News & Blog

Navigating the World of IIoT Gateways Whether it’s a train line, factory, or a hospital, optimal efficiency is the standard all industries strive towards. Technological innovation has been the catalyst for unlocking productivity, with the Internet of Things (IoT)...

Partner News: Advantech has announced support for Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 across its edge computing platform Taipei, June 27, 2024 - Advantech (TWSE: 2395), a leading provider of AIoT platforms and services, is thrilled to announce the addition of support...

Introducing the new NT116 Unmanaged Switch from Red Lion Our partner Red Lion®, a manufacturer of innovative technologies that empowers industrial organizations to access, connect and visualize their data, has announced the launch of their N-Tron® NT116 unmanaged...

Parter News: Red Lion Enhances Features of its Award-winning N-Tron Series NT5000 Gigabit Ethernet Switch Series Red Lion Enhances NT5000 Switch Series with their renowned N-Ring™ technology, and DHCP Server, providing high-speed redundancy and increased usability to...

Distec and Red Lion® to Exhibit at Smart Factory Expo 2024 May 2024: Specialist technology solutions provider Distec Ltd will be exhibiting at this year’s Smart Factory Expo, taking place on 5th – 6th June 2024 at Birmingham’s NEC, to showcase its range of smart...

Delivering a Sustainable Future: CKS to Upgrade Industrial Computer Systems in Line with New Environmental Policy The UK generates 23.9 kg of e-waste per capita, the second-highest amount globally. However, research suggests that by 2024, the UK will become the number...

Nexcom's Fanless Computer Gives Packaging Industry a Boost for Digital Transformation A leading French packaging company specialising in filling and packaging machines has undergone a significant digital transformation, using new technologies to overcome operational...

Partner News: New HDMI® Feature From Red Lion Boosts Productivity With Real-Time Visual Awareness   Our partner, Red Lion, a manufacturer of innovative technologies that empowers industrial organizations to access, connect and visualize their data, introduces...

The future of marine technology: A blueprint for sustainable shipping More than 90% of world trade is carried by sea, which is a huge logistical operation to ensure goods arrive at their destination on time. With such vast amounts of cargo and crowded shipping lanes,...

Digitalisation in the maritime sector - The fleet of the future is coming   The maritime industry is responsible for transporting an estimated 11 billion tons of cargo across the world’s oceans each year. However, moving vast amounts of freight to numerous ports...

Spotlight on: Nexcom’s Innovative Fanless Embedded Computer Transforms Dairy Farming Managing livestock and optimising farm operations are significant challenges for the dairy farming industry. One hurdle for farmers is accurately monitoring livestock and keeping...

Advantech ARK-3534: A High-Performance, Multi-Functional Edge Computer for Cobot and Semiconductor Equipment Applications   Our partner Advantech, a leading provider of AIoT platforms and services, has released the ARK-3534  high-performance edge computer. This...

Navigating Marine Grade Computers Decision-making is time-critical when navigating a ship. Whether you are communicating onboard or onshore, the working environment can be challenging and the success of a shipment can depend on the crews’ ability to communicate and...

Nexcom Fanless Visual Edge Computer for Border Control   Automated border solutions are more relevant than ever with growing populations, increasing migration issues and a global pandemic putting a squeeze on border controls. When travellers enter a country by...

Distec Enters the Maritime Market with Elgens' Marine Grade Panel PCs.   23 February 2023 – Manchester-based specialist technology solutions provider Distec Ltd has partnered with Elgens Co., Ltd to enter the maritime market. The new arrangement will enhance the...

Five Manufacturing Trends for 2023   An energy crisis, strikes and three Prime Ministers. 2022, like 2021 has been unpredictable. Such uncertainty has led to the manufacturing industry making up almost 8% of the total company insolvencies in England and Wales in...

AI in Smart Manufacturing   Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now in everyday use for many businesses. One area where this is certainly the case is in the manufacturing industry. In manufacturing, the main goal is to produce high-quality products, improve...

Distec is set to showcase key technologies at the Smart Factory Expo with partner Red Lion   September 2022 – Hybrid technology solutions provider Distec have announced that they will be exhibiting some of their key technologies at this year’s Smart Factory Expo....

Spotlight on – the XPPC 16-100 Panel PC for data collection in Food Production This month we are talking about the XPPC 16-100 Panel PC from our partner Nexcom. Nexcom offers a broad range of industrial panel PCs, tailored to meet the needs of a wide range of...

Food and pharmaceutical processing facilities can benefit from smart hygiene control through the use of specialist industrial computing solutions. Maintaining high standards of hygiene has always been crucial in facilities such as food and pharmaceutical processing...

Industrial Networks and IIoT Businesses are becoming more and more connected both internally through industrial networks and to the wider world via the web. The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is a great way for many industrial establishments to utilise that...

