In a recent announcement, Flowfinity Wireless, a no-code Industrial IoT (IIoT) platform for business process automation, released its Flowfinity M1, an IIoT Controller that is designed to integrate with the company’s Flowfinity Actions mobile data collection and workflow automation platform.
“Embracing IoT provides organizations with ‘on the floor’ insight around the clock,” said Marc Simms, Sales Director, Flowfinity. “The M1 automates data collection and executes workflow actions, helping to prevent downtime and allow organizations to use this real-time data to undertake preventative maintenance, focusing their efforts on the higher priority assets.”
This new controller is a key expansion to Flowfinity’s existing software platform because it ties in the capability to let customers connect their physical assets at the edge to digital workflows and databases in the cloud or on-premise for 24/7 data collection and condition monitoring.
Of course that union of data collection, edge computing and centralized analytics is the powerhouse of a successful IIoT implementation, so now managers can more easily automate data collection, asset monitoring and condition alerts in order to improve operational efficiency, enhance preventative maintenance, and most critically, avoid unnecessary and unexpected downtime.
“You can now connect M1 controllers with Flowfinity applications to quickly create edge-to-end workflows, without the complexities that leave so many IoT initiatives abandoned in the proof-of-concept stage,” said Larry Wilson, VP Sales & Marketing, Flowfinity.
The M1 Controller reportedly is set up to be ideal for deployment in industrial, manufacturing, fabrication, laboratory, and utility settings, thanks to its robust construction and large number of digital and analog input and output ports. The sensor inputs will enable asset performance and status monitoring, alerts for changes in status, and triggers for corrective action, when needed. It also includes four relays on-board and supports external relays so users can execute control actions at the edge.
“We’ve seen a real need for IoT devices that are easy to deploy,” continued Wilson. “We don’t want our customers to deal with prohibitively complex and costly device programming, especially when augmenting and integrating with OT and SCADA systems. Our no-code platform is the perfect vehicle to close this gap because now you can launch a comprehensive IoT and edge computing solution without having to make those restrictive investments.”
