What happens when a controls engineer raised in coal mines starts turning chicken manure into renewable energy? In this episode, made possible by PLCnext Technology, we get a masterclass in practical automation, functional safety, and building systems that work in the real world.

Jason Watts, Owner and Founder of Alpha Industrial Technologies, joins Phil Seboa and Ed Fuentes to discuss building an automation company around passionate engineers, using AI as an adversary in the design process, and why improperly applied safety functions can be more dangerous than no safety at all.

In this episode, we explore:

• Building an automation company with a flexible, passion-driven workforce model
• Using AI as an adversary to stress-test engineering designs and find failure modes
• Cross-industry technology transfer from mining and automotive to agriculture
• Why Safe Torque Off (STO) is often implemented incorrectly and the case for risk assessments
• Converting poultry manure into renewable natural gas and fertilizer using bio digesters and IIoT

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This episode is proudly made possible by PLCnext Technology

PLCnext Technology is the ecosystem for industrial automation consisting of open hardware, modular engineering software, a global community, and a digital software marketplace.

Learn more at:

⁠⁠https://www.plcnext-community.net/news/synergy-edge-cloud/

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Connect with Jason on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonwattsae/

Connect with Phil on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philseboa/

Connect with Ed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edfuentes/

Learn more about Alpha Industrial Technologies: http://www.alphaindustrial.us

Join host Ed and Phil as they explore how PLCnext Technology is redefining what industrial controllers can do, and why openness in automation is both a massive opportunity and a serious responsibility. Martin Boers, Technical Specialist at PLCnext Technology with Phoenix Contact, joins to discuss the origins of the PLCnext ecosystem, what IT/OT convergence really looks like on the plant floor, and how partnerships with companies like Festo and Yaskawa are shaping the future of automation platforms.

Key topics in this episode:

- The four pillars of PLCnext Technology: Control, Engineer, Store, and Community

- IT/OT convergence: LDAP, firewalls, certificates, and the EU Cyber Resilience Act

- Docker containers and the PLCnext Store app ecosystem

- PLCnext Technology partnerships and the all-electric society

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This episode is proudly made possible by PLCnext Technology

PLCnext Technology is the ecosystem for industrial automation consisting of open hardware, modular engineering software, a global community, and a digital software marketplace.

Learn more at:

⁠https://www.plcnext-community.net/news/synergy-edge-cloud/

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Connect with Martin on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mboers/

Connect with Phil on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/philseboa/

Connect with Ed on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/edfuentes/

Learn more about PLCnext Technology:

https://www.plcnext-community.net/

What happens when a controls engineer with 16 years of mining and manufacturing experience decides to build an AI-powered SoftPLC from scratch? In this episode, we find out.

Alex Sharikov, Founder of Jasper-X and creator of JasperNode, joins Phil Seboa and Ed Fuentes to share how he's enabling small manufacturers to program and troubleshoot their control systems using plain English, no PLC software required.

Key topics in this episode:

• Why 80% of Australian manufacturers struggle with automation support
• How JasperNode's "atomic and unambiguous logic" keeps AI reliable
• The shift from prompt engineering to context engineering in control systems
• Building a SoftPLC from scratch instead of patching AI onto existing platforms
• Why human-in-the-loop safety is non-negotiable for production environments

This episode is proudly made possible by PLCnext Technology

PLCnext Technology is the ecosystem for industrial automation consisting of open hardware, modular engineering software, a global community, and a digital software marketplace.

Learn more at:

https://www.plcnext-community.net/news/synergy-edge-cloud/

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Connect with Alex on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-sharikov/

Connect with Phil on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-seboa/

Connect with Ed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-fuentes-2046121a/

Learn more about Jasper-X: https://jasperx.com.au

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About Industry Sage Media:

Industry Sage Media is the content creation company behind Unplugged: An IIoT Podcast. We help automation brands grow their reach, influence, and pipeline through expert-driven content.

Learn more at: http://www.industrysagemedia.com

Industrial automation meets modern software as FlowFuse CEO ZJ van de Weg joins Phil Seboa and Ed Fuentes to unpack how open-source tools like Node-RED are connecting teams across IT and OT, breaking down barriers with visual, low-code programming. Hear firsthand insights about scaling automation systems, the challenges and rewards of open source in manufacturing, and clever approaches to secure data management and fleet updates.

From home automation passion projects to strategic deployment in factories, this episode teases out the evolution of workflow integration, the importance of context, and practical ways organizations are pursuing smarter operations, plus a preview of what to expect at the ProveIt! Conference.

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About ZJ:

ZJ is the CEO of FlowFuse. As an engineer-turned-CEO with a career built on open-source software, his mission is to empower engineers to build better, more efficient software solutions.

Connect with ZJ: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zegerjan/⁠

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About FlowFuse:FlowFuse is the Industrial Application Platform that connects any machine, moves data across any protocol, models it in any data platform, and operates industrial applications at scale—accelerated by an LLM-powered copilot that uses Model Context Protocol (MCP) to connect AI directly to your live industrial data.