On-Demand Webinar: PC-Based Automation in 2022 A clear advantage in the digital factory To watch this on-demand webinar, click here Learn about the key market trends in the industry and beyond around Industrial Computing and what benefits PC-based automation can drive...

Partner News: Red Lion Launches a Next-Generation Graphical Panel Meter PM-50   The simplicity of a panel meter meets the power of a connected future.   York, Pa. – October 26, 2021 – Red Lion introduces the next generation of panel meters, PM-50. This...

Why Rugged Panel PCs are the best solution for the Food Processing industry   Panel PCs have been helping businesses modernise their processes for a number of years, and one of the industries reaping the benefits is food processing. In fact, panel PCs are one of...

Compact but Powerful Advantech IoT Edge Computer Advantech UNO-238 Compact IoT Edge Computer Powered by the latest 8th generation Intel® Core® i processor, Advantech's UNO-238 provides a competitively priced computing solution in an optimized compact form factor....

Partner Product Showcase: Advantech UNO-2000 series This month, we are putting the spotlight on industrial solutions specialist Advantech’s UNO-2000 series.   What is it? The UNO-2000 series are edge gateways for the manufacturing industry. They are designed to...

IIoT and Smart Manufacturing How IIoT Gives Manufacturers a Platform for Modernisation Manufacturers have faced unprecedented challenges over the last eighteen months. First, they had to navigate restrictions on imports and exports as a result of the Brexit agreement,...

Partner News: Wincomm Launches Full IP66/67/69K Stainless Panel PC WTP-9G66 Series Wincomm announced the newest Intel 8th Generation Whiskey Lake IP66/67/69K Stainless Steel Touch Panel PC WTP-9G66 series ranging from 15”, 19”, 22”, to 24”, designed for food...

Partner News: New Additions to Nexcom APPC Industrial Panel PC Range Automation Advances in Full Sail As smart factories gain a strong foothold in the manufacturing sector, the advances of automation have dramatically transformed the production landscape. Any...

Partner Product Showcase: Red Lion NT4008 Profinet Switches This month, we are putting the spotlight on Red Lion’s NT4008 Profinet Switches. What are they? Red Lion’s NT4008 Profinet Switches are 8-port Gigabit Layer 3 managed Industrial Ethernet switches. The...

Webinar: How to use Red Lion’s HMI as an Edge SCADA System Watch our webinar and learn how Red Lion Smart HMI solutions can be used as an Edge SCADA System to process data, improve operational efficiency, and reduce costs. To watch the webinar, click here In today's...

Getting the competitive edge with a fully connected environment One of the biggest challenges for businesses today is keeping pace with the rapidly evolving technological landscape. It can be a costly exercise trying to constantly update hardware and firmware to the...

Meeting Hygiene Safety Standards in Food Manufacturing Whilst food hygiene has always been seen as important, the pandemic has heightened our awareness around the threat of infection. A recent survey found that 50% of us have changed our hygiene behaviours in the wake...

Partner Product Showcase: Wincomm Industrial Modular Panel PCs This month, we are putting the spotlight on industrial computing specialists Wincomm and their Industrial Modular Panel PC WLPM Series. What is it? Wincomm has long been leaders in the industrial and...

What lies ahead for Manufacturing in 2021? 2020 was a tumultuous year for all industries and non-more-so than in manufacturing. The industry changed almost overnight, with some sectors seeing demand skyrocket as consumers stockpiled goods, only for it to drop off...

Extend the Connected Factory to a Smart IT Factory Environment Be ready for the next generation of automation and networking environments To watch this webinar, click here >  Listen to Distec and Red Lion Controls discuss how to transform connected equipment to an...

Partner News: PROFINET Performance without Compromise York, Pa. – December 14, 2020 – Red Lion is excited to introduce NT4008, a new 8-port Gigabit managed Industrial Ethernet switch series. The NT4008 series switches are certified to meet PROFINET PNIO v2.34...

How Red Lion's FlexEdge™ Keeps the Wastewater Industry Flowing By its very nature, the water industry is an industry in constant flow. Businesses operate in areas where multiple vendors are interacting repeatedly. For many, technology is the way forward to navigate...

Webinar: Achieve Seamless IT/OT Convergence with Red Lion To watch the webinar on-demand, click here >  From sensor to cloud and cloud to sensor. Learn how industrial data acquisition for diverse plants provides a seamless IT/OT convergence. Webinar Highlights Red...

Partner Product Showcase: Red Lion Crimson Software This month, we are putting the spotlight on industrial computing solutions specialist Red Lion Controls and their Crimson programming software. What is it? Red Lion Crimson is a software programme that powers the...

