Automation and Smart Home Trends Reshape the Electrical Industry
Last Updated: 2026-05-28T13:59:27.329-04:00
Chariho Career and Technical Center's Electrical Technology class visited ProSystems Integration, an automation company in Westerly, to learn about career opportunities in industrial automation. The tour was led by ProSystems' president and owner, John Brunelle, and his son Jesse, an engineer at the company and a Chariho alumnus. The students saw various systems, from equipment for making medical tubing to automated systems for Hershey Chocolate and Krispy Kreme. The visit aimed to show students the industrial side of the electrical industry, which is often overlooked in their curriculum, and to highlight the growing opportunities in the field due to rapidly changing technology. The class instructor, Ryan Northup, said the visit provided a real-world application of what they learn in class and could inspire students to pursue careers in industrial automation.
Siemens has launched the Simatic S7-1200 G2, a new generation of its control system that is NIS2-ready. Level Automation, a Swedish company that specializes in building electrical and automation cabinets, has already migrated to the new system. The migration process was "ridiculously easy" and took only two minutes, according to Martin Ozols, the company's owner. The new system is certified according to the IEC 62443 cybersecurity standard, which is important for meeting the requirements of the NIS2 Directive. The Simatic S7-1200 G2 is also more powerful and compact than its predecessor, and it offers new features such as more memory and I/O cards with more channels.
Post Electric, a licensed electrical contractor serving Southwest Missouri, has expanded its residential electrical services to include comprehensive home automation and smart technology integration capabilities. The expansion addresses growing demand from homeowners seeking to modernize their electrical systems and incorporate connected home technologies. The enhanced service offerings include whole-home electrical assessments, panel upgrades, dedicated circuit installations, and integration of smart home devices and systems.
Manfred Lehmann, Strategic Product Manager at WAGO, a German electrical engineering manufacturer, discussed the company's entry into the home automation market with its new Matter-enabled products. He explained that WAGO's strategy is to empower electricians to be successful in the long term, and that the Matter standard is key to this. He believes that the trend is moving away from rigid smart home systems and towards systems that can be customized and expanded by the homeowner. WAGO's new products are designed to bridge the gap between the consumer electronics world and professional building installations. The company is committed to the Thread communication standard and believes that it is the right choice for the smart home of the future.
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