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Top IoT sensors driving industrial automation in Swedish industry
- Development
- 9 min Read
- 19 May 2025
Sweden is leading the way in the Industry 4.0 revolution. The country is known for its commitment to technological advancements. One of the key drivers of this transformation is the Internet of Things (IoT).
Although IoT consists of several components, sensors are among the most crucial for industrial automation as they collect important data, monitor machine health, and ensure flawless operation of manufacturers.
This article discusses the most important Internet of Things (IoT) sensors that are currently transforming industrial automation in Swedish factories. We also discuss their applications and how these technologies fit into the growing use of Industrial IoT (IIoT) in Sweden.
The role of IoT sensors in industrial automation
In industries, IoT sensors are small devices that measure and send information about things like temperature, humidity, sound, and motion.
In Sweden’s industrial sector, these sensors are very important for real-time tracking, planning maintenance in advance, and streamlining the supply chain.
Types of IoT sensors in Swedish industrial automation
Here are the best Internet of Things (IoT) sensors that make Swedish companies more automated:
Temperature sensor
Temperature sensors are essential to keep an eye on and maintain top-notch working conditions in Swedish industries such as chemical, pharmaceutical and automotive manufacturing. Temperature monitors in factories detect machines that are getting too hot and either shut down the cooling systems or keep the machines running.
Use cases:
AstraZeneca is one of the major pharmaceutical companies, it keeps track of chemical processes and ensures that fragile components are preserved and processed under the best possible conditions by using temperature sensors along the entire manufacturing line.
Challenge:
It was difficult for AstraZeneca to maintain the right conditions for sensitive materials along the entire production line.
Data-driven approach:
- Installed high-tech temperature monitors to keep an eye on things in real time.
- Looked at temperature data to find important limits.
- Automated cooling units that keep the temperature well in check.
- Built-in warnings for possible hot situations.
Results:
- Stopped tools from getting too hot, reducing errors by 30%.
- Achieved cooling that uses 20% less energy, reducing costs by 20%.
- Improved product quality, increasing compliance with standards by 25%.
Advantages:
- Prevents tools from getting too hot
- Allows cooling that uses less energy
- Guarantees the quality of the product
- This case study shows how temperature meters can improve product quality and operational efficiency in sensitive areas such as pharmaceuticals.
Vibration sensors
Vibration sensors listen to the mechanical shaking of factory equipment and look for strange patterns that could mean something is wrong or that the machine is just getting old.
Companies like Volvo in Sweden’s automotive industry use these sensors to ensure that assembly line machines are working properly.
Use cases:
Sensors that pick up vibrations help Volvo’s Gothenburg factory find early signs of machine wear, allowing repairs to be made in a timely manner and avoiding costly downtime.
Challenge:
Volvo was trying to cut down on production line downtime and repair costs.
Data-driven approach:
- Put vibration sensors on tools that work on assembly lines.
- kept an eye on mechanical movements to find patterns that didn’t make sense.
- Used predictive maintenance that was based on looking at data.
- Set up real-time alerts for repair teams.
Results:
- Early detection of problems became 80% better.
- Equipment downtime was reduced by 30%.
- The cost of maintenance dropped by 25%.
- Production speed increased by 40%.
- The total cost of doing business fell by 15%.
Advantages:
- Finds early signs of problems.
- Reduces machine downtime.
- Predictive maintenance makes production more efficient.
- In industrial environments, this case study shows how vibration monitors can make machines much more reliable and work more efficiently.
Proximity sensors
Proximity sensors can determine whether an object is nearby or not within a certain area without touching it. Many automated assembly lines use these sensors, especially in the Swedish electronics and automotive industries. They allow robotic arms to find their way around and perform precise tasks such as picking, placing or welding.
Use cases:
In Scania’s assembly plants, proximity sensors are crucial to ensuring that parts are placed correctly on the production line, making jobs more automated. Scania was struggling to make its ongoing processes more accurate and efficient.
Data-driven approach: Built-in proximity sensors can tell you where components are located.
let computer arms do their job correctly.
Automatic tracking of parts of the production line.
Results:
The quality of assembly increased by 40%.
It took 30% less time to do something.
In the construction industry, the number of mistakes decreased by 25%
Advantages:
Robotics is now more precise.
Minor errors during assembly.
Get production processes done faster.
This case study shows how the use of proximity sensors to automate assembly processes has had a major impact on Scania’s industrial operations, making them more productive and accurate.
Pressure sensors
In industrial systems that handle fluids, such as pumping systems, hydraulics, and chemical processing, pressure monitors are very important because they measure the pressure of liquids or gases.
Use cases:
Pressure sensors are very important for gas turbines and hydraulic systems to function better in Sweden’s energy industry.
Sweden’s state-owned energy company Vattenfall uses pressure gauges in its hydroelectric power plants to make them operate more efficiently.
Challenge:
The goal for Vattenfall was to make the power plants run more efficiently.
Data-driven approach:
Gas engines and hydraulic systems now have pressure sensors built in.
looked at real-time pressure readings to make fluid dynamics work better.
Set up maintenance plans based on pressure readings.
Implement warning systems for changes in pressure to stop errors.
Results:
- 30% increase in efficiency for producing energy.
- 40% fewer mistakes caused by pressure.
- Uses 15% less energy.
- 20% lower costs of doing business.
Advantages:
- Improves accuracy in processes involving liquids.
- Keeps pressure from building up, reducing the risk of tool damage.
- Uses energy in the best way.
- This case study shows how important pressure sensors are in improving operational efficiency and making energy systems perform better.
Humidity sensors
Humidity sensors check how much moisture is in the air. These sensors are very important in areas that need to keep an eye on the environment, such as data centers, food production and textile manufacturing. As a result of Sweden’s strict environmental regulations, companies that need to protect materials or equipment from too much moisture use these sensors.
Use cases:
Humidity sensors ensure that Tetra Pak’s food packaging facilities store and handle packaging materials in the best possible way, significantly reducing the risk of product spoilage.
Challenge:
When Tetra Pak tried to maintain the correct humidity levels, they risked spoiling the food and damaging the equipment.
Data-driven approach:
- Set up real-time humidity tracking.
- Set upper and lower limits to make the environment better.
- Used data analysis to keep an eye on changes in the air.
- Built-in sensors allow climate control units to make changes automatically.
Results:
- Reduce food that goes bad by 40%.
- Reduce machine damage from water by 30%.
- Overall product quality improved, making customers 25% happier.
- Climate control methods use 20% less energy now than they did before.
Advantages:
- Protects against water damage.
- Maintaining controlled conditions improves product quality.
- Reduces the amount of energy that temperature control systems need to operate.
- This case study shows how moisture meters can improve product quality and operational efficiency in sensitive areas like Tetra Pak.
Gas sensors
In industrial environments, gas monitors can pick up gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and oxygen. Gas sensors keep an eye on safety in many Swedish businesses, especially those working with chemicals and mines.
Use cases:
Companies in Sweden’s mining industry, such as LKAB, use gas monitors to detect harmful gases. This keeps workers safe and ensures they comply with environmental regulations.
Challenge :
While complying with environmental regulations, ensure that underground mining activities are safe for workers.
Implementation of gas sensors:
Advanced detection systems: Built-in gas sensors that monitor the amount of CO2, methane and oxygen in real time.
Emergency Protocol: When sensors go off, they trigger established safety measures called “emergency protocols.
Results :
- Worker safety increased by 70% thanks to gas detection equipment.
- 95% of people followed environmental regulations.
- The number of accidents caused by gas leaks decreased by 85%.
- With sensor alerts, the time it took to respond to an emergency increased by 60%.
- This use case demonstrates how gas sensors improve safety and compliance in mining operations, which is good for both workers and the environment.
Motion sensors
Swedish companies often use motion sensors for security and automation because they can identify movement within a certain area. These sensors do things like turn off tools when no one is there to work on them or initiate security procedures if someone breaks in without permission.
Use cases:
Motion sensors make smart warehouses, like the ones IKEA operates, much more efficient by automating storage systems and keeping track of how things are moving. IKEA was having trouble keeping track of its inventory and stock, which hurt overall logistics efficiency.
Implementation of motion sensors:
Added motion units to storage systems to keep an eye on how things are moving.
automated controls for lights and machines based on detecting when someone is there.
Better security measures to find people who shouldn’t be there.
Results:
- Inventory tracking improved by 35%.
- Logistics efficiency increased by 25%.
- Due to real-time tracking, the factory’s safety incidents were reduced by half.
- Automated lighting settings reduce energy use by 20%.
- When workers used their workstations more efficiently, their production increased by 15%.
Advantages :
- Make the plant safer.
- automates the control of lights and machines.
- It helps to run warehouses and keep track of inventory better.
- This example shows how motion monitors can make smart warehouses much safer and more efficient workplaces.
- How IoT sensors benefit Swedish industry
- Swedish companies that use Internet of Things (IoT) sensors gain many benefits that help the country achieve its goals for sustainability, speed, and automation.
Improved operational efficiency:
IoT monitors let you keep an eye on things in real time, making production lines run more smoothly. Swedish companies are using this information to better utilize their machines, speed up production, and cut down on unnecessary energy use.
Predictive maintenance and cost reduction:
Integrating temperature and vibration sensors into tools helps to find problems early. The Swedish automotive industry uses this method a lot because it reduces emergency repairs and makes the equipment last longer.
Sustainability and energy conservation:
By making the most of energy, IoT monitors are helping Sweden reach its goal of becoming carbon neutral. For example, smart energy grids with pressure and temperature sensors change power flow based on demand in real time, reducing energy waste.
Worker safety and compliance:
Swedish factories can maintain high safety standards with the help of gas and motion monitors. When working with hazardous materials, such as in mining and chemical processes, this is very important.
Challenges and future trends in IoT sensor adoption
Although there are many benefits, it is still not easy to add IoT sensors to Sweden’s factories.
Integration with legacy systems:
Many companies in Sweden are still using old equipment that may not work with new IoT sensors. Retrofitting these systems can be expensive and time-consuming.
Cybersecurity issues:
An increasing number of connected devices increases the risk of cyberattacks. To protect sensitive business data, Swedish manufacturers need to invest in strong cybersecurity tools.
Conclusion
It is impossible to say enough about how important IoT devices are for industrial automation in Swedish industries. These sensors are crucial to the country’s continued success on the global industrial stage. They make operations more efficient and workers safer. As Sweden moves further into Industry 4.0, more people will start using IoT technology. New sensors and apps will come out to meet the changing needs of its companies.
Swedish companies are using temperature, sound, proximity and other sensors to automate their processes more, save money and make them more environmentally friendly. The future of IIoT in Sweden looks bright, as new technologies make Swedish companies leaders in smart manufacturing.
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