Digitalisation

Industry 4.0 technologies from RS

Industry 4.0 technologies from RS

RS, the trading brand of RS Group plc, is offering a comprehensive range of Industry 4.0 technologies aimed at assisting energy and utility organisations in addressing critical challenges and meeting their ambitious modernisation objectives.

Industrial sectors face numerous operational challenges, such as downtime, labour shortages, and inefficiencies, all of which can have severe consequences. For instance, the average manufacturer experiences around 800 hours of equipment downtime annually, resulting in nearly $1.5 trillion in losses for industrial organisations – an increase of approximately 50% compared to 2019–2020, driven by inflation and higher production demands. Additionally, the US manufacturing industry is projected to face a skills gap, with 2.1 million jobs potentially unfilled by 2030, which could cost the industry over $1 trillion in that year alone.

In response to these challenges, an increasing number of industrial organisations are adopting Industry 4.0 technologies, including electrification, digitalisation, automation, remote condition monitoring, and predictive maintenance. By integrating smart technologies such as smart meters, IIoT sensors, asset management systems, and industrial data communications products, these organisations are achieving significant improvements in process optimisation, efficiency, productivity, quality, safety, and profitability, even in the most demanding environments.

While downtime, labour shortages, and inefficiencies affect all sectors, each industry’s unique characteristics – such as goals, investments, consumer demands, environmental factors, and standards – determine how these challenges impact them and which Industry 4.0 technologies are best suited to address them. For example, the electrification trend is profoundly affecting the energy and utilities sector, which must not only transition to renewable energy to remain sustainable but also significantly increase supply to support the widespread shift to electric power in various sectors.

To prepare for these monumental modernisation and expansion tasks, the energy and utilities sector is investing heavily in Industry 4.0 technologies that can update its aging infrastructure and meet these challenges with the current workforce.

RS offers a broad array of Industry 4.0 technologies to help energy and utility organisations tackle these challenges and achieve their modernisation goals. Key solutions include:

  • Remote condition monitoring solutions: these include smart meters and sensors equipped with IO-Link communication capabilities, enabling energy and utility companies to collect and efficiently utilise actionable data. These technologies help reduce labour costs, support predictive maintenance strategies that minimise unplanned downtime, and enhance safety by reducing the need for workers to traverse hazardous installations. Additionally, they enable smart grids that can manage and integrate renewable energy into the electrical grid, improving energy efficiency, reliability, and accessibility, ultimately helping to reduce energy costs. Examples include the JN2201 inclination sensor from ifm efector and SICK AHS/AHM36 IO-Link absolute encoders.
  • Asset management solutions: solutions such as PLCs and Edge and Cloud computing systems are crucial for automated process systems. PLCs process data from I/O modules and systems to send programmed responses to output devices like pumps, heaters, and actuators. Both I/O modules and systems are available in ultra-rugged form factors suitable for harsh environments, making them ideal for energy and utility applications. Examples include the Siemens Simatic ET 200SP MultiFieldbus I/O system and Advantech ADAM-6000 Series remote I/O modules.
  • Industrial data communications products: essential for the secure, real-time transmission of data that drives optimisation, these products include switches, gateways, routers, and protocol converters. They are critical enablers for other advanced Industry 4.0 technologies and help improve productivity, efficiency, quality, safety, and profitability. Examples include Phoenix Contact’s FL 1000 Series unmanaged switches, Red Lion’s FlexEdge modular IIoT gateways, and Moxa’s EDR-810 Series industrial routers.

Mark Russell, Technical Application Support Manager at RS, stated: “RS has extensive experience helping energy and utility organisations navigate complex industrial challenges, including downtime, labour shortages, and inefficiencies. We assist organisations in embracing Industry 4.0 trends – such as electrification, digitalisation, automation, remote condition monitoring, and predictive maintenance – and in implementing advanced technologies, from sensors and IIoT networks to asset management systems and industrial data communications products. Our customer support spans the design, build, and maintenance phases and is strengthened by our extensive product offerings and seamless omnichannel service.”