Hyster-Yale Digital Manufacturing

Hyster-Yale's transformation journey aims for enhanced long term profitability and growth. One of the target areas is standardisation, scalability and connectivity across its manufacturing estate. An IIOT strategy has been developed to address this, starting with a lab based proof of concept, a production pilot and then global scale out. Hyster-Yale partnered with Control2k to enable a step change in IIOT architecture.

Phase 1, a proof of concept, was developed to validate a standardised, event-driven, open IIOT architecture built on publish–subscribe principles.

As part of this initiative, Control2K provided key enabling components:

• The Industreweb edge platform to handle industrial communication across multiple protocols, local dashboards and HMIs.
• Integration of diverse assets (e.g. Keyence cameras, Fanuc robots, Bosch Rexroth tools) into a unified communication layer
• Integration support and training
• Development of an MQTT-based MES API, supporting secure, event-driven data exchange between OT and IT systems

Within the broader solution, these components were used to:

• Move industrial communication away from enterprise systems and into the edge layer
• Structure data and maintain context as it moves into the IT layer
• Decouple shop floor devices from MES and other IT applications
• Enable real-time data publishing into the organisation’s Microsoft Azure data platform
• Prove a scalable architecture and standards framework for future rollout

The solution demonstrated a viable path to:

• Standardised IIOT integration across sites
• Scalable, cost-effective connectivity
• Reduced complexity and vendor dependency
• Improved access to shop floor data through a unified data platform
• Reduction in the number of software platforms in manufacturing

The proof of concept established a scalable, standardised foundation for industrial connectivity across Hyster-Yale's global operations. A production pilot is planned for 2026, with global scaling from 2027. Control2K continues to support the next phase of deployment.