Why Rugged Technology is a key Component in the Oil and Gas Industry As oil and gas companies look to the ends of the earth to find reserves, operators find themselves working in increasingly harsh conditions. Extreme environments, coupled with mounting regulatory...

Red Lion Partner News: Red Lion Introduces Secure Industrial Remote Access Platform York, Pa. – October 13, 2020 – Red Lion, the exclusive North American partner for MB connect line GmbH, announces the launch of its Secure Remote Access Platform. This next-generation...

Integrating Advantech ADAM I/O Modules with Hikvision’s Surveillance Solutions Distec has entered into an agreement with Hikvision, a market-leading provider of security products and solutions, to supply Advantech’s ADAM I/O Modules, which will be integrated into its...

Benefits of Rugged Panel PCs in the Food and Drink Industry Food production facilities are subject to strict industry regulations to ensure a high standard of quality and to prevent any contamination of products. As part of these regulations the food and drink...

One FlexEdge Controller Does it ALL Red Lion's FlexEdge™ now combines the scalability of Linux® with the power of Crimson® 3.2 software into one user-friendly operating system. This fusion enables a single FlexEdge controller to provide advanced networking, security,...

Partner News: Wincomm Announced Intel 8th gen. Core i Whiskey Lake CPU WLP-7G20 Fanless Industrial Panel PC Series Wincomm, a leading medical and industrial computer provider, announced upgraded high-end Intel 8th generation Whiskey Lake CPU platform to fanless...

Partner News: Red Lion's FlexEdge™ Intelligent Edge Automation Platform Integrates IT and OT York, Pa. – July 28, 2020 – Red Lion's FlexEdge™ Intelligent Edge Automation Platform now combines the scalability of Linux® with the power of Crimson® 3.2 software into one...

Smart Technology and the New Normal in Manufacturing COVID-19 has had a significant impact on all industries and one that has been heavily affected is the manufacturing sector. With disruption and delays to shipments, a rise in demand for essential items and in some...

Adopt Industry 4.0 with Next Generation Elo Hardware Solutions As businesses transform to take advantage of Industry 4.0, a new set of connected, interactive devices are needed to enable multi-functional, intuitive interfaces. With this digital transformation and the...

Partner Product Showcase: Red Lion FlexEdge™ Intelligent Edge Automation Platform We’re thrilled to announce that our partner Red Lion Controls has launched their new FlexEdge™ Intelligent Edge Automation Platform, now available through Distec. What is it? With...

Red Lion Launches FlexEdge Intelligent Edge Automation Platform Red Lion Controls, global experts in communication, monitoring and control for industrial automation and networking, launched the FlexEdge™ Intelligent Edge Automation Platform today. This revolutionary...

Nexcom Industrial Computing Solutions As an authorised Nexcom distributor serving the UK and Ireland, we supply Nexcom Industrial Computing Solutions for industrial environments. Fanless Embedded PCs Powered by Intel Atom® processors, Atom® Compact Series fanless...

Compact DIN-Rail Fanless Embedded PC for Intelligent Manufacturing from Advantech We are pleased to announce Advantech's latest addition to its ARK-1000 series: the ARK-1220, a compact DIN-Rail fanless embedded PC for industrial and/or outdoor environments. The...

Why Custom-Built PCs are the Best Fit for Industrial Automation For most businesses, off-the-shelf PCs seem a natural choice. The user interface and applications feel familiar, and it can be cost effective when purchasing smaller quantities. This means rolling them...

  Systems Integration Trading Ltd (SI) and Distec Work Together to Keep Production Lines Running Smoothly. Success Story - Background Systems Integration Trading Ltd (SI) has supplied enterprise resource planning (ERP) software to the food industry for over 25...

Distec’s Industrial Touchscreen PCs get Seal of Approval in Food Production. Success Story - The background The client is an international food and drink group specialising in the manufacturing, importing and distribution of processed and canned food including tinned...

What does 2020 hold for Manufacturing? We recently blogged about healthcare, one of the major sectors we operate in, and what we think the sector holds in 2020. Today we’re turning to manufacturing. Earlier this year, we predicted that technology for manufacturing in...

Interoperability and the IIoT. Two crucial concepts in modern manufacturing and industrial environments – and two concepts that Distec is proud to be able to help you tackle. But what do Interoperability and the IIoT actually mean, how do they fit together, and how...

Distec and Red Lion Controls to Exhibit at Smart Factory Expo 09. October 2019: Specialist technology solutions provider Distec Ltd will be exhibiting at the Smart Factory Expo in partnership with Red Lion Controls, taking place in Liverpool on November 13th and 14th....

What is an Industrial PC? From power plants in the utilities industry, to factory floors across all corners of the manufacturing sector, all industrial environments require hardware that is robust and resilient. After all, those environments might experience...

