Solution Examples
Podcast Episodes
Plan connectivity from the start – Edge Layer integrating OT and IT
The guests explain why many production plants—especially those built around 2010—exhibit highly heterogeneous landscapes of controllers, interfaces, and protocols, leading to significant integration effort, performance bottlenecks, and risks related to update capability. A key focus of the episode is how connectivity can be considered early in plant design to better manage later requirements around security, software maintenance, NIS2 compliance, CRA regulations, and scalability. Based on real project experience, the experts demonstrate how an edge layer standardizes the connection of machines from different generations, provides consistent data, and enables secure update rollouts during ongoing operations. The discussion also covers the technical criteria that must be considered when implementing OPC UA in high-cycle environments—such as latency limits below 100 milliseconds or typical fluctuations into the seconds range depending on the implementation. The guests share insights into integration scenarios where FabEagle®Connect is deployed as a Docker-based component within the Kontron Grid, serving as a reliable data source for MES systems, control systems, and data lake environments. Looking ahead, both speakers outline how a well-designed edge layer forms the foundation for digital twins, AI-based analytics, and scalable production data management. This enables companies to integrate additional lines and sites step by step without having to re-implement existing interfaces.
This is how production at Würth Elektronik is networked – MES as IIoT preliminary stage
The MES provides the data and distributes it so that production can be optimally planned and continuously optimized. Since the topic “MES” affects many manufacturing companies, episode 82 of the IoT Use Case Podcast is a special episode only on this topic. The company “Würth Elektronik” talks about their use cases, challenges and vision towards IoT, together with their partner “Kontron AIS”. Klaus Faller (Würth Elektronik), Robin Schubert and Frank Tannhäuser (Kontron AIS) are the guests of Madeleine Mickeleit. As Europe’s leading PCB manufacturer, Würth Elektronik serves the needs of its customers from the initial design idea to the production of prototypes in the online store and the manufacture of medium and large series. Kontron AIS is Würth’s partner in the field of automation technology. As a systems and software company, Kontron offers solutions in factory and manufacturing automation as well as plant integration and control. The PCB manufacturer creates its digital twin of the PCB through Kontron AIS’ MES – with connectivity of existing and new equipment plus standardization of equipment integration.
