Industrial IoT Devices and Gateways
The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) connects machines, sensors and controllers so their data can be collected, analysed and acted on. For factories and utilities it has become a practical way to reduce downtime, improve quality and increase productivity.
Unlocking data from legacy equipment
Many plants run equipment that was installed without any network connection, so valuable data stays locked inside. IoT gateways connect to these machines through their existing interfaces (Modbus, RS-232/RS-485, CAN, digital and analog I/O) and securely send the data to a local server or the cloud over Ethernet, Wi-Fi or cellular networks. This avoids the large cost of replacing working equipment.
The data can then be used for:
- Remote monitoring
- Predictive and preventive maintenance
- Production optimisation and energy management
- Building automation
What an IoT gateway does
An IoT gateway is the bridge between the sensor network and the cloud. It:
- Translates between field protocols and IT protocols such as MQTT and OPC UA
- Filters, stores and analyses data at the edge, so only useful information is sent
- Keeps working and buffering data when the internet connection drops
- Manages devices and receives secure over-the-air updates
IIoT in 2026: what to look for
- Connectivity: 4G/LTE-M, NB-IoT and 5G for wide areas; LoRaWAN for low-power sensors over long distances; Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth Low Energy inside plants.
- Edge computing: enough processing for local analytics and even machine-learning inference on the gateway.
- Security by design: secure boot, encrypted communication (TLS), unique device identities and regular updates. Industrial standards such as IEC 62443 are increasingly expected.
- Development kits: evaluation platforms, from low-power ARM boards to multi-core gateways, speed up proof-of-concept work before a custom design.
Argus Technologies designs custom IIoT gateways, sensor nodes and data acquisition systems. See our Industrial IoT Systems page, or contact us for a free quote.
