The Industrial IoT Blog
IIoT Insights by Henry Costa
Tag: IIoT
Industrial Internet of Things connects machines, sensors, and systems to collect, share, and use industrial data. It enables real-time visibility, optimization, and smarter operations.
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When Kepware isn’t Enough: Rethinking the Edge Connectivity Stack
Read more: When Kepware isn’t Enough: Rethinking the Edge Connectivity StackFor a long time, Kepware has been the go-to tool for connecting machines and pulling data from PLCs, DCS, and all sorts of shop-floor equipment. I’ve used it at dozens of sites — from auto parts to steel mills, pharma,…
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My Manufacturing Projects in South America: Real Stories from the Shop Floor
Read more: My Manufacturing Projects in South America: Real Stories from the Shop FloorIf I look back at the last 20 years or so, a big chunk of my life has been spent in factories and plants across South America. I’ve worked everywhere from steel mills in Brazil to food plants in Peru…
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Is Sparkplug B Essential for IIoT Data Streaming?
Read more: Is Sparkplug B Essential for IIoT Data Streaming?Let me start with the short answer: No, Sparkplug B is not a “must” in every IIoT data streaming project. But it’s also not a technology you can ignore if you care about scalable, plug-and-play data flow in modern industrial…
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How I Moved from Building Websites to Building Connected Factories
Read more: How I Moved from Building Websites to Building Connected FactoriesIf you’d told me back in the late ‘90s that I’d end up designing IIoT architectures for global manufacturing networks, I probably would have laughed and said, “First, let me get this JavaScript working.” My path from simple websites to…
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Why UNS Is Important in an IIoT Journey: Real Lessons from the Field
Read more: Why UNS Is Important in an IIoT Journey: Real Lessons from the FieldLet’s get right to it: if you want to make your plant smarter, faster, and truly connected, you need a Unified Namespace (UNS). I’ve spent over two decades in digital manufacturing, and I can tell you — the difference between…
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MQTT or OPC UA? My Real-World Take
Read more: MQTT or OPC UA? My Real-World TakeSo, I’ve lost count of how many times someone’s asked me, “Henry, should I use MQTT or OPC UA for my manufacturing project?” The truth is, I’ve been on both sides of that decision — sometimes sweating over a flaky…
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Ignition 8.3: Leveling Up Industrial IoT
Read more: Ignition 8.3: Leveling Up Industrial IoTHere’s what really stands out to me: Ignition 8.3 isn’t just a “point release.” It’s a shift in how we think about deploying and managing automation software. The core lesson? If you want to run at enterprise scale — multiple…
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OPC UA: The Bridge to Smarter Plants
Read more: OPC UA: The Bridge to Smarter PlantsI still remember the first time I tried to connect a brand-new packaging line to our old MES, back in the late 2000s. It was like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole: the PLC spoke one…