Legacy meets innovation: How Safesquare saves 30-year-old building automation - We talk IoT #74

In this episode, we explore a hidden crisis affecting thousands of buildings worldwide with Martin Mentzel, CEO of the German company Safesquare. For thirty years, Local Operating Network (LON) technology has quietly powered building automation systems in hospitals, office buildings, and transport infrastructure. Now, critical components face end-of-life as manufacturers discontinue essential neuron chips, leaving companies scrambling for solutions. Some companies need 8,000 replacement controllers per year that simply don't exist. Hospital operating rooms, lift systems, and building HVAC networks all depend on technology becoming impossible to maintain. Martin discusses how Safesquare's babi-LON platform replaces discontinued components without forcing expensive system redesigns. We examine why LON technology has endured for three decades, the scale of the component shortage crisis, and how innovative engineering preserves critical infrastructure investments. Tune in to discover how one company transforms an industry crisis into an opportunity whilst keeping essential systems running. #LON #buildingautomation #infrastructure #iot #wetalkiot   Summary of this week's episode: 01:38 Understanding Local Operating Networks (LON) in Building Automation 03:36 The Component Shortage: A Deep Dive 06:52 Safesquare's Solution 08:06 Challenges and Costs of System Redesign 14:16 Safesquare's Journey and Vision 23:18 Future of LON Technology in Building Automation   Show notes: Safesquare: https://safesquare.eu/ Webinar: https://gateway.on24.com/wcc/eh/2397559/lp/5053037/babi-lon-for-building-automation-safesquare?partnerref=podcast Listen to the