Molex and Salvagnini forge a fast path to Industry 4.0 while enabling smarter, more efficient factories

Lisle, United States – Molex, a global electronics provider and connectivity innovator, is fueling the development of flexible industrial automation solutions in collaboration with Salvagnini, a global sheet-metal systems manufacturer that optimises production processes through the use of flexible industrial automation and customised Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solutions.

Based in Sarego, Italy, Salvagnini has installed more than 7,000 systems in 75 countries to process sheet metal, using punching machines, panel benders, press brakes and fibre laser cutting machines. Customised solutions are delivered by 1,992 employees across five manufacturing plants, 35 service centres and 23 operational sites to customers around the world. Collaboration between operators, machines and instruments requires Salvagnini to exchange real-time data with factory-floor systems, smart sensors and cloud-based applications.

“Salvagnini systems are complex, and demand high-quality standards and conformity with the certifications and regulations established in all of the markets we serve,” says Alessandro Bano, commodity manager at Salvagnini. “We have to guarantee high-speed connectivity and secure communications between on-site sheet metal machining systems and servers in the cloud. Molex impressed us with the quality of their products and the responsiveness of their team to help guide our own operational model and customer approach.”

Meeting an IIoT imperative

Molex’s proven knowledge of Industrial Ethernet architecture, broad product portfolio and local technical support proved invaluable in finding and fixing a critical connectivity problem with Salvagnini’s smart communications machine backbone. Together, the teams investigated different connector types to achieve the highest levels of stability and connection quality, which ultimately were adopted at all of Salvagnini’s production sites in Italy.

“The initial catalyst for working together was Molex’s suite of existing connectors, cables and cord sets,” adds John Newkirk, VP and GM, industrial solutions at Molex. “We were an attractive partner from an electromechanical and connector standpoint, which gave Molex a window into Salvagnini’s longer-term needs and requirements.”

Customised solutions, flexible industrial automation

Molex also stands out for its ability to address demands for ever-smaller connector sizes by developing customised solutions that feature a variety of cable lengths and connector combinations. For example, Molex devised a plastic-injected overmold connector, which is different than conventional bayonet systems, to ensure high-speed communications stability in extremely compact environments.

Additionally, Molex designed a novel, single-cable solution to connect cameras installed on Salvagnini’s L3 and L5 lasers to acquire an image of a piece of sheet metal positioned on a worktable and transmit it via software as a drawing exchange format (DFX) vector file to display the starting format for a new nesting. In addition to reducing the size and number of cables, Molex improved the speed of communications between the camera and Salvagnini’s system. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Molex ramped production of standard parts in different sizes, so they could be adapted quickly to address Salvagnini’s specific customer needs.

“Together, we solve any issue that may come up, while developing new solutions to promote and create mutual value,” says Bruno Sambi, head of the technical department at Salvagnini. “We hope that our work with Molex evolves into an even deeper collaboration to create increasingly innovative and well-performing solutions.”

Looking ahead, Salvagnini and Molex are furthering their combined Industry 4.0 focus to inform the design and development of more compact, IP67-rated products to support increasingly smaller and machines that must perform reliably in the most rigorous environments. Opportunities to improve machine diagnostics and expedite repair times also are being explored, along with the adoption of Molex innovations in solderless terminals, circular cables and industrial electronics that enable new levels of flexible automation.

Comment on this article below or via Twitter: @IoTNow_OR @jcIoTnow

RECENT ARTICLES

Semtech enhances global connectivity with NTN support in HL78 modules

Posted on: March 29, 2024

Semtech Corporation has announced the integration of non-terrestrial network (NTN) support into its HL series LPWA modules, specifically the HL7810 and HL7812. This significant advancement showcases a leap forward in enabling uninterrupted global connectivity even amidst the most challenging conditions.

Read more

Enhance EV charging performance with cellular connectivity

Posted on: March 28, 2024

Electric vehicles (EVs) are steadily growing their market share at the expense of internal combustion engine vehicles. The growth is fuelled by several factors. Perhaps most importantly, prices for EVs have started to drop as competition in the industry is intensifying. New players and models are emerging, prompting several established EV makers to lower their

Read more
FEATURED IoT STORIES

What is IoT? A Beginner’s Guide

Posted on: April 5, 2023

What is IoT? IoT, or the Internet of Things, refers to the connection of everyday objects, or “things,” to the internet, allowing them to collect, transmit, and share data. This interconnected network of devices transforms previously “dumb” objects, such as toasters or security cameras, into smart devices that can interact with each other and their

Read more

The IoT Adoption Boom – Everything You Need to Know

Posted on: September 28, 2022

In an age when we seem to go through technology boom after technology boom, it’s hard to imagine one sticking out. However, IoT adoption, or the Internet of Things adoption, is leading the charge to dominate the next decade’s discussion around business IT. Below, we’ll discuss the current boom, what’s driving it, where it’s going,

Read more

9 IoT applications that will change everything

Posted on: September 1, 2021

Whether you are a future-minded CEO, tech-driven CEO or IT leader, you’ve come across the term IoT before. It’s often used alongside superlatives regarding how it will revolutionize the way you work, play, and live. But is it just another buzzword, or is it the as-promised technological holy grail? The truth is that Internet of

Read more

Which IoT Platform 2021? IoT Now Enterprise Buyers’ Guide

Posted on: August 30, 2021

There are several different parts in a complete IoT solution, all of which must work together to get the result needed, write IoT Now Enterprise Buyers’ Guide – Which IoT Platform 2021? authors Robin Duke-Woolley, the CEO and Bill Ingle, a senior analyst, at Beecham Research. Figure 1 shows these parts and, although not all

Read more

CAT-M1 vs NB-IoT – examining the real differences

Posted on: June 21, 2021

As industry players look to provide the next generation of IoT connectivity, two different standards have emerged under release 13 of 3GPP – CAT-M1 and NB-IoT.

Read more

IoT and home automation: What does the future hold?

Posted on: June 10, 2020

Once a dream, home automation using iot is slowly but steadily becoming a part of daily lives around the world. In fact, it is believed that the global market for smart home automation will reach $40 billion by 2020.

Read more

5 challenges still facing the Internet of Things

Posted on: June 3, 2020

The Internet of Things (IoT) has quickly become a huge part of how people live, communicate and do business. All around the world, web-enabled devices are turning our world into a more switched-on place to live.

Read more