BLOG ABOUT INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION AND BEYOND
SALZ Automation Blog –
Insights into Industrial Automation and Beyond
Welcome to the SALZ Automation Blog, your go-to source for modern automation solutions. Here, we share in-depth technical articles, practical insights, and forward-looking technologies from the world of Industry 4.0. Whether you’re interested in functional safety, industrial edge computing, containerization, or the latest software architecture developments, our blog provides valuable information you can apply to your projects.
5 Must-Have Features for Reliable Industrial Ethernet—Without the Complexity
22th January, 2026
In factories where every second of downtime costs hundreds in lost production, lite managed switches strike the perfect balance: rock-solid reliability without the overwhelming complexity of enterprise-grade gear. Discover the 5 must-have features that keep industrial Ethernet humming in real-world automation setups like yours.
Windows Licensing in Industry: Pro, Enterprise, IoT, and IoT LTSC
15th September, 2025
Industrial and embedded devices are popular nowadays, and picking the right Windows license is critical to achieving security, reliability, and device manageability. However, as Microsoft officially ends support for Windows 10 in October 2025, organizations must also prepare for the transition, especially with Windows 11 and its evolving editions. This blog combines a deep dive into Windows license types and insights into the new Windows 11 versions to equip professionals with a thorough understanding.
Lessons Learned from Functional Safety Standards: IEC 61508
23rd July, 2025
Functional safety is the backbone of reliable, functional safe systems in industries ranging from manufacturing to automotive and process control. The IEC 61508 standard stands as the foundational framework for achieving functional safety in electrical, electronic, and programmable electronic (E/E/PE) systems. This blog summarizes the entire process of embedded software and hardware development for safety applications, highlighting key lessons learned from applying IEC 61508.
Decoding Kubernetes (k8s)
23rd June, 2025
Kubernetes has revolutionized the way organizations deploy, manage, and scale applications. Originally designed for large-scale, cloud-native environments, Kubernetes is now finding its way into new frontiers, including edge computing and industrial automation. This blog explores the fundamentals of Kubernetes, its traditional use cases, and how its strengths and limitations play out in edge deployments—especially in industrial settings.
Linux vs. Windows vs. Android for Industrial Automation
27th March, 2025
Panel PCs have become essential tools in inudstrial automation. At the core of these powerful devices is their operating system. It's what determines how well they perform, how reliable they are, and how versatile they can be. Right now, there are three main contenders: Android, Windows, and Linux. Each has its own strengths and suits different industrial needs.
As experts in industrial automation, we've seen firsthand how Linux Panel PCs have transformed operations across various sectors. From manufacturing to energy and transportation, Linux offers better customization, security, and cost-effectiveness. In this blog post, we'll explore why Linux Panel PCs are often the top choice for industries that need reliability, performance, and long-term value. Whether you're upgrading your current setup or starting a new automation project, understanding the benefits of Linux can make a big difference for your business.
CODESYS Virtual Safe Control: Simplifying Functional Safety with Containerized Automation
17th March, 2025
Efficiency and safety are of utmost importance in the field of industrial automation. Even in the event of a malfunction, functional safety guarantees that systems continue to function as intended. One of the most exciting advancements in this area is CODESYS Virtual Safe Control, a technology that allows safety-critical applications to run on standard hardware. At SALZ Automation, we’ve taken this a step further by integrating it into a containerized automation system managed by Kubernetes. This blog covers, what CODESYS Virtual Safe Control is, how we use it, and why this approach is significant for contemporary automation.
Windows CE: The End of an Era
20th January, 2025
After decades of powering embedded systems, Microsoft has officially ended support for Windows CE. With the extended support period now over, businesses face the challenge of modernizing their systems or transitioning to alternative solutions.
In this blog post, we explore the implications of Windows CE's retirement and outline key strategies to help companies future-proof their embedded systems.
Security in Automation
27th September, 2024
Automation systems are the backbone of many critical infrastructures. They control processes, manage data, and ensure the smooth operation of various industrial activities. Any security breach in these systems can lead to significant disruptions, financial losses, and even threats to human safety. Therefore, robust security measures are essential to protect these systems from cyber threats.
In this blog we'll identify the potential vulnerabilities and risks in Industrial Automation and Control Systems to enhance security by enabling a mitigation of these vulnerabilities.
IEC 61131 with Object-Oriented Programming
6th September, 2024
As the automation industry is transforming, it continues to evolve and move towards smart, efficient, and scalable solutions to control processes, reduce human intervention, and enhance operational efficiency. Traditionally, automation engineers relied on PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) programming using standards like IEC 61131. However, recent advancements have introduced Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) into the IEC 61131 standard.
In this blog, we’ll know how the integration of OOP into the IEC 61131 standard, enhances modularity, scalability, and maintainability in automation systems.
The Story of Sink and Source
1st August, 2024
In electronics and automation, the terms "sink" and "source" input are fundamental concepts that play crucial roles in the design and functioning of various systems. These terms refer to the methods by which electrical signals are managed and interpreted by devices such as sensors, controllers, and programmable logic controllers (PLCs). Understanding the differences between sink and source input, their applications, and their importance is essential for anyone involved in electronics, automation, or industrial control systems.
In this blog, we’ll know about the basics of Sink and Source type of input methiods in detail.
Docking Real-Time
11th July, 2024
Docker has revolutionized software development by providing a lightweight, efficient way to package and deploy applications. Docker is an open-source platform that automates the deployment of applications in lightweight, portable containers. These containers encapsulate everything an application needs to run, including code, runtime, system tools, libraries and settings. Containers allow developers to isolate their code, dependencies and runtime environment, ensuring consistency across different environments.
In this blog, we will learn about the basics of Docker, the components, how they enable real-time data exchange and how we (SALZ Automation) use this technology.
Edge Devices: Today and Tomorrow
4th July, 2024
Connectivity and data proliferation have become of high importance and in this era of modernised industrial networks, edge devices have emerged as silent revolutionaries.
In this blog, we’ll discuss the know-hows of of edge devices, exploring their applications, challenges, and the exciting future they promise.
CODESYS and OPC UA Integration
20th June, 2024
The journey of integrating OPC UA with CODESYS began with the goal of enhancing industrial automation. OPC UA (Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture) is a machine-to-machine communication protocol for industrial automation developed by the OPC Foundation. CODESYS (Controller Development System), on the other hand, is a development environment for programming controller applications according to the international industrial standard IEC 61131-3.
New EU Machinery Regulation and the digital operating instruction
12th June, 2024
After more than 15 years, the previous EU Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC is being replaced by the new EU Machinery Regulation 2023/1230. The new Machinery Regulation comes into force on 20 January 2027 and brings with it a number of changes and new requirements.
We interviewed our CEO and Safety Expert Thomas Hüttemeier. The conversation centred on the topic of legally compliant digital operating instructions.
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