Understanding ATEX Certification and Hazardous Area Zone Classification. Explosive atmospheres are a risk in a number of workplaces – and a potentially devastating one. Flammable gases, mists or vapours, as well as combustible dusts such as those formed from metals or...

Understanding IP Ratings in the Food and Drink Industry. Supplying hardware to organisations in the food and drink sector? Or perhaps you’re part of a food and drink organisation yourself, deploying new hardware on your factory floor. Either way, you need to know...

Getting Hygiene Right in Food Processing Environments. We all know the importance of washing our hands before we cook a meal or sit down to eat. Hygiene at the industrial scale of food production is rather more complicated. Factories and other environments involved in...

Partner News:  A Bigger and Brighter Addition to the Graphite HMI Series from Red Lion Controls. York, Pa. – June 18, 2019 – Red Lion Controls, global experts in communication, monitoring and control for industrial automation and networking, today announced the...

The Takeaways from our Smart Manufacturing Seminar What is a smart factory? Smart factories are extraordinarily diverse and flexible, but the key feature they all share is the use of automation and networking technologies. These technologies capture, transmit, analyse...

Distec Partners With Pepperl+Fuchs ecom. MANCHESTER, 23 March 2019 - Distec, the specialist provider of industrial, medical and digital technology solutions, is set to expand its offering to industries working in hazardous conditions through its partnership with...

Red Lion Controls Announces Crimson 3.1 Enhanced Features for OPC Unified Architecture. New functionality simplifies communications from the shop floor to business systems. Red Lion Controls, global experts in communication, monitoring and control for industrial...

Distec and Red Lion Controls to Host Smart Manufacturing Seminar. Technology solutions provider, Distec Ltd, is hosting the Smart Manufacturing Seminar on 28th March in partnership with Red Lion Controls, a global leader in industrial automation. The seminar will...

Manufacturing Technology Trends 2019. Today we’re concluding our trio of blogs looking at the three major sectors we operate in, and setting out our predictions for the next 12 months. We began by looking at healthcare technology, and then moved on to discuss digital...

MANCHESTER, 24th January 2019 – Manchester-based technology solutions provider Distec Ltd, has been acquired today by Swedish giant KAMIC Group AB. Distec Ltd was founded in 1992 and over the years has built a strong reputation and extensive expertise in industrial,...

Red Lion Controls Adds DA10D and DA30D Protocol Conversion and Data Acquisition Devices. Red Lion Controls, global experts in communication, monitoring and control for industrial automation and networking, announced the release of the DA10D and DA30D Protocol...

Red Lion Controls Announces NT24k Firmware Enhancements. Simplify Installation, Accelerate Recovery and Secure Your Network.  DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) simplifies network configuration by automatically assigning IP addresses from a DHCP server to...

Red Lion Controls Expands CR3000 HMI Platform. Red Lion Controls has expanded its CR3000 HMI capabilities with five new communication modules, offering support for some of today’s most popular industrial protocols. Designed for use with the CR3000 HMI platform, the...

The new industrial tablet “Tab-Ex 02” from ecom Assamstadt, March 13th 2018 - The Pepperl+Fuchs brand ecom, specialist for mobile devices for use in hazardous areas, introduces a new family member and successor to its groundbreaking tablet series Tab-Ex: The Tab-Ex...

Red Lion Controls Revamps YouTube Channel. One of our key partners in the automation section, Red Lion Controls, have recently revamped their YouTube channel with videos featuring software tips for each version of Crimson, as well as more planned product videos to...

Thin Clients in Hazardous Areas. It takes a business on average 18.5 hours to recover from a disaster such as a fire and the cost of the resulting downtime can vary between $8,000 for a small business to $700,000 for a large business. Here, Noel Sheppard a director of...

Name an iconic duo: Tom and Jerry, Batman and Robin, Mario and Luigi. There are just some of the world’s favourite pairs, and not forgetting Ant and Dec. However, many people wouldn’t add Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) to their list of...

Red Lion Controls Launches Highly Scalable Graphite Edge Controller for Extreme Industrial Environments Rugged industrial controller allows for rapid, easy deployment for small to large control and monitoring applications. York, Pa. – March 21, 2017 – Red Lion...

Wincomm Wins Taiwan Excellence Award. Wincomm has 3 winning products spanning across different areas of health care, food processing, outdoor automatic control, etc. After being awarded the Taiwan Excellence Award in 2016, Wincomm has again won the Taiwan Excellence...

N-Tron Managed Switches Meet CIP Specification. Red Lion issued a press release today to announce that the latest firmware for our N-Tron® series of NT24k® and 700/7000 (N-Tron Managed Switches) has been certified by ODVA to meet the requirements of the Common...