Offering a wide range of Industry 4.0 products, including industrial networking and automation.
The world's leading supplier of serial device servers

What does the Industry 4.0 era envisioned by MOXA (www.moxa.com), which promotes itself as a “trusted partner in the automation field,” look like?

Founded in Taiwan in 1987, MOXA celebrates its 30th anniversary this year and primarily manufactures and supplies industrial communications equipment. With approximately 35% of its workforce comprised of R&D engineers, the company places a strong emphasis on technological innovation. It is currently the world's leading supplier of serial device servers.

The company's industrial networking and automation product line for Industry 4.0 includes industrial Ethernet switches for Edge to 10Gbps Backbone, Wi-Fi wireless communication equipment with fast roaming technology, industrial Ethernet protocol gateways, serial device servers, IP cameras, remote I/O, and various industrial computers.


▲Director Kim Seong-han / MOXA Korea

In the era of Industry 4.0 and the industrial IoT, MOXA's vision for the company can be seen through its product portfolio. We met with Kim Seong-han, Director of MOXA Korea, to learn more.

Q. You have a wide range of products in the industrial networking and automation sectors. What are some of your most representative products?

Our Industrial Ethernet products include a wide range of profiles for our range of Industrial Ethernet switches and Industrial Ethernet gateways that can be easily integrated into PROFINET, Ethernet/IP, and Modbus TCP networks, as well as high-bandwidth Industrial Ethernet solutions. We offer IT-oriented Ethernet gateways and 1080P H.264 outdoor zoom IP cameras. We also offer the AWK-A series, next-generation WLAN devices that ensure reliable wireless connections, and integrated WLAN solutions suitable for automatic material handling (AMH) systems.

Q. What about products more specialized for industrial IoT?

A new data acquisition solution designed to support diverse industrial IoT applications is the Smart Remote I/O solution. This product supports 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi connectivity, making it ideal for a variety of equipment and M2M applications requiring wireless communication. Also, the new 28-port Ethernet switch product (EDS-528E) designed for IIoT meets the IEC 62443-4-2 standard, making it safe for use in industrial networks.

Provides industrial PCs without cooling fans, supporting various industrial communication protocols.

Q. In the industrial PC market, where demands for compatibility, miniaturization, and expandability are rapidly increasing, what differentiates MOXA?

The most significant differentiator of MOXA's industrial PCs is their lack of a cooling fan. This requires a heat dissipation design that efficiently dissipates heat generated by the CPU and other components. This not only allows for miniaturization of industrial PCs, but also enables the production of highly reliable products with a high mean time between failure (MTBF). Furthermore, they feature a variety of industrial communication ports, making them suitable for industrial environments, and they also possess special industrial certifications.

Q. In addition, industrial communication has emerged as a very important element related to IIoT. How is industrial communications changing in the IIoT environment, and how is Moxa reflecting this in its products?

Unlike general IT communications, industrial communications require fast switchover times and support for industrial communication protocols such as Modbus, Profitbus, and Ethernet IP. In the event of a communication line failure, redundancy is essential, ensuring communication can be resumed via another route. Moxa has implemented technology capable of restoring communication within up to 50 ms and supports various industrial protocols. Furthermore, as communication volumes increase, we supply a wide range of industrial communication equipment, from edge to 10 Gbps backbone.

▲28-port Ethernet switch and smart remote I/O solution


Q. I heard that protocol gateways and Wi-Fi wireless devices also have strengths.

Protocol gateways and Wi-Fi wireless devices are essential for industrial IoT and Industrial 4.0. Wi-Fi wireless devices employ roaming technology that is incomparably faster than conventional equipment, making them ideal for applications such as automated warehouse systems and unmanned transport vehicles. Additionally, MOXA's flagship product, the serial device server, boasts the world's number one market share and is one of the most widely used products in all industries.

Provides not only hardware but also software and network management programs

Q. The current trend is toward platform-based supply rather than simply providing hardware and software. How is MOXA responding to this trend?

Moxa's product line encompasses 12 product lines and over 2,000 products. It offers a diverse product lineup, encompassing hardware, software, and network management programs, providing customers with one-stop shopping. You can experience various products by visiting our MOXA website.

Q. What kind of company does MOXA aim to be?

The industrial IoT market spans a wide range of industries worldwide, including transportation, manufacturing, power, oil and gas, chemicals, and plants, and Moxa prides itself on being a leader in enabling connectivity for industrial IoT. MOXA strives to be a company that continuously develops and provides innovative technologies, cutting-edge products, and solutions that customers want, helping them build a networking infrastructure with proven performance and security to realize automation.

Meanwhile, MOXA's Director Kim Seong-han will present a more detailed presentation on this topic at the Industrial IoT Innovation Day seminar ( http://www.e4ds.com/seminar ). Click here to register for the seminar -> http://www.e4ds.com/seminar