Factories & Manufacturing
Wireless Connectivity for Legacy Equipment & Production Monitoring
Link485 enables wireless Modbus connectivity for factory automation - retrofit old machines, eliminate cable runs across production floors, and monitor OEE in real-time without disruptive installation.
Challenges in Manufacturing
Legacy Equipment Without Connectivity
Older machines with RS-485 Modbus interfaces but no network connectivity, making data collection difficult and expensive.
Expensive Cable Runs
Running cables across factory floors requires conduit installation, production downtime, and significant labor costs.
Lack of Real-Time OEE Data
Without automated monitoring, tracking Overall Equipment Effectiveness requires manual logs and guesswork.
Difficult Reconfiguration
Wired installations make it hard to reorganize production lines or add new machines without extensive rewiring.
Wireless Modbus Solutions for Manufacturing
Wireless Retrofit for Legacy Machinery
Connect decades-old machines with RS-485 Modbus to modern SCADA systems wirelessly. Gain visibility into machine status, cycle times, and production counts without rewiring or modifying equipment.
Key Benefits:
- Zero Downtime Installation: Connect devices without stopping production
- Preserve Equipment Warranty: No modifications to original machinery
- Cost-Effective: 70% less expensive than wired retrofit
- Fast Deployment: 100+ machines connected in days, not months
Production Line Monitoring & OEE Tracking
Monitor machine status, production counts, downtime, and quality metrics in real-time. Calculate OEE automatically and identify bottlenecks across the production floor.
Key Benefits:
- Real-Time OEE: Automated calculation of Availability, Performance, Quality
- Downtime Analysis: Track unplanned stops and identify root causes
- Production Dashboards: Live visibility for operators and management
- Historical Analytics: Trend analysis and continuous improvement
Wireless PLC & Controller Communication
Enable wireless communication between PLCs, HMIs, and SCADA systems across the factory floor. Flexible installation allows easy reconfiguration when production lines change.
Key Benefits:
- Flexible Layout: Rearrange machines without rewiring
- PLC to PLC: Wireless communication between controllers
- SCADA Integration: Connect remote PLCs to central SCADA
- Multi-Protocol: Support for Modbus RTU/TCP, Ethernet/IP
Textile Factory Connects 80 Legacy Machines
A textile manufacturing facility with 80 looms across a 50,000 sq ft production floor deployed Link485 Zero to monitor production without running 2km+ of cables.
"We estimated $216,000 and 3 weeks to run cables. Link485 Zero was deployed in 3 days with zero production downtime. Our OEE improved by 18% in the first quarter." — Production Manager, Textile Manufacturing
Recommended Products for Manufacturing
Link485 Zero
LoRa Modbus Bridge
Perfect for factory floors with no IT infrastructure. Long range through metal and concrete barriers.
- 2+ km range indoors
- Industrial-grade reliability
- No network configuration
- Works in harsh environments
Link485 Air
WiFi Modbus Gateway
For factories with existing WiFi. Cloud dashboards for production monitoring and OEE tracking.
- Uses existing WiFi network
- Cloud-based analytics
- Real-time dashboards
- SCADA integration
Link485 4G
Cellular Modbus Gateway
For multi-site manufacturing or remote facilities. Monitor all locations from central dashboard.
- 4G/LTE connectivity
- Multi-site management
- Remote facility monitoring
- Central operations center
Ready to Modernize Your Factory?
Talk to our industrial automation experts about wireless Modbus retrofit solutions.