Learn More:https://flowfuse.com/https://flowfuse.com/platform/why-flowfuse

Learn about FlowFuse at ProveIT Conference:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Wvbhw9MHzs

Follow FlowFuse on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FlowFuseInc

Listen to our episode with FlowFuse’s Nick O’Leary:https://youtu.be/mNCiiAHHFGU

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Connect with Phil on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-seboa/

Connect with Ed on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-fuentes-2046121a/

-----

About Industry Sage Media:

Industry Sage Media is your backstage pass to industry experts and the conversations that are shaping the future of the manufacturing industry.

Learn more at: http://www.industrysagemedia.com

In this episode of Unplugged, powered by PLCnext Technology, Phil and Ed they sit down with Jasper Louage of Mustry Solutions to discuss the latest advances in industrial automation and manufacturing data systems. Jasper shares his experience bringing event-driven architectures, open source platforms, and unified namespace concepts to real-world manufacturing environments. Hear about practical integrations, data flow from plant floor to enterprise, and managing change in IT/OT cultures. Whether you're a manufacturer, tech professional, or automation enthusiast, you'll gain perspective on BI, MES, SCADA, open source, and the future of industrial technology.

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This episode is made possible by PLCnext Technology

PLCnext Technology is the ecosystem for industrial automation consisting of open hardware, modular engineering software, a global community, and a digital software marketplace.

Learn more at:

⁠⁠https://www.plcnext-community.net/news/synergy-edge-cloud/⁠⁠

-----

Connect with Phil on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-seboa/

Connect with Ed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-fuentes-2046121a/

Connect with Jasper on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasper-louage/

Learn more about Mustry Solutions: mustrysolutions.com

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About Industry Sage Media:

Industry Sage Media is your backstage pass to industry experts and the conversations that are shaping the future of the manufacturing industry.

Learn more at: http://www.industrysagemedia.com

In this week's episode, powered by PLCnext Technology, Cisco's Chief Global Architect Kevin Wood joins the conversation to break down the practical strategies manufacturers need for secure, future-ready operations. Hear firsthand about the real-world challenges holding back IT and OT collaboration, the critical importance of visibility for protecting and optimizing your plant floor, and the evolving role of network infrastructure in enabling Industry 4.0.

If your organization is navigating legacy technology, security risks, or planning large-scale digital transformation, this episode is packed with expert guidance and industry best practices. Walk away with actionable steps for building a resilient and competitive industrial environment.

-------

This episode is made possible by PLCnext Technology

PLCnext Technology is the ecosystem for industrial automation consisting of open hardware, modular engineering software, a global community, and a digital software marketplace.

Learn more at:

https://www.plcnext-community.net/news/synergy-edge-cloud/

-------

Connect with Phil on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-seboa/

Connect with Ed on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-fuentes-2046121a/

Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-wood-7194624/

Decades of industrial automation, SCADA implementations, and digital transformation meet the future of IIoT in this conversation with special guest Max Carritt, made possible by PLCnext Technology. Hosts Phil Seboa and Ed Fuentes trace Max’s journey from early experiences in Texas gas plants to leading multi-site SCADA modernization in Europe.

This episode covers technical growth, project challenges, cultural contrasts between U.S. and European automation, and hands-on learning with open platforms like Ignition. Highlights include mobile SCADA innovations, transitioning to enterprise-scale solutions, best practices for reducing tech debt, and building custom applications for fun (like D&D game management).

Whether you're stepping into the industry, evaluating career paths in controls engineering, or looking for practical advice on databases and IT/OT convergence, this discussion offers firsthand accounts and hard-won lessons from the field.

-----------------

This episode is made possible by PLCnext Technology

PLCnext Technology is the ecosystem for industrial automation consisting of open hardware, modular engineering software, a global community, and a digital software marketplace.

Learn more at:

https://www.plcnext-community.net/news/synergy-edge-cloud/

-----------------

Connect with Phil on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-seboa/

Connect with Ed on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-fuentes-2046121a/

Connect with Max on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxcarritt/

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About Industry Sage Media:

Industry Sage Media is your backstage pass to industry experts and the conversations that are shaping the future of the manufacturing industry.

Learn more at: http://www.industrysagemedia.com

IT and OT have never been closer yet more misunderstood. In this episode, powered by PLCnext Technology, David Ariens brings candid insight from his global industry experience to the table, breaking down why IT/OT convergence remains a challenge and how it’s far more than just a technical problem. Hear stories from frontline operations, learn why trust and collaboration trump technology, and get practical advice for companies wrestling with digital transformation across manufacturing, infrastructure, and process sectors.

From lessons in organizational models to thoughts on data openness, the conversation uncovers strategies for building real momentum behind change, making it clear that successful transformation hinges on the people behind the systems as much as the technology itself.

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This episode is made possible by PLCnext Technology

PLCnext Technology is the ecosystem for industrial automation consisting of open hardware, modular engineering software, a global community, and a digital software marketplace.

Learn more at:

⁠https://www.phoenixcontact.com/en-pc/products/plcnext-technology⁠

----------

Connect with David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidariens/

The IT/OT Insider:

https://itotinsider.com

ITOT.Academy

Connect with Phil on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-seboa/

Connect with Ed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-fuentes-2046121a/

About Industry Sage Media:

Industry Sage Media is your backstage pass to industry experts and the conversations that are shaping the future of the manufacturing industry.

Learn more at: http://www.industrysagemedia.com