Issue link: https://resources.mouser.com/i/1442808
17 4.0 The introduction of robotics and automated equipment into the food and beverage industry has led to multiple improvements in safety, product quality, productivity, and profitability. Advancements in areas such as automatic process control and robotics, sensors for automated quality and safety monitoring, and the development of machine vision systems are leading the way toward a more sustainable food industry. But much remains to be done as the food and beverage industry still lags in introducing innovative plant floor networking technologies. Extreme conditions can delay the introduction of Industrial Ethernet to the food and beverage plant floor. A stainless steel connection system that includes products rated IP67 or higher can help manufacturers more securely make the transition. (Source: Molex) • Increased business intelligence through enterprise-wide access to information • Faster information flow thanks to increased data transmission speeds • Cost savings as a result of improved energy efficiency and resource management • Decreased plant downtime due to enhanced equipment performance • Optimized equipment performance from coordinated monitoring and control A leading Industrial Ethernet solution is EtherNet/IP, which gets employed in factory automation, process control applications, and robotics, and is the standard managed by Open Device Vendor Association (ODVA). Also, there is PROFINET, an open industrial Ethernet protocol for advanced manufacturing and automation and Modbus TCP/IP, an extension of the popular Modbus protocol which finds high adoption in the industrial manufacturing environment. In all instances, the underlying infrastructure, including the cables, cord sets, switches, protocol stacks, interface cards, and I/O modules, needs to be extremely reliable to implement a successful Industrial Ethernet network. By moving them out of the cabinet and onto the floor, manufacturers are exposing these critical components to extremely harsh duty environments. The commercially available products used in office suites are inadequate for these conditions. The importance of selecting suitable and reliable cabling and connectors is a critical factor to production uptime. Selecting the Right Materials for a Harsh Environment The extreme conditions found in the food and beverage industry have significantly contributed to the delay in moving Ethernet out of the office and onto the food and beverage plant floor. One of the most significant barriers is the wash down procedure, which is critical for preventing contaminants from adversely affecting product quality, but the extremely high water temperatures and caustic cleansers and sanitizers can easily damage sensitive electronic equipment. Another concern is the risk of rust and corrosion, which could potentially disrupt the manufacturing process or contaminate the product. Finally, extreme temperatures, moisture, and vibrations can all take a toll on the performance and reliability of the communications infrastructure. " " Industrial Ethernet to the machine level can help reduce downtime while improving operational safety and real-time information flow.