Across global industries, pursuing higher efficiency, flexibility, and intelligent upgrades has made smart manufacturing and automation crucial drivers of transformation. Many organizations are moving beyond merely upgrading individual machines and instead deploying holistic solutions that encompass everything from front-end sensors, robotic arms, and process monitoring to back-end data analytics and cloud integration, for discrete manufacturing (e.g., electronics assembly, metal cutting) and process manufacturing (e.g., food, chemicals), digital and networked operations typically rely on programmable logic controllers (PLCs), industrial gateways, and SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems.
In this highly competitive domain, maximizing production efficiency and real-time data visibility stands out as a central focus. Starting at the sensor layer, various devices collect operational metrics such as temperature, pressure, and vibration. These signals are then pre-processed by industrial PCs or embedded systems and transmitted to central control stations. Many companies also employ MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems) and ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) to monitor critical metrics such as equipment utilization and yield in real time. With the advent of AI and Edge Computing, features like predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, and quality inspection can be instantly executed on the shop floor, minimizing downtime and reducing scrap rates. These real-time capabilities are particularly valuable for dynamic lines, high-mix production, or highly customized orders.
Regarding market distribution, Asia shows strong demand for smart manufacturing and automation, especially in regions with rapid production expansion. Meanwhile, other global areas focus on advanced process upgrades and sustainable development by reducing energy consumption, integrating digital twins, and enhancing supply chain collaboration. When modernizing production lines, businesses face multiple challenges, such as unifying equipment across diverse generations, maintaining robust information security, and effectively training a specialized workforce. As factories evolve into fully digitized setups, system integration and modular designs become the foundation for success.
From a technical standpoint, industrial PCs and related hardware must offer high reliability and long-term supply assurance. They must also accommodate various industrial protocols, such as Modbus, PROFIBUS, and OPC-UA, to facilitate seamless collaboration among systems. In addition, the proliferation of edge AI underscores the importance of specialized devices equipped with high-performance processors like GPUs or NPUs, supporting local algorithms for real-time defect detection and yield optimization. Meanwhile, industrial environments demand stringent certifications to ensure that hardware remains stable under harsh conditions such as extreme temperatures, vibrations, humidity, and electromagnetic interference.
Portwell has long specialized in this domain. By leveraging in-house capabilities for designing and manufacturing industrial computers and embedded platforms, Portwell offers highly customized DMS/EMS services that range from motherboard and firmware development to thorough system testing and validation, guaranteeing robust performance over a product’s lifespan. Portwell also enables integration of various communication protocols, bridging older lines with modern machinery via dedicated gateways, and connecting SCADA systems with cloud platforms. Additionally, Portwell can partner with customers or third-party algorithm teams for AI and computer vision solutions to embed predictive maintenance and intelligent quality-control modules in edge devices, accelerating on-site data processing and shortening decision-making times.
Looking ahead, smart manufacturing and automation will increasingly emphasize flexible production and mass customization. Factories must rapidly switch production line configurations, adjust real-time schedules, and automate testing procedures. Against this backdrop, industrial computing equipment that supports multi-system connectivity and remote management is essential. Portwell will continue innovating around the needs of industrial environments, enabling diverse sectors to achieve more intelligent, efficient, secure, and sustainable manufacturing systems.
Portwell is involved in industrial automation processes in different industries, such as CNC, textile machines, inspection machines, and factory improvement. We create industrial design criteria to meet specific target solutions and match industry requirements. Work with customers onsite to check issues and real-time status and provide accurate answers. In general, Portwell industrial solution will cover the features below:
Customer requests will be very different. Some are limited in small space constraints, some request specific regulations, and some customers need particular input voltage. We will customize accordingly.
Portwell smart manufacturing solution connects different devices through a diverse interface such as POE, CAN bus, and COM port. We also discussed with customers to reserve an expansion slot for future upgrades.
Waterproof and dustproof will be very different in various industries. Most smart manufacturing developers request IP65 and some customers request PCB conformal coating.
Anti-shock and Vibration is a standard in Portwell smart manufacturing solution. We design anti-shock and Vibration from connectors, cables, memory, and storage to the system level.
Portwell's embedded systems are designed with a wide temperature range from -40 to 70 degrees Celsius to meet the requirement of different situations. Ensure the systems run stable in all demanding environmental conditions.
We have to keep system performance in a harsh and windless environment. The fan-less design is the basic standard in Portwell's smart manufacturing solution.
Barebone system with 14th/13th/12th Generation Intel® Core™ i3/i5/i7/i9 based ATX board
