In the latest episode of our sponsored interview series, In The Spotlight, we’re joined by Deepan Patel, Industry Manager – Infrastructure at Phoenix Contact.
During the interview we unpack what’s new in Phoenix Contact’s Niagara controller range – and what it means for operators balancing uptime, scalability and security. We also discover how Niagara-based control can bring multiple systems into a single platform, particularly in environments such as chilled-water schemes, while adding hardware and deployment benefits aimed at the data centre market.
Scaling I/O without expanding the footprint
Patel highlights the controller footprint and built-in I/O as a starting point, then points to expansion options designed to scale up with demand. In the interview, he explains that the platform can connect up to 16 additional extensions, and that a larger controller variant can support up to 63 I/O modules in a compact format – targeting bigger, more complex deployments.
Key takeaways from the controller discussion:
- Niagara-based control with built-in I/O for a compact installation
- Expansion via extension modules to support larger deployments
- A focus on quicker deployment through modular connectivity and integration
- Redundancy, rapid failover and the resilience agenda
With redundancy front-of-mind for operators, Patel explains how network capabilities can support common N+1-style scenarios – where a primary system hands over to a secondary when something goes wrong.
As he puts it, when failures occur, the switch-over can be ‘almost instantaneous’.
Cyber resilience also comes up as a growing requirement for the sector, with Patel flagging that operators will need to align with emerging standards and expectations over the next few years – alongside the usual imperatives around power and network resilience.
