ABB to join Industrial Internet Consortium

Dec. 4, 2014 – ABB is joining the Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC), a group of more than 100 companies, organizations and universities striving to accelerate growth of the Industrial Internet by identifying and promoting best practices.

The power and automation company will officially join the IIC in 2015 where it said it hopes to foster collaboration among technology companies while establishing global standards for the Industrial Internet, as well as providing end-users with improved efficiency, reduced costs and higher revenue.

“This gives us more opportunities to influence what is happening in the development of the Industrial Internet,” said Claes Rytoft, ABB chief technology officer. “The Industrial Internet holds incredible promise to transform manufacturing, energy and resource industries.”

According to the consortium, the Industrial Internet is at the core of Industry 4.0, Germany’s initiative for increased computerization of manufacturing. The term reflects the accelerating application of sensors, software and improved communication technology, which allows engineers to leverage enormous volumes of data from industrial systems to boost efficiency, said IIC.

“The Industrial Internet is transformational — it changes the way we work,” said Dr. Richard Soley, executive director of IIC. “[It] presents new opportunities for cost savings, energy savings and other efficiencies.”