Optimized Java Virtual Machine Delivers Stable Program Development, Debugging and Performance
The Integ Process Group’s JNIOR edge controller pairs a purpose‑built multitasking operating system with an optimized Java virtual machine, delivering stable development, debugging, and performance for edge applications. The closed, managed OS eliminates unpredictable background activity while the open Java environment lets users write code without manually managing hardware resources. The compact device provides up to 16 I/O points, Ethernet and serial connectivity, and an onboard web server, positioning it between DIY microcontrollers and costly industrial ecosystems. Targeting sectors such as energy and environmental, JNIOR offers a right‑sized platform for digital transformation at the edge.
Siemens Expands 5G to US and 7 Additional Countries
Siemens announced that its industrial‑grade private 5G infrastructure is expanding to the United States and seven additional countries, bringing the solution to a total of 15 markets across Europe and the Americas. The rollout is powered by two new radio...
Fundamentals of Proximity Sensors: Inductive Vs. Capacitive Vs. PIR
Proximity sensors—inductive, capacitive and passive infrared (PIR)—are replacing mechanical switches across factories because they detect objects without contact, eliminating wear and enabling faster cycles. Inductive sensors excel at metal detection and thrive in dusty, oily environments, while capacitive units sense...
Joint Industry Perspective Released by the Industrial Security Harmonization Group (ISHG)
The Industrial Security Harmonization Group (ISHG) released a joint industry perspective emphasizing that industrial cybersecurity depends on how communication protocols are deployed and managed, not merely on the protocols themselves. The group—comprising FieldComm, ODVA, OPC Foundation, and Profibus & Profinet International— stresses...
Precision, Feedback and Modeling in Motion Control
Recent advances in inverter technology—particularly field‑oriented control and integrated PID feedback loops—enable induction motors to achieve the precision and dynamic response once exclusive to servo motors. Simultaneously, digital twins are becoming essential virtual replicas that let engineers test and refine...
Siemens Joins European Space Agency’s EPIC Initiative
Siemens has joined the European Space Agency’s Partnership Initiative for Commercialization (EPIC), offering its industrial‑grade digital twin and simulation platform to ESA‑backed space startups. The collaboration gives startups access to Siemens Xcelerator, mentorship, and a fully digital engineering backbone to...
How to Bridge Deterministic Control and Edge Integration
Mike Bacidore explains how modern PLCs serve as high‑power, sub‑millisecond controllers while bridging to edge networks. He categorizes factory communication into safe, deterministic and buffered edge, each with distinct timing and safety requirements. Physical isolation—using dual Ethernet ports for redundancy...
How Connected Worker Platforms Drive Cultural Transformation
Manufacturers are turning to connected worker platforms to preserve retiring expertise, deliver real‑time collaboration, and shift accountability from supervisors to operators. By digitizing knowledge, these tools can curb the estimated $5,900 annual loss per employee caused by skill gaps. Lakeside...
What Is a Stepper Motor?
Stepper motors remain a staple in automation because they deliver precise, repeatable motion without the need for complex feedback devices. Engineers choose among hybrid, permanent‑magnet, and variable‑reluctance designs to balance cost, resolution, and speed, while torque and acceleration requirements drive...
How to Leverage PLC/SCADA and Digital Twins for Mining Operations
Mining operators are increasingly deploying PLC and SCADA platforms to achieve real‑time visibility across underground and surface sites. A recent gold‑mine project linked 17 PLC nodes via an OPC UA architecture, harvesting over 40,000 data points annually and turning raw logs...
DigiKey Collaborates with STMicroelectronics and Ultra Librarian on eDesignSuite
DigiKey, STMicroelectronics, and Ultra Librarian have launched an enhanced eDesignSuite, a free browser‑based design platform that unifies simulation, component selection, and BOM purchasing. The tool supports power‑management, signal‑conditioning, and NFC/RFID applications, offering multi‑CAD export and direct integration with DigiKey’s catalog....
Control-Loop Diagnostics Undergo Software System Integration
Control Station has partnered with Dimension Software to integrate its PlantESP control‑loop performance monitoring platform with Dimension’s Asset Intellect operations‑intelligence environment. The integration surfaces loop diagnostics on unified dashboards that also display production, maintenance and energy data, enabling engineers and...
Leverage Profinet’s Security Building Blocks to Navigate EU Regulations
The EU’s new Cyber Resilience Act, NIS2 Directive, and the 2027‑effective Machinery Regulation are forcing industrial automation players to embed cybersecurity into products and processes. Profinet’s security architecture—secure cell, secure access, and secure realtime—maps directly to these regulatory requirements. While...
Strawberry Farming Leverages AI and Robotics
MISUMI Group has partnered with U.S. vertical‑farming specialist Oishii Farm to provide AI‑enabled robotics and mechanical components for its Ametalas indoor strawberry operation. The collaboration uses MISUMI’s extensive catalog and its Fictiv subsidiary to supply precision parts that automate climate...
Motion Expands Service Footprint in North America
Motion Industries announced the opening of two new sales branches in Mexico—Cuautlancingo, Puebla and Piedras Negras, Coahuila—officially launched in late 2025. The facilities add to Motion’s existing network, bringing the total to 16 locations across the country. Each branch provides industrial...
