Industry 4.0 scenarios such as augmented operators and predictive maintenance all depend on the collection, provision and distribution of data. This calls for IoT-compatible devices equipped with the essential communication networking abilities. With its new IoT interface, Rittal GmbH & Co. KG is now laying the foundation for the optimal integration of cooling units and chillers into Industry 4.0 applications. Rittal has specially designed this interface to enable both continuous communication between sensors and the cloud and connections to superordinate monitoring and energy management systems.

State-of-the-art devices such as the new cooling units and chillers in the Rittal Blue e+ range make it possible to measure and record a multitude of values and other information. The IoT-compatibility of the new Rittal interface greatly improves the added value to be gained from these high volumes of data. The IoT interface can be mounted either on a top hat rail or directly onto the cooling unit or chiller. The protocols supported are OPC-UA, Profinet, SNMP, Modbus and CANopen, which cover almost every conceivable connection to superordinate monitoring or energy management systems. The interface can of course also be connected to cloud-based systems, thus paving the way for new applications and smart service solutions. For example, Rittal aims to optimize the maintenance and servicing of climate control solutions and thus cut operating costs. Another important aspect is energy data management, as a constant supply of data increases energy efficiency, resulting in further cost reductions.