Motion Control & Drives


Mobile IoT gateway and mobile IoT suite from ifm

May 2026 Motion Control & Drives


With mobile IoT, the benefits of digitalisation are becoming a reality for mobile machines. You can get the most out of your machine fleet through performance monitoring, needs-based maintenance planning and software updates over the air.

Mobile IoT is a fully integrated, scalable end-to-end solution consisting of hardware and software. The hardware maintains the dialogue between the machine and the cloud software where the information from all the networked machines converges centrally. This makes it possible to find out the exact status and location of the machine at any given time. Similarly, you can efficiently distribute software updates to your fleet via the mobile IoT cloud.

Regardless of whether you require a solution to permanently analyse and optimise prototypes in real field tests, to plan and prepare your rental fleet management more effectively, or to establish a convincing after-sales service, mobile IoT is the right choice for a wide variety of applications.

Simple steps for more overview and efficiency

Mobile IoT is a perfectly matched combination of hardware and software that offers the user a high degree of flexibility when digitalising mobile machines. The first step is selecting the appropriate mobile IoT gateway and connection option. The device is then activated online and a suitable data and/or service contract is selected.

There are a number of benefits of Mobile IoT gateway products:

Reliably managed: With mobile IoT, individual components, complex machines or even the entire fleet can be managed and individually configured.

• Wireless connection: Mobile IoT enables a fast, simple and secure remote connection to the machine.

• Clearly structured: With the mobile IoT DataPortal, all relevant machine data can be collected, analysed and visualised cyclically.

System overview

Whether via mobile network or Wi-Fi , mobile IoT offers an optimally matched end-to-end solution consisting of hardware and software for mobile machines. On the hardware side, a mobile IoT gateway tailored to the machine architecture is required. The gateway communicates with the mobile IoT Suite or the DataPortal. For machine-to-machine communication, it is possible to use a CANwireless module.

Thanks to mobile IoT, needs-based maintenance can be planned and prepared in a targeted manner. Not all maintenance or troubleshooting requires onsite intervention, and the mobile IoT solution offers the convenience of remote access for updating or changing software, parameters and configurations. Remote access is not only convenient, but also contributes significantly to cost savings.

Here are some application examples:

Remote access: Mobile IoT enables simple and secure remote access to machines. This enables better planning of maintenance and servicing, for example, which increases efficiency and reduces costs.

Fleet management: Intelligent fleet management ensures a complete overview of the mobile machinery at all times. Real-time data on location and machine status enable optimum planning and utilisation of resources. In addition, the machines can be configured and access to the machine can be regulated by means of comprehensive rights and role management.

Machine maintenance and updates: The ecolog interface integrated in ecomatmobile components makes it very easy to update an entire machine from a central location in the field. Information on the installed components can also be read.

Data management: Recording and evaluating machine data creates the basis for efficient operating processes and for informed decisions regarding operational planning and machine optimisation. Thanks to bidirectional communication, individual signals can be transmitted from the machine to the cloud while parameters can be relayed from the cloud to the machine.

During the 69F Cup, ifm sponsored one of the sailing boats. To test whether ifm sensors would still work under these very special and unusual conditions, the hardware was mounted to the foiling sailboat.

The peculiarity of these boats is that once they are fast enough, they completely lift out of the water, which makes the measuring of the distance between the boat and the surface of the water crucial. To measure the distance, two different level sensors, one radar-based sensor and one ultrasonic, were mounted onto the boat. An inclination sensor was used to measure the roll angle, which is very important for the crew.

All the data from the sensors was gathered and shown live on the display. A modem sent all the data in real time into the cloud of the ifm mobile IoT suite. Thanks to the hardware, the sailors were able to rely less on their feelings and more on the data. Teamwork, reliability and constant technical development must always be in focus in order to be successful.

To see this product in action, visit ifm at Electra Mining Africa, 7 to 11 September 2026 on stand A06 in Hall 7.


Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Solving common automation challenges with Festo’s servo drive and servo motor solutions
Festo South Africa Motion Control & Drives
Automation projects face challenges that include limited installation space, the need for precise and repeatable linear motion, rising cycle-speed demands, and seamless integration with existing control architectures. Festo’s servo portfolio directly addresses these issues with compact, modular drive and motor solutions designed for specific applications.

Read more...
Inside the Giant Magellan Telescope with mechanical engineering at astronomical scale
Motion Control & Drives
Construction of the Giant Magellan Telescope, set to become the world’s largest Gregorian optical infrared telescope, is well underway. While its scientific mission is to transform astronomy, its performance depends heavily on advanced mechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic engineering.

Read more...
Filtration as a reliability driver in motion control systems
Parker Hannifin - Sales Company South Africa Motion Control & Drives
This article highlights the importance of filtration in motion control systems, how contamination affects performance, and what fleet managers, operators and maintenance teams in southern Africa can do to reduce downtime, avoidable wear and costly repairs, aided by Baldwin Filters.

Read more...
Supporting construction of next-gen floating offshore wind turbines
Motion Control & Drives
While windy locations naturally make ideal spots for offshore wind farms, they bring challenges when it comes to assembling wind turbines, particularly in ports. Mammoet was approached by Euroports to support with the marshalling and assembly of the components that make up the three turbines at Port-la-Nouvelle in France.

Read more...
Rollers excel where profits balance on a knife edge
igus Motion Control & Drives
Polymer component specialist manufacturer, igus has developed a range of lubrication-free long-life knife edge rollers designed to improve the transfer of products between conveyor belts in high-speed production environments.

Read more...
Bringing physical AI to the factory floor by deploying humanoids in industrial operations
Siemens South Africa Motion Control & Drives
Siemens and Humanoid have marked a landmark milestone in the journey to bring physical AI from vision to industrial reality. Humanoid’s humanoid robothas been successfully tested in operations at Siemens’ electronics factory in Germany, performing autonomous logistics tasks.

Read more...
Next-generation oil-free motor systems with active magnetic bearings
WEG Africa Motion Control & Drives
WEG and SpinDrive are collaborating to integrate SpinDrive’s AMBs and built-in IoT condition monitoring into WEG’s market-leading electric motor offering, creating an oil-free, maintenance-free drive solution.

Read more...
Rising demand for advanced coolant technology
Motion Control & Drives
As modern engines become smaller, more powerful and increasingly complex, coolant technology has undergone a fundamental transformation.

Read more...
Addressing cost, supply and disease pressures in Africa’s feed industry
Motion Control & Drives
Feed producers across Africa are operating in an increasingly complex and volatile environment. The pressures are forcing producers to rethink how they operate, balancing cost control, production efficiency and the need for greater flexibility in an unpredictable market.

Read more...
Rapid headframe replacement for Canada’s biggest potash mine
Motion Control & Drives
Mammoet has supported Ledcor with the construction of BHP’s new Jansen potash mine.

Read more...









While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved