Top 12 Most-Read Automation.com Articles of 2023

Summary

Especially with the continuing rise of new technologies and applications for Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and manufacturing digitalization, it’s crucial to stay on top of the latest news in the automation field. Automation.com, a subsidiary of ISA - International Society of Automation–seeks to publish the most important and relevant industry news, features, white papers, product postings and more.

We curate and post hundreds of articles each year and are thrilled to share the best of the best automation news and insights with the world. So, let's celebrate another year of automation developments. To everyone who submitted content: thank you; you helped to make Automation.com what it is. To readers who might have missed a newsletter or two, here are the top 12 most-read articles. 

12. The Six Water Technology Trends of 2023

From Idrica
2023’s water technology trends revolved around pre-emption and prevention, security, reuse, automation, optimization and planning. Taking hold of these trends can help tackle the challenges demographic growth brings. Water demand is set to rise by 30% by 2025, according to Idrica.
 

11. MQTT and Sparkplug 3.0: The Future of Industrial OT-IT Integration

By Arlen Nipper, Cirrus Link
This feature discusses the rise of MQTT, which has become the future of Industrial OT-IT integration. The release of Sparkplug 3.0 inspires several questions: Why MQTT? Why Sparkplug? And how do they work together to enable IT-OT integration?
 

10. Global Semiconductor Industry on Track for 2024 Recovery, But Near-Term Headwinds Remain

From SEMI
SEMI, along with TechInsights, reported in the Semiconductor Manufacturing Monitor that in Q3 of 2023, electronic sales were projected to grow by 10%. The semiconductor industry was predicted to experience continued growth in 2024.
 

9. The Details and Strategy Behind Siemens’ 3bn Euro Motor & Drive Split-Out

By Blake Griffin, Interact Analysis
Blake describes Siemens’ plan to separate out a three-billion euro motor and drives business into an independent entity, explaining which businesses and divisions were slated to be involved and discussing various implications.
 

8. Addressing the Challenges of Generative AI in Industry by Embracing RAG

By Moe Tanabian, Cognite
This feature explores the challenges associated with Large Language Models (LLMs) and explains the innovative approach of Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) to overcome them.
 

7. Rockwell Automation Announces Strategic Investment in READY Robotics

From Rockwell Automation
Last spring, Rockwell Automation announced an investment in READY Robotics, a pioneering company in software-defined automation and a Rockwell Technology partner. The two companies collaborated to integrate ForgeOS with Rockwell’s line of Logix controllers and design and simulation software.
 

6. Siemens Showcases TIA Portal v18

From Siemens
Last March, Siemens demonstrated the newest version of its engineering framework during PROMAT in Chicago. TIA Portal v18 boosts engineering efficiency with optimized functionality for multi-user engineering.
 

5. Pfizer’s 6-year Industrial Digital Transformation Journey and Results

By Bill Lydon, Automation.com
During the 27^th annual ARC Industry Forum, Pfizer Digital Manufacturing Vice President Mike Tomasco highlighted the company’s six-year digital transformation journey. “Everybody in manufacturing was asking, ‘What do you have and when can we get it?' This helped us move faster," he said.

 
4. ABB Celebrates 85 Years of the Technology That Revolutionized Emissions Monitoring

From ABB
When URAS was launched in 1938, it was known as “Ultra Red Absorption Recorder.” Since then, it has revolutionized gas analysis and emissions monitoring in chemical plants and refineries, the pulp, paper and metal industries, power generation, cement and others.
 

3. AVEVA Announces the Completion of Its Acquisition by Schneider Electric

From AVEVA
Last January, AVEVA completed its acquisition Schneider Electrics. The two companies together can enable a holistic approach to digital transformation across a customer’s operations.
 

2. Understanding Open Process Automation

By Jack Smith, Automation.com
This feature, which originally appeared in the digital ebook Automation 2022: IIoT & Industry 4.0, highlighted a session from ISA’s 2022 Leadership Conference about Open Process Automation. Global industrial and chemical companies are collaborating with process automation vendors and systems integrators to bring a change in automation architectures through the adoptions of standards.

 
1. The Top Five Robot Trends of 2023

From International Federation of Robotics (IFR)
Energy efficiency; reshoring; ease of use; AI and digital automation; and a second life for industrial robots made the top five list for 2023 robot trends. And this feature made the top of our list of most-read Automation.com articles for 2023. One of their articles also earned spot #9 in last year’s list. Congrats, IFR!
 
We hope you enjoyed this list of some of our most popular pieces from 2023. Subscribe to Automation.com newsletters to stay up-to-date on all our latest articles.

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