In today’s connected industrial world, data is the new lifeblood. From energy efficiency to predictive maintenance, businesses rely on timely, accurate insights from their operations. But capturing that data from the plant floor and getting it where it needs to go — securely and cost-effectively — has long been a challenge.

That’s where Schneider Electric’s Modicon Edge IO comes in.

Schneider Edge NTS 1

What is Modicon Edge IO?

The Modicon Edge IO is a flexible, compact edge gateway designed to simplify data acquisition, connectivity, and integration between industrial devices and higher-level systems. It sits between sensors/actuators on the shop floor and the cloud or enterprise IT layer, enabling:

  • Direct connection to field devices (I/O, sensors, legacy PLCs)

  • Protocol translation (bridging OT protocols like Modbus, CANopen, EtherNet/IP with IT/cloud standards like MQTT, OPC UA, or REST APIs)

  • Edge processing to filter, pre-process, or aggregate data before sending it upstream

  • Secure connectivity to cloud platforms (EcoStruxure, Azure, AWS, etc.)

In short, it’s designed to turn raw machine data into actionable insights, without requiring a major overhaul of your existing systems.

Why Edge IO Matters

Traditional approaches often involve sending all raw sensor data to the cloud or SCADA system. This can lead to:

  • High bandwidth costs

  • Latency in decision making

  • Security concerns with transmitting sensitive industrial data externally

  • Integration headaches when bridging older equipment with modern IT systems

By placing intelligence at the edge, right where data is generated, Modicon Edge IO helps overcome these barriers.

Typical Use Cases

The Modicon Edge IO is particularly powerful in industries where retrofit, interoperability, and scalability are essential. Some examples:

  • Energy Monitoring – capture power usage data directly from devices and feed it to dashboards or EMS systems

  • Condition-Based Maintenance – monitor vibration, temperature, or pressure sensors, and trigger alerts before breakdowns occur

  • Remote Asset Monitoring – securely connect isolated equipment to the cloud without a full control system upgrade

  • Brownfield Integration – extend the life

Key benefits include:

  • Real-time insights and actions (e.g., stop a motor if a threshold is exceeded)

  • Reduced cloud/storage costs by filtering unnecessary data

  • Smoother IT/OT convergence — helping your teams work with the same data more effectively

  • Plug-and-play integration into Schneider’s EcoStruxure™ architecture as well as third-party platforms

Why We Recommend It

At AJ Hurst, we’ve seen first-hand how data gaps hold back efficiency gains in industry. The Modicon Edge IO provides a cost-effective bridge for clients who want to leverage IIoT capabilities without the disruption of replacing their existing systems.

Whether you’re focused on energy efficiency, predictive maintenance, or remote monitoring, this solution provides a scalable path to Industry 4.0 readiness.

The Schneider Modicon Edge IO isn’t just another gateway — it’s a key enabler of digital transformation in industry. By combining flexibility, security, and edge intelligence, it makes it easier than ever to harness your plant data where it matters most.

Smarter Data Starts at the Edge...

If you’d like to learn more on how EDGE I/O could fit into your operation, the AJ Hurst team is here to help.