Without a doubt, the biggest news in manufacturing for the decade is the rapid proliferation of low-cost sensing and computer processing being attached to all types of industrial equipment—everything from connectors, hose and tubing to pumps, motors, actuators and filters. In fluid power systems, the line between actuator and sensor is becoming increasingly blurred.
Traditionally, solenoid-operated valves were powered by simple contactors in an output card; today, more of them are on the network and have built-in diagnostic sensing to monitor temperature, voltage, current, and even cycle counts. The massive amount of data these sensors produce creates an equally massive opportunity to transform the way factory managers operate and maintain industrial equipment.