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Red Lion Controls, providers of communication, monitoring, and control for industrial automation and networking, launches its FlexEdgeTM Intelligent Edge Automation Platform. This system is designed to bring a degree of versatility to edge computing, while its ease of use should make productivity and efficiency gains from digital transformation initiatives accessible with point-and-click simplicity. FlexEdge’s modular design and software are meant to enable quicker, straightforward customization and deployment to myriad applications without compromising rugged, reliable operation. The platform carries several certifications for oil and gas, water wastewater, maritime, hazardous location, and factory automation applications.
Engineered for industrial customers with diverse needs who want to connect systems and process data at the edge, FlexEdge’s modular architecture is made to have a wide variety of wireless and wired communication options. This breadth of options should make it an easily configured communication gateway that connects with industrial communication requirements, regardless of protocol or manufacturer. And unlike fixed-function devices that require customers to learn many products—or systems with fixed chassis that take up unnecessary space—FlexEdge offers a form factor and platform that is meant to adapt as quickly as application needs change. It’s available with advanced networking functionality or advanced automation features including protocol conversion; virtual HMIs; an advanced web server with Bootstrap, JavaScript and CSS; data, security and event logging; and cloud connectivity.
With FlexEdge, customers should be able to easily connect new and existing devices, which would reduce overall downtime and allow for improved future-proof scalability. This flexibility is meant to allow the selection of one platform for any edge requirement, so customers can focus on business efficiency without worrying about choosing the right combination of products for their application.
For automation engineers, Red Lion’s FlexEdge offers a single platform that is designed to solve most challenges while decreasing the number of deployed devices to reduce application complexity. For networking engineers, it should be a robust, industrial-grade networking gateway deployable as a wired or cellular system to securely connect different networks through powerful networking functionality. With multiple isolated serial ports, Ethernet, optional Wi-Fi and cellular communication sleds, optional field-installable I/O, and a certified, robust enclosure, FlexEdgeis made to provide optimal operation in most industrial environments with demanding requirements.
“In today’s market, we see innovation accelerating at breakneck pace. And that’s terrific. But it makes it hard for customers to cost-effectively plan for the future. Too often they have no choice but to make costly capital investments, scrap existing equipment, or both. The FlexEdge architecture answers their challenges. It adapts as quickly as needs change. No matter where a company is in their digital transformation journey, FlexEdge starts where they are, and helps future proof optimization plans,” says Colin Geis, data acquisition and IIoT product manager.
As word of FlexEdge begins to penetrate the market, the product’s capabilities caught the attention of Craig Resnick, ARC advisory group vice president., who says, “With the ability to have end-to-end visibility of the supply chain, users can gain a competitive advantage with increased flexibility and operational agility, productivity, plant efficiency, asset uptime and quality. They can also add profits to the bottom line by reducing operational risks and safety concerns, overhead costs, and changeover times and deploying predictive preventative maintenance programs.”
