20 November 2008

Pinto’s Point

Wireless growth: Where, when?

By Jim Pinto

Industrial wireless is shaping up to generate big new markets, stimulating visions beyond past slow-growth automation trends. According to several market studies, on global markets and user requirements for wireless network infrastructure products used in industrial facilities, high shipment growth rates are expected. But where and when?

Press releases continue to center on selected major customers and applications that demonstrate strong viability and fast return on investment. But behind the scenes, a buzzing beehive of brisk brainstorming continues to look for breakthroughs.

The standards committees remain focused on the “conservative” nature of industrial markets, emphasizing security and reliability of wireless networks that could replace supposedly secure hard-wired systems. That is the tail wagging the dog.

In fact, the biggest industrial markets remain hidden in plain sight. There are huge varieties and numbers of things industrial applications want and need to monitor. Many were previously not accessible because costs were prohibitive: The “if only we had this” measurements. Then there are the vast previously “un-measurable” categories, the unreliable “rat’s nests” in difficult environments.

Millions of unmonitored measurements are waiting to connect wirelessly to industrial automation networks. While wireless monitoring keeps getting cheaper and easier, wired systems keep getting more expensive and difficult to install.

With truly step-change technology like wireless, there will eventually be all kinds of new markets that were not initially considered. You do not know what they are, and you cannot think them up. That is the problem and the puzzle.

Related links:.

• InTech e-News - Wild, wacky, wireless wars:
  http://r.listpilot.net/c/isa/1rp4rd1/16thz
• Wireless in industrial systems: Cautious enthusiasm:
  http://www.industrial-embedded.com/columns/Market_Pulse/2006/FallWinter/

Behind the byline

Jim Pinto is an industry analyst and founder of Action Instruments. You can e-mail him at jim@jimpinto.com or view his writings at www.JimPinto.com. Read the Table of Contents of his book, Pinto’s Points, at www.jimpinto.com/writings/points.html.