# Making Industrial IoT Work: Lessons from 30 Years in Automation with Grace Technologies

- Show: [Over the Air](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air)
- Published: 2024-12-19
- Length: 37m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-12-19-making-industrial-iot-work-lessons-from-30-years-in-automation-with-grace-techno
- Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/over-the-air/episodes/Making-Industrial-IoT-Work-Lessons-from-30-Years-in-Automation-with-Grace-Technologies-e2ri9t7

## Summary

Drew Allen, CEO of Grace Technologies, discusses the company's 30-year evolution from automation components to industrial IoT solutions, including Graceport interface connectors, electrical safety devices, and wireless vibration monitoring. He explains the technical complexity of vibration analysis using Fast Fourier Transforms and the strategic importance of integrating sensors directly with Rockwell Automation PLCs via Ethernet/IP to serve plant floor operators. Allen highlights a critical failure mode where lack of real-time integration led to an $800,000 transformer arc flash event, emphasizing the need for robust connectivity strategies like LTE and Zigbee in harsh industrial environments.

## Chapters

- [0:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-12-19-making-industrial-iot-work-lessons-from-30-years-in-automation-with-grace-techno#t=5) Introduction: Grace Technologies Overview and Product Lines
- [2:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-12-19-making-industrial-iot-work-lessons-from-30-years-in-automation-with-grace-techno#t=154) History from Civionics and the Shift to Vibration Monitoring
- [4:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-12-19-making-industrial-iot-work-lessons-from-30-years-in-automation-with-grace-techno#t=260) Technical Complexity: Vibration Analysis vs. Current Monitoring
- [6:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-12-19-making-industrial-iot-work-lessons-from-30-years-in-automation-with-grace-techno#t=388) Rockwell Integration: Add-On Profiles and PLC Connectivity
- [11:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-12-19-making-industrial-iot-work-lessons-from-30-years-in-automation-with-grace-techno#t=674) Customer-Centric Design and Plant Floor Engagement
- [14:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-12-19-making-industrial-iot-work-lessons-from-30-years-in-automation-with-grace-techno#t=878) The Cost of Poor Integration: The $800k Arc Flash Case
- [19:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-12-19-making-industrial-iot-work-lessons-from-30-years-in-automation-with-grace-techno#t=1184) Connectivity Challenges: LTE, Wi-Fi, and 5G Reliability
- [28:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-12-19-making-industrial-iot-work-lessons-from-30-years-in-automation-with-grace-techno#t=1699) Company Origins: From VFDs to Graceport and Mass Customization

## Topics

- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Grace Technologies (company)
- Rockwell Automation (company)
- Civionics (company)
- Chrysler (company)
- Graceport (product)
- Perpetua Power Puck (product)
- Zigbee (other)
- LTE (other)
- 5G (other)
- NFPA 70E (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Connected Workers and the Evolution of the Industrial Workforce | SensorUp's Steve Liang](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-10-18-connected-workers-and-the-evolution-of-the-industrial-workforce-sensorups-steve) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [CES 2019 Special: Paul Loughnane, TE Connectivity](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2019-01-14-ces-2019-special-paul-loughnane-te-connectivity) (EE Times Current)
- [An Interview with John Davis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-03-26-an-interview-with-john-davis) (The Amp Hour)
- [Industrial IoT and Connectivity | Simply Embedded's Chris Karaplis | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2025-11-11-industrial-iot-and-connectivity-simply-embeddeds-chris-karaplis-internet-of-thin) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [Sensing at the Control Level: Leveraging Data for Both Safety and Analytics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2026-05-19-sensing-at-the-control-level-leveraging-data-for-both-safety-and-analytics) (Moore's Lobby)

## Citing this page

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