of sensory products is the key to building awareness of machine performance and maintenance – this has resulted in next-generation sensors becoming an integral part of the Smart Factory.

An increased use of sensors is a trend that has grown with the evolution of Industry 4.0 and has resulted in a greater number of IP67 interconnections on machines. With this trend comes an opportunity for Molex’s Industrial Automation products to be installed on machines, increasing the collection of data and the number of machine interactions.

Molex’s Brad M8 and M12 connectors are standards for sensor and actuator manufacturers and provide one convenient source for numerous passive interconnect and industrial communication requirements. Brad industrial connectors include products such as Nano-Change M8, Micro-Change M12, Ultra-Lock M12, M12 power and more.

This enhanced and comprehensive portfolio delivers a solution that can fulfil almost all application requirements and are equipped to withstand harsh-industrial and weather environments with IP67 interconnections. Industries such as those mentioned above are now using technology made available through IIoT and other segments of IoT to develop and grow new applications and to enhance the efficiency of those that already exist.

With industrial technology growing faster than ever, creating unlimited new applications, the need for sensors in industrial applications is rapidly increasing. As new innovations continue to enhance efficiency, Industry 4.0 will continue to revolutionize what we can achieve.

As a leader in the development of technologies at the forefront of this evolution, Molex provides both standard and custom solutions for a wealth of applications across the Industrial Internet of Things. Find more solutions here.

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Molex is a leading provider of electronic components and solutions. Our approach to innovation is key to solving complex customer challenges, allowing us not only to create many pioneering electronic solutions, but also build a globally recognized company.
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