| | | |

Rockwell’s Three Smart Factory Trends that Pay Big Dividends

February 13, 2025

Rockwell’s Three Smart Factory Trends that Pay Big Dividends
FLEXLINE motor control centers deliver connected motor control technologies

Networked motor control center technology accelerates ROI, productivity, savings & safety.

Rockwell Automation has seen manufacturers around the globe investing billions of dollars in smart manufacturing and production plants. Industry experts project the demand for smart factories will double by 2032 to $322 billion because of the increased return on investment.

At the heart of smart factories are smart motor control centers (MCCs). These industrial control units contain networked motor control technology, power distribution and electrical switchgear to manage critical factory equipment and provide a constant flow of data from the equipment.

Rockwell Automation is the smart motor control center market share leader in North America – following NEMA standards. And the company introduced the FLEXLINE™ 3500 low voltage MCC for customers in Europe, Asia, Middle East and South America – following IEC standards.

FLEXLINE 3500 motor control centers use networked devices to connect processes and people with real-time production data. As result, companies can increase productivity, save energy, reduce downtime and/or improve safety. And FLEXLINE LV MCCs deliver value to each of these three manufacturing trends:

1. Creating smart factories and facilities

Manufacturing and commercial sectors are facing unprecedented growth opportunities by using connected technologies. Smart MCCs use EtherNet/IP to integrate technologies such as process automation software, smart motor control equipment and real-time data to increase operational efficiency and productivity. Plus, connected MCC technology can be monitored remotely 24/7. And a networked system helps reduce downtime, improve product quality and increase production capacity.

2. Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive maintenance

Artificial intelligence and advanced analytics tools are transforming manufacturing. The software and technologies inside smart motor control centers let customers collect and analyze huge amounts of real-time data to improve production.

Adaptive control technologies change to operating conditions and adjust to maintain production. Predictive maintenance alerts engineers when to replace components before they break. Artificial intelligence monitors critical production assets, such as drives, pumps and transformers. These predictive technologies can deliver up to a 40% reduction in maintenance costs and 70% decrease in downtime.

3. Increasing safety and sustainability

Increasing safety is fundamental to today’s motor control center design. Rockwell’s FLEXLINE 3500 MCCs meet IEC 61439 1&2 standards, offer arc-flash-resistant technology, plus deliver remote operator visibility to monitor and diagnose the motor control equipment.

In addition, smart motor control equipment helps companies achieve their sustainability goals. The variable frequency drives can lower energy use by up to 50%

“We survey thousands of manufacturers annually, and almost 75% identify smart manufacturing solutions as critical to their success,” says Diego Wilches, global product manager, Rockwell Automation. “Our connected FLEXLINE 3500 MCC technology delivers real-time operation data, letting manufacturers see and solve problems before they occur.”

“In manufacturing and processing operations, every production minute counts,” he continues. “With our integrated network infrastructure and smart devices, engineers can access motor control center data from anywhere. Having real-time data at your fingertips lets employees make smart production decisions. These decisions can deliver millions of dollars in savings and production improvements.”

For FLEXLINE 3500 motor control center specifications and product information from Rockwell, visit rok.auto/flexline.

Source

More Information

Want to speak with an LV MCC specialist? Complete the contact form and one of Rockwell’s specialists will be in touch.

Related Stories

Mechatronics Canada Digest Archives

Related Articles


Latest Articles

  • Festo Didactic Showcases Technical Education and Training at Hannover Messe 2025

    Festo Didactic Showcases Technical Education and Training at Hannover Messe 2025

    May 20, 2025 By Krystie Johnston Hannover Messe 2025 was an extra special event for Festo. The Festo Group celebrated their 100th anniversary, Festo Canada celebrated their 50th anniversary, and Festo Didactic celebrated their 60th anniversary. Festo Didactic, the education arm of the company, understands how important education is for empowering individuals, driving economic growth,… Read More…

  • EtherCAT in Boost Mode

    May 14, 2025 EtherCAT and PC-based control in test bench technology EtherCAT is by far the fastest Industrial Ethernet technology. Nevertheless, the data acquisition process at Kraus & Naimer’s cam controller test benches called for an even shorter bus cycle. To achieve the required performance, Beckhoff specialists reduced the previous cycle time from 100 µs… Read More…


Featured Article

Revolutionizing Material Movement with Autonomous Mobile Robots

Revolutionizing Material Movement with Autonomous Mobile Robots

In today’s fast-paced manufacturing and logistics industries, the need for efficient and flexible material movement solutions has never been greater. Traditional methods like conveyor systems, forklifts, and manual pushcarts have served us well, but they come with limitations.

That’s why Omron is thrilled to announce the launch of their game-changing MD Series of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs). Read more


Products