The pursuit of energy consumption reduction, the integration of sensors, controls, and hardware in combination with LED technology are the most relevant factors of the 4.0 revolution.
There has been much talk about the current 4.0 revolution as a possible fourth industrial revolution. Industry 4.0 offers a more comprehensive and interconnected approach to manufacturing in all aspects, as it connects the physical with the digital and allows better control and understanding of every aspect of operations. In the same way, it allows us to leverage real-time data to increase productivity and drive growth.
LED luminaires, together with technologies such as IoT (Internet of Things) and Big Data, offer the possibility of integration into control systems. To implement this solution, only minor changes are required to the existing structure, and the lighting infrastructure system itself is the means to achieve energy efficiency more quickly.
The term Industry 4.0 was coined by economist Klaus and is based on four technological pillars:
IoT: The digital interconnection of everyday objects to the internet.
Cyber-physical systems: Integrate storage, monitoring, and control capabilities of physical objects; in lighting, this can be seen in the relationship between programming software or a Building Management System and the luminaires.
Robotics: A set of machinery and equipment combined with human tasks to optimize resources.
Smart industries: Factories with technology that allows prediction, control, and production to add greater value to the operational chain.
It is also worth noting that this industry is connected to Big Data (data processing).
And now, what role does lighting play?
Lighting systems are one of the most widely used solutions to improve energy consumption. One example is installing sensors or smart devices on a luminaire, but this always requires supervision by a specialist in electrical components.
In the pursuit of energy reduction under this 4.0 revolution, LEDs reduce up to 70% of the energy consumed compared to other technologies, but the potential of lighting infrastructure is not always fully exploited.
In the lighting market, there are smart luminaires or lamps controlled via internet connection, wall controllers, actuators (as in KNX systems), or smart sensors linked to luminaires, among others.
The integration of smart devices in combination with LED hardware and technology allows the lighting system to become a communications network capable of controlling and analyzing behavior within industrial plants to achieve greater efficiency.
In an industrial lighting project, it is possible to collect information: energy consumption data, illumination levels in each space throughout the day, monitoring of subsystems (air conditioning, CCTV, lighting), and detect potential failures. This allows factories to maximize their resources; for this reason, companies cannot fall behind in adopting new technologies, as this could compromise their competitiveness.
Main benefits: economy, safety, and efficiency
- Greater guaranteed profits due to reduced material waste.
- LED lighting becomes a perceptive and demanding wireless communications network capable of compiling data and applying software analysis to achieve greater plant efficiency.
- Ability to continuously monitor temperature and detect potential defects.
- By adding a modern system, information is automatically stored while data is transformed into detailed reports: energy consumption, where more lighting is needed, on which days and at what times, etc.
Modernizing lighting equipment is increasingly necessary and important for energy efficiency and for companies. Industry 4.0 is undeniable, but it is possible to adapt to it and maximize its benefits.
