March 2017 – Top 5 Technology Trends in 2017

Published on: 03/03/2017

GD Rectifiers share their top 5 interesting technology trends this year

GD Rectifiers are the UK’s leading distributor of power electronic components Established in 1964, GD Rectifiers have an extensive product offering from traditional semiconductor components such as diodes, thyristors, MOSFETs and IGBT modules to standard and custom-designed heatsinks, selenium rectifiers, selenium transient suppressors and power assemblies.

Technology Trends 2017

IoT

The Internet of Things (IoT) will become increasingly popular in 2017 and more manufacturing processes and products will be connected helping to improve productivity and reduce costs.

“IoT is evolving, it’s more than sensors, it includes substantial software components. Internet connectivity is taking the world to a new level” explains Paul Bentley.

Robotics

Robots are already being used in the automotive industry, an ideal option for repetitive tasks, proving to be a cost effective alternative to humans.

“Robotics will divide opinions; businesses need to weigh up the benefits of robots versus humans. I won’t be using robotics anytime soon” adds Paul Bentley.

Predictive Maintenance

This year is likely to see the introduction of advanced inspection tools or products with built-in intelligence that will help production teams identify when components are wearing out and in need of replacement. Predictive maintenance will avoid equipment failures and unplanned downtime.

“Predictive maintenance is the answer to one of manufacturers biggest problems but will it ever be a cost effective solution?” Paul Bentley explains.

Machine to Machine Connectivity

This year we predict that the Industrial face of artificial intelligence will launch worldwide with machines sharing data and control of each other without the need of human intervention. This interesting development will see powerful controllers, PCs and Ethernet getting more embedded into the factory floor.

“M2M is an excellent idea, providing the system is set up correctly. Otherwise expensive mistakes could occur with no accountability.” Paul Bentley adds.

Smart Sensors

Vital in IoT technology, smart sensors will enable more accurate and automated collection of environmental data and are used to monitor and control mechanisms in a wide variety of environments including smart grids.

“The possibilities are endless with smart sensors, engineers will be able to focus on other aspects of their role and benefit from increased productivity” Paul Bentley comments.

GD Rectifiers are specialists in designing and manufacturing custom power electronic solutions for a wide range of industries; automotive, medical, industrial and consumer electronics, rail and aviation.

For further information on the design process and GD Rectifiers’ product capabilities, please call: 01444 243 452 or email enquiries@gdrectifiers.co.uk to discuss your next project today.