The term Eco Obsolete Technology refers to obsolete industrial automation components and systems that still meet current energy efficiency standards and can still be used to carry out their function in the industrial environment.
Just as the vinyl music format is appreciated for its sound quality, books for their history and vintage cars for their sense of power, the obsolete components of industrial automation are still widely used because they remain relevant for the plant in which they operate.
Contrary to the idea that it transmits, the adjective obsolete does not mean at all antiquated, faulty or useless; it simply qualifies a component no longer produced or supported by the manufacturer who has a new product that he would like to have adopted instead.
In this context there is also the phenomenon of programmed obsolescence, which consists in a decline in the useful life of the product based on parameters predefined by the manufacturer: software updates that are no longer available or components that are no longer compatible in terms of shape, size or communication standard.
Technological advancement means that the technology itself becomes obsolete faster than before.
A STRATEGIC CHOICE
The delicate nature of some industrial sectors (for example pharmaceuticals) makes EOT take on an important role in keeping the automated processes running without a long and costly complete overhaul of the plant.
Obsolescence does not mean that the device no longer works, but it could mean that it is more difficult to find on the market even though it is still able to guarantee the same levels of energy efficiency as the latest generation device.
Embracing the EOT philosophy brings ecological and economic advantages for companies that can maintain optimal levels of productivity and efficiency while avoiding the environmental and financial costs that arise from the reorganization of the production lines.
The awareness that "older" does not necessarily mean "less efficient from the energy point of view" is increasingly widespread in all sectors.
In the same way it is growing the conviction that "being truly innovative does not necessarily mean being revolutionary" and adopting the latest technology at an early stage.
Being innovative today also means making informed choices that do not harm productivity and allow us to sustain our growth with solid foundations, maintaining existing systems that are already functioning in perfect efficiency.
