Are you struggling to get your systems on the network with your IT department? Here are some insights on designing a cybersecure controls system that an IT department will know and trust.

The simple action of picking up your cell (mobile) phone and making a call belies the enormous amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to get the protocols and encryption standards approved—so that each phone can connect to the cellular network securely.

If we homemade our own cell phones, it's understandable that the network provider would (and should) quickly become “the department of no,” not allowing us to connect to their network. Many things could go wrong, and they would soon be on the hook for any issues our device might cause.

It really is no different from when we show up at the factory with an Ethernet-enabled PLC and ask our IT department to connect it to the factory network.

They don’t know anything about the PLC! And they have lots of questions...

Add industry trade events to your schedule this year for more learning opportunities and ways to make your 2025 projects successful.

Looking for educational conferences and seminars to attend this year? Ready to find an advanced solution for your industrial automation application? Start with Opto 22's 2025 event schedule and see if groov EPIC and groov RIO product demos are coming to a venue near you.

First stops will be in Orlando, Dallas, St. Petersburg, and Detroit. For most of these events, we'll be working alongside our technology partner, Inductive Automation. Come see groov product demos in person and in collaboration with Ignition software. 

Get registration and agenda details on upcoming shows, and we hope to see you on the road with us in 2025!

The most popular discussions, topics, and tips of the year from the factory-supported OptoForums.

Is it just me, or are the years flying by faster than ever?

And as if time is not going by fast enough, I’d like to say how much I'm looking forward to writing this blog at this time next year. Why? Let's just say I can't wait to see what our customers put in the groov EPIC container over the coming year!!

But right now, let's recap the EPIC year of 2024 by looking back at the top 5 most discussed and searched topics in the OptoForums.

Tune in to this month's IntegrateLive! virtual workshop to see how groov RIO can help you get actionable insights from legacy equipment in record time.

Legacy equipment has earned its place in your operations—built to last, reliable as ever, and still getting the job done. But for all its dependability, these systems often have one glaring flaw: they’re data blind.

You can’t manage what you can’t measure, and with legacy systems, it’s like trying to navigate with a compass in a GPS world. They generate valuable data, but getting it out and putting it to use? That’s another story. Adding sensors, upgrading infrastructure, or even attempting to connect these systems to modern data platforms often comes with prohibitive costs, long timelines, and significant operational disruption.

Join Benson Hougland from Opto 22 and Graeme Welton from Flow Software in the latest IntegrateLive! Virtual Workshop (Dec. 18 at 11 am EST) as they tackle adding data acquisition, machine monitoring, history, and trending capabilities to unconnected legacy equipment for immediate ROI.

Complete the groov EPIC online courses, get your certificate, and post it to LinkedIn.

As the end of 2024 is in sight, is there anything you'd like to check off your to do list? Perhaps complete more educational training for PLCs or add another certification to your professional profile or resume?

Knowledge is power, and learning more about how to use groov EPIC edge controllers for your applications is FREE at training.opto22.com. Once you’ve completed all of the courses, you can get your groov EPIC Online Training Certificate of Completion. If you'd like, you can easily post your certificate to your LinkedIn profile.

Work at your own pace as you go through the online exercises and quizzes. Most of the lessons are based on the hands-on material in the groov EPIC training course taught at Opto 22 headquarters. 

Follow these simple steps to earn your certificate.

New video provides some practical solutions to consider in the age of TCP/IP.

Looking to digitally transform your operations, but your existing machines don't support newer protocols like MQTT or OPC UA?

Don't worry, you're not alone. Legacy industrial control systems are still operating everywhere today. But don't settle or wait for them to fail. 

It's time to learn more about modern edge devices that can bridge the gap between old and new.

This new 1-minute video is a great conversation starter on the topic.

OptoPartner eBiZolution teams up with local authorities in the Philippines to enhance traffic monitoring systems with groov RIO.

See how Costa Farms optimized large-scale operations with live production data from groov RIO edge I/O.

Accelerated growth in any industry can result in gaps in production tracking as a business experiences growing pains. Is your machinery interacting with other systems to produce meaningful data? 

Costa Farms had to face this obstacle as it shifted its focus toward optimizing operational efficiency to keep up with large-scale production needs.

See how groov RIO edge I/O came to the rescue in this new case study.

Attend an upcoming webinar hosted by Inductive Automation for some inspiration on how you can use Ignition in your projects to solve application challenges.

What takes a controls project from run-of-the-mill to showcase-worthy?  Travis Cox, Inductive Automation's Chief Technology Evangelist, is ready to show you during an upcoming webinar you don't want to miss.

Make plans to attend: The Making of World-Class Control Systems. 

Travis will be joined by current Ignition customers whose successful applications landed them a coveted spot in this year's ICC Discover Gallery. See what else this webinar has is in store...

Read how MAC Automation, an IoT Certified OptoPartner, and EnerCorp use Ignition SCADA with groov EPICs and RIOs to automate sand removal and management in oil and gas.

Handling sand in oil and gas flowback systems is both critical and challenging. Left unchecked, sand can damage equipment, leading to leaks and costly system shutdowns. Manual handling of flowback systems exposes workers to hazardous materials, heavy equipment, and high-pressure environments. 

Together, MAC Automation and EnerCorp have automated the dangerous and labor-intensive process.