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EtherNet/IP is one of the most widely used industrial communication protocols for connecting PLCs, sensors, and controllers across manufacturing environments. If you're working with Allen-Bradley PLCs—whether it's ControlLogix, CompactLogix, or MicroLogix—you're using some of the most trusted automation hardware in the industry.

FlowFuse is introducing a new set of AI nodes to make it easier than ever to integrate AI and machine learning into your Node-RED workflows. In this guide, you will learn how to train an image classifier model, and use it with the new FlowFuse AI Nodes to recognise your own products, components - or anything else you can imagine.

To understand the impact Node-RED has had on industrial automation, it's useful to understand where it has come from and what has enabled its success.

FlowFuse is an industrial data platform built on Node-RED. Many Fortune 500 manufacturers and Industrial IoT companies use it to run mission-critical operations where downtime is not an option.

AI is moving fast, and with it, the tools we use to build intelligent applications. Two interesting platforms that have emerged are OpenAI's AgentKit and FlowFuse. While both offer AI capabilities, they are designed for very different purposes. Let's break down the key differences to help you decide which platform is the right fit for your needs.

Modbus RTU is one of the most widely used communication protocols in industrial automation. It allows you to read sensor data, monitor equipment status, and control devices through a simple master-slave architecture. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to start reading and writing industrial data with FlowFuse (a platform built around Node-RED with enterprise-level capabilities).

Takt time is one of the most fundamental—and most misunderstood—concepts in lean manufacturing. Despite being widely referenced in textbooks, audits, and production meetings, many factories still calculate takt time incorrectly or treat it as a theoretical number rather than an operational control. The result is familiar: overproduction during low demand, missed deliveries during peak demand, unstable lines, and constant firefighting on the shop floor.

FlowFuse 2.22 provides more powerful development by bringing the FlowFuse Assistant to more nodes, supports operational maturity with automatic FlowFuse Broker schema detection, and enhances the developer experience with an improved Snapshots interface, support for more powerful visualizations, a better Device Agent Installer experience, Dashboard updates, and more! Take a look:

Installing Node-RED is straightforward. Install Node.js, run a command, and you're ready for visual programming in industrial automation. The real challenge begins when it must run across production lines, connect to PLCs, and stay operational 24/7.

Getting data from your database used to mean writing SQL queries. Not anymore. The FlowFuse Expert now lets you ask for what you want in plain English and automatically generates the SQL for you in query node.

LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) is a low-power wireless protocol designed for IoT devices that need to transmit small amounts of data over long distances. FlowFuse is a platform that provides a visual programming interface for connecting IoT devices and services.

Every day, skilled operators make mistakes that cost thousands. A component installed backwards. A critical step skipped during rush orders. A measurement misread at shift's end.

Manufacturing environments face increasing pressure to eliminate waste, improve safety, and maintain quality standards. Disorganized workspaces contribute to production delays, safety incidents, and quality defects that directly impact operational performance. The 5S methodology addresses these challenges through systematic work area organization, but implementation requires consistent evaluation and measurement. A 5S checklist provides the structured framework necessary to assess, maintain, and improve work area organization standards across manufacturing operations.

IT vs OT explained for manufacturing (2026). Learn the key differences, security risks, and how to securely converge IT and OT systems without downtime or safety issues.

At 2:47 AM on a Tuesday, a $15 bearing brought down a $2 million production line.

FlowFuse includes an API that lets you manage Node-RED instances, edge devices, and deployments directly from your scripts or applications. While most people use the web interface, the API is a great option if you want to automate tasks or connect FlowFuse with other tools.