What does it take to move from automation hype to practical, scalable solutions on the factory floor?

In this deep-dive episode of Manufacturing Hub, recorded live at the ProveIt Conference, we’re joined by Benson Hougland, Vice President at Opto 22—a company that has been quietly shaping the future of industrial automation for over 50 years.

Benson walks us through the journey of Opto 22: from its roots as the birthplace of the solid-state relay to becoming a leader in edge-native control platforms with the groov EPIC and groov RIO product lines. More importantly, he reveals how Opto 22 is tackling two of the most critical challenges in modern manufacturing: democratizing OT data and cybersecurity at the edge.

We cover:

✅ Who Opto 22 really is and what they set out to "prove" at the ProveIt Conference
✅ The role of the Unified Namespace (UNS) in enabling real-time industrial data architecture
✅ How Opto’s platforms help solve the "dark asset" problem in brownfield facilities
✅ Cybersecurity by design—not just bolted on later
✅ Why the controller of the future is more like a smartphone than a flip phone
✅ Running containers on the edge: what this unlocks for OT teams
✅ Long-term partnerships with companies like Inductive Automation and why that matters
✅ How Opto 22 systems remain IT-friendly, OT-usable, and fully made in the USA
✅ Their collaboration with the State of Indiana to bring energy-focused digital transformation to SMB manufacturers
✅ Lessons from past moonshots—like cellular control systems with Nokia that were ahead of their time
✅ What’s next: ML at the edge, scalable architectures, and more accessible solutions for plants without big digital teams

Throughout the conversation, Benson emphasizes a philosophy that will resonate with anyone trying to lead transformation in manufacturing: start small, solve a real problem, and scale with purpose. Whether you're tackling legacy infrastructure, looking to secure your OT layer, or just trying to make sense of the noise in the automation space, this episode will leave you with tangible ideas and a clear-eyed view of what's possible.

🎧 Plus: Why PLCs need to behave more like clients, why MQTT is so central to modern architectures, and how to get buy-in from leadership with energy wins.

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