n TECHNOLOGY February 2026 www.drivesncontrols.com 22 FLEXXBOTICS, THE US SPECIALIST in autonomous manufacturing, has made its software-defined automation (SDA) platform available as a free download. It is not a trial or evaluation version, but includes the SDA runtime, Studio and API components with no time limits, capacity restrictions, or disabled capabilities. The download offers a production-ready runtime environment, low-code HMI, a developers studio, and a complete API for smart factory interoperability and orchestration. “Providing open access to our production-proven software unlocks the factory for global companies to scale autonomous control across their operations worldwide,” says Flexxbotics’ cofounder and CEO, Tyler Bouchard. “To truly scale production autonomy requires open, extensible software-defined automation, and Flexxbotics puts that directly into the hands of the people who are transforming operations.” Using parallelised data pipelines, the platform delivers bidirectional read/write data flows in real time for plant assets using both open and proprietary industrial protocols – allowing multiple machines, PLCs, robots, and IT systems to operate with closed-loop control. The software is already used in a variety of industries worldwide. It offers controller interoperability between more than 1,000 makes and models of factory equipment, allowing users to move beyond incompatibilities and complex custom integrations The software runs either online or offline, allowing production to continue with or without Internet access. https://flexxbotics.com/download Software-defined automation platform is a free download THE US-BASED AI-DRIVEN PREDICTIVE maintenance specialist, Waites Sensor Technologies, has launched a device that monitors the condition of high-heat, highstress rotating equipment such as motors, compressors, turbines, generators and other critical machinery in industrial operations. The four-channel PiezoNode device can monitor critical assets continuously in extreme heat and high pressures, and extends condition monitoring into environments where traditional wireless sensors cannot survive. By connecting to piezoelectric sensors via a standard IEPE interface, the device eliminates the need to collect data manually, and streams machinehealth data continuously, bringing previously offline or siloed assets into modern PdM workflows powered by AI and supported by vibration analysts. “For years, operators have struggled to monitor high-heat, high-stress rotating assets using manual checks and limited tools that offer little real-time insight,” explains Waites’ chief technology officer, Eric Ibarra. “PiezoNode directly addresses this problem by enabling continuous monitoring in locations and on equipment that have traditionally been too hot, too tight, or too hazardous for conventional sensors.” The device delivers: n real-time visibility of high-heat and highvalue rotating assets, for 250°C+ applications, with higher-temperature options being available on request; n reliable monitoring in tight, hot and other harsh environments; n safe installation of equipment in restricted or harsh areas; and n centralised high-heat data unified in Waites’ monitoring platform. “We’re creating a world where nothing breaks,” says Waites’ co-founder and CEO, Rob Ratterman. “The PiezoNode is supporting that mission by monitoring equipment in even the harshest environments. This solution keeps maintenance teams out of extreme heat or traditionally unsafe environments, while delivering the continual analytics they need to help ensure equipment is running smoothly.” The PiezoNode development comes as Waites has formed a partnership with MaintainX to unite advanced machine health insights with real-time work execution and intelligence, enabling faster and better informed responses to developing equipment issues. The partnership addresses a common barrier in predictive maintenance: converting machine health alerts into timely, traceable repair actions. By reducing both mean time to acknowledge (MTTA) and mean time to repair (MTTR), the partners say they will deliver a true closed-loop reliability workflow that unifies detection, diagnosis and resolution. When the Waites system detects an anomaly, a detailed, analyst-verified work order is created automatically in MaintainX. Technicians can see the analyst's summary, recommended actions, and context for repair. For deeper diagnostic detail, such as vibration trends, historical patterns, and failure mode indicators, the work orders include a link to the corresponding action in the Waites Dashboard. With two-way synced comments, updates made in MaintainX appear immediately in Waites’ system. “Our partnership with MaintainX is about delivering a unified, end-to-end maintenance ecosystem for our customers,”says Waites CEO, Rob Ratterman. “By integrating predictive intelligence directly with frontline work execution, we’re giving teams a single, connected workflow that removes friction, accelerates repairs, and keeps operations running without interruption.” MaintainX, which is used by more than 13,000 industrial organisations, combines AIpowered insights with a modern work execution platform, helping to assign work, standardise procedures, accelerate repairs, and track results accurately. It is designed to transform maintenance and move towards predictive, data-driven operations. “This partnership bridges a long-standing divide in industrial maintenance, bringing predictive insights and actual work execution into one continuous, intelligent workflow,” says MaintainX’s co-founder and CEO, Chris Turlica. “By connecting Waites’ anomaly detection with MaintainX’s realtime work management, we’re giving maintenance teams the ability to act faster, collaborate more effectively, and prevent issues before they become costly failures.” https://waites.net/solutions/piezonode Machine monitor works in tough areas where other sensors would fail Waites’ PiezoNode monitors critical rotating assets continuously in extreme heat, high pressure and other harsh environments
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