Operational Technology & BinMaster
Sensors and switches have transformed industries that store bulk materials in bins, silos, and tanks. By simply detecting the presence of material, sensors open doors for automation: turning conveyors on and off, or sending alerts to employees to act before an overfill or empty vessel.
Resources for Operational Technology—the practice of using hardware and software to control industrial equipment—continue to grow. Data from level and flow sensors can interact with the physical world through processing equipment, programmable logic controllers, distributed control systems, supervisory control, and data acquisition systems. OT helps reduce inefficiencies and prevent errors, enabling plants to do more work with fewer people.
“We’re providing ‘the switch’ for many industries like agriculture, energy, manufacturing, and construction,” said Matt Virgillito, International Sales at BinMaster. “With so many different properties of bulk materials, BinMaster adapts and applies technology to perform reliably in diverse environments. For example, we can offer capacitance probes for certain types of plastics, and rotaries for more common agricultural grains.”
Virgillito said customers looking for level measurements aren`t always aware of processes that can be automatically controlled to avoid overfilling or running out of product. Conveyors, slide gates, rotary valves, and more can be wired to be turned on or off by BinMaster point-level sensors.
IoT and OT Converge
Cloud-based data and measurement are staples of Industry 4.0. It’s called the Internet of Things—or IoT. BinMaster embraces IoT and operation technology solutions, also known as hybrid cloud systems.
For example, some companies rely on NCR-80 radars to continuously measure their silos and bins. This allows operators to anticipate material ordering days or weeks ahead, providing strategic savings on labor and trucking while also reducing safety stock and carrying costs.
These same bins may have a diaphragm switch installed as a fail-safe backup to prevent overflows or detect empty vessels during particularly busy seasons.
Considering Your System
BinMaster technology and sales professionals consult with customers to determine their bulk material and operational needs. Customers can help by imagining automation.
For OT (interacting with physical systems) BinMaster typically suggests point-level sensors like rotaries, probes, and vibrating rods. IoT level detection (providing data via the cloud) usually involves non-contact continuous-level sensors with radar or acoustic technology, combined with BinCloud® inventory management software.
If you`re imagining automation, just ask BinMaster.