Pepperl+Fuchs Blog

In industrial vision applications, a conventional representation of 3-D point clouds in space is often no longer sufficient to precisely identify relevant object details. With the PXL+ technology developed by Pepperl+Fuchs subsidiary VMT, however, 3-D point cloud images can be enriched with any number of sensor data. Thanks to this valuable additional information, the gap between human and machine vision can be closed, allowing numerous (industrial) applications to be solved more efficiently and expanding the range of applications that can be automated.

In this blog article, we explain what stands behind the term PXL+, where the technology is already being used successfully, and the potential it offers.

As Industry 4.0 grows, interest in radio-based sensors is also increasing. LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) is one technology that is becoming more and more popular in this context and is attracting the attention of industrial companies. In this blog article, find out what advantages LoRaWAN technology offers and if it could benefit your application.

There are many ways to achieve the kind of reliable machine-to-machine connectivity that powers the Industrial Internet of Things. Incorporating MQTT devices is one of them. Do you wonder if switching to MQTT-compliant devices could improve your application? Here is what you must know to build an IIoT-ready system.

Industry 4.0 applications require sensors that do more than just deliver process data to the PLC. Sensors must also be able to communicate with PLCs and higher-level SCADA or cloud systems. Pepperl+Fuchs IO-Link masters make this possible.

Digitalization can be daunting. But with the right technologies, you can take the following steps to prepare your factory for Industry 4.0:

Networking different systems from diverse manufacturers—all of which feature different interfaces, profiles, and communication mechanisms—is the challenge of Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). This is where OPC UA comes in. It creates a uniform basis for continuous information exchange from the field to the cloud.

Industry 4.0 is generally understood as the comprehensive digitalization of industrial production. In Industry 4.0, entire production processes are interconnected with people, machines, products, factory facilities, and logistics processes. Production speed is increased significantly. In this blog post, we give an overview of the past Industrial Revolutions that have brought us to this point and outline how Pepperl+Fuchs is involved in Industry 4.0.

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) grants plant operators access to large amounts of process data in real time from the smart devices on the factory floor. It is imperative that plant operators possess the proper tools for efficient data management to improve their processes and reduce costs. HMIs, thin clients, and software can help plant operators effectively utilize IIoT data to enhance workflows, increase safety, and perform predictive maintenance.

Industry 4.0 applications require sensors to do more than just deliver process data to the PLC. In smart manufacturing, sensors must be able to communicate with other devices and higher-level information systems. This is possible with IO-Link, a simple, flexible, and secure open communication technology that enables continuous communication at the sensor level.