Bluemation

Automation Blog

Technical guides, comparisons and resources on industrial automation, PLC programming and electrical design.

Technical Articles

Technical resources on PLC and automation

Connectivity 11 min read

The importance of having remote support for incidents

Why a properly designed remote support service drastically cuts response times for plant incidents. Response time comparison, cybersecurity (NIS2, IEC 62443), SLAs and how to choose a provider.

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Automation 10 min read

Industrial Automation Solutions: a guide to choosing the right one

What industrial automation solutions are, what types exist (PLC, SCADA, robotics, BMS, machine vision) and how to choose the most suitable one for your plant. Technical guide with real examples.

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Automation 11 min read

Control Engineering: what it is, disciplines and applications

What industrial control engineering is, which disciplines it covers (PID regulation, motion control, functional safety, industrial communications) and how it applies in real automation projects.

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PLC 12 min read

Programmable Controller (PLC): what it is, how it works and IEC 61131-3

Complete technical guide to the programmable controller: scan cycle, IEC 61131-3 programming languages, types by architecture and real industrial applications.

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IIoT 13 min read

Predictive maintenance with IIoT: sensors, data and real ROI

How to implement predictive maintenance with IIoT: vibration, temperature and current sensors, data analysis, monitoring platforms and real return on investment.

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IIoT 12 min read

IIoT: What is the Industrial Internet of Things and how to implement it

Complete guide to IIoT: differences from consumer IoT, reference architecture, MQTT and OPC-UA protocols, Edge and cloud platforms, and real industry use cases.

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Industry 4.0 10 min read

Industry 4.0 Solutions: from PLC to actionable data

Real-world Industry 4.0 solutions for industrial plants: OPC UA connectivity, IIoT, OEE dashboards, predictive maintenance, lightweight MES, digital twins and OT cybersecurity.

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Automation 10 min read

ERDF and Next Generation grants for public infrastructure digitalisation

Guide to European funding for automation and energy efficiency projects in public infrastructure: Next Generation EU funds, ERDF 2021-2027, RTRP and regional programmes.

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Automation 9 min read

Minor engineering contracts: what a town hall can directly procure

Practical guide to minor engineering contracts for town halls: LCSP thresholds, required documentation, which services can be directly procured and how to process the file correctly.

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Cybersecurity 12 min read

Industrial OT/IT Cybersecurity: IEC 62443 and NIS2 Directive

Why industrial security is fundamentally different from office IT, what IEC 62443 and the NIS2 Directive require, and which concrete measures genuinely protect a production plant.

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Industry 4.0 11 min read

Digital Twin: What It Is and How It Applies to Industrial Automation

From concept to reality: what a digital twin is, which types exist (virtual commissioning, predictive maintenance, process optimisation), key tools and how to implement one incrementally.

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BMS 13 min read

BMS in municipal buildings: technical requirements and applicable regulations

Technical guide for infrastructure managers: RITE, ISO 52120, EU Directive 2023/1791, technical tender requirements and CPV codes for BMS in public buildings.

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Success Story 8 min read

Success story: complete PLC rewrite of a ceramic extrusion line

Migration of a legacy PLC programme to a modular architecture on an extruded-stoneware line: redesigned extruder-cutter synchronisation, recipe system and reduced unplanned downtime.

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Automation 11 min read

Industrial automation for SMEs: real benefits and ROI

Why automation is no longer just for large companies: concrete benefits for manufacturing SMEs, typical return on investment, available grants and the incremental approach.

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Telemetry 11 min read

Silo Telemetry System with Wago PLC and Codesys

Complete architecture for remote industrial silo monitoring: level sensors, Wago PFC200 PLC, 4G communication with MQTT, Codesys programming and a web dashboard with automatic alerts.

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BMS 9 min read

BMS Programming Company: How to Choose the Right Integrator

Technical and practical criteria for selecting a BMS integrator. What they must master, how to assess their track record in KNX, BACnet and Modbus protocols, and red flags in a quotation.

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Robotics 10 min read

Collaborative Robots (Cobots): What They Are, Benefits and Industrial Applications

Complete guide to cobots: differences from industrial robots, leading manufacturers (Universal Robots, ABB, KUKA, FANUC), real-world applications and ISO/TS 15066 safety requirements.

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Automation 10 min read

How much does it cost to automate an industrial plant?

Real price ranges for PLC programming, SCADA, electrical cabinets, cobots and turnkey projects. Factors that determine the cost and how to get a reliable quote.

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Eplan 9 min read

Eplan Engineering Company in Spain: Eplan Electric P8 & Pro Panel

Bluemation as an Eplan engineering company: schematics, Pro Panel 3D, corporate macros and libraries, integration with cabinet manufacturing and automatic documentation.

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Automation 9 min read

How to choose an industrial automation company: 8 key criteria

Practical guide to selecting the right automation integrator: sector experience, manufacturer independence, documentation, support and budget. Avoid the most common mistakes.

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Success Story 9 min read

Beckhoff BMS in Valencia Public Buildings: success story

How we deployed a BMS with Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 in a municipal library, three town halls and public buildings in Valencia. Technical documentation, applicable regulations and 28% energy savings.

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BMS 8 min read

WebVisu: browser-based HMI supervision without SCADA

What is Codesys WebVisu, how it works, comparison vs traditional SCADA, ideal use cases and limitations. Practical guide with real examples.

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PLC 9 min read

Bluemation as a Wago System Integrator

Programming and integration of Wago PFC100/PFC200 PLCs, the 750 I/O system, edge controllers and building automation solutions. Codesys and e!COCKPIT as our main development environments.

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Success Story 10 min read

Success story: Real-Time OEE Dashboard with Grafana

How we connected three packaging lines to Grafana via OPC-UA and InfluxDB at a food plant, achieving 18% OEE improvement and full visibility in 7 weeks.

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PLC 10 min read

What is Codesys? The manufacturer-independent PLC platform

Complete guide to Codesys: what it is, how it works, which manufacturers use it (Wago, Schneider, Pilz), advantages vs TIA Portal and when it is the best choice for your project.

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Industry 4.0 11 min read

What is Industry 4.0 and How to Apply It in Your Plant?

Complete guide to the fourth industrial revolution: its 9 key technologies (IoT, AI, robotics, digital twins, OPC-UA), a maturity model and practical roadmap for manufacturers.

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BMS 9 min read

What is a BMS (Building Management System) and what is it for?

Complete guide to building management systems: KNX and BACnet protocols, BMS vs SCADA differences, Siemens Desigo and EcoStruxure platforms, and how a BMS cuts energy consumption by 20–30%.

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AI 8 min read

AI in PLC Programming: the future of industrial automation

How artificial intelligence is transforming PLC programming: automatic code generation, predictive diagnostics and process optimisation.

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Connectivity 7 min read

Remote Connection Kit via RU901

Access your PLCs, HMIs and SCADA systems from anywhere with complete security. Everything about the RU901 Teltonika router remote access kit.

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Automation 15 min read

Industrial Automation Glossary: PLC, SCADA, HMI and 40+ terms

Clear and practical definitions of the most used technical terms in industrial automation: PLC, SCADA, HMI, OPC-UA, EtherCAT, SIL, OEE, FAT, CIP and more.

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Success Story 9 min read

Success story: Siemens S7-1200 control cabinet with three servo drives in Valencia

Eplan design, in-house build, TIA Portal programming and on-site commissioning of a control cabinet with Siemens S7-1200, three SINAMICS servo drives and SIRIUS safety architecture for a process machine in Valencia.

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Success Story 7 min read

Success story: SCADA at a wastewater treatment plant

How we integrated a SCADA system with OPC-UA at a WWTP without stopping operations, reducing alarm response times by 70%.

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Automation 12 min read

How to migrate a Siemens S7-300 PLC to S7-1500 step by step

Complete migration guide S7-300 to S7-1500 with TIA Portal: assessment, programme conversion, hardware, communications and commissioning. Avoid the most common mistakes.

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Success Story 8 min read

Success story: robotic palletising cell with machine vision

From 280 to 600 boxes/hour with zero claims. How we designed and integrated a Kuka cell with 3D vision and Siemens PLC for a logistics plant.

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SCADA 13 min read

Real-time SCADA: how modern industrial supervision works

Technical guide to real-time SCADA systems: architecture, components, alarm management, data historians, redundancy and how to choose the right platform for your industry.

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Industry 4.0 9 min read

OPC-UA: the standard protocol of Industry 4.0

What is OPC-UA, how client-server and pub/sub architecture works, why it is the Industry 4.0 standard and how to implement it in your plant.

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PLC 7 min read

PLC vs DCS: when to use each control system

Differences between PLC and DCS explained with real examples. Technical and economic criteria for choosing between a programmable logic controller and a distributed control system.

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Robotics 11 min read

Collaborative robot vs industrial robot: which one to choose

Full comparison cobot vs industrial robot: differences in safety, speed, payload, cost and use cases. Practical guide to choosing the right robotic solution for your process.

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Automation 13 min read

Industrial Automation: Complete guide for manufacturers

Definitive guide to industrial automation: what it is, benefits, key technologies (PLC, SCADA, robotics, OPC-UA), how to plan a project and mistakes to avoid.

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PLC 10 min read

Siemens vs Beckhoff: which PLC to choose for your project?

Full technical comparison TIA Portal vs TwinCAT 3: performance, Motion Control, EtherCAT vs Profinet, licensing and real use cases. Choose without brand bias.

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Eplan 9 min read

What is Eplan Electric P8 and why is it the industry standard?

Complete guide to Eplan Electric P8: what it is, how it works, differences from AutoCAD Electrical, advantages in automation projects and why it is the global industry standard.

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PLC 10 min read

Siemens S7-1200 vs S7-1500: differences, which to choose and when

Full comparison Siemens S7-1200 vs S7-1500: performance, communications, modules, price and real use cases in TIA Portal. Decide which Siemens PLC fits your project.

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PLC 8 min read

What is a PLC and how is it used in industry?

Complete guide to programmable logic controllers: types, manufacturers, applications and how to choose the right PLC for your industrial project.

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Automation 11 min read

Energy savings in industry: how automation cuts consumption

Practical guide to industrial energy efficiency through automation: variable frequency drives, BMS, consumption monitoring, ISO 50001 and real savings cases. Calculate the ROI of your project.

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Automation 12 min read

Industrial machine vision: what it is and how it is used in industry

Practical guide to industrial machine vision: what it is, how it works, real applications in quality control, dimensional verification and 100% inspection, and the main systems and manufacturers.

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SCADA 11 min read

Ignition SCADA: what it is, how it works and why it is the SCADA of the future

Complete guide to Ignition by Inductive Automation: architecture, modules, advantages over WinCC and Wonderware, unlimited-tag licensing and why it is our recommended SCADA platform.

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Automation 10 min read

What is a variable frequency drive and what is it for

Complete guide to variable frequency drives: what they are, how they work, types, energy savings benefits, industrial applications and how to choose the right one for your motor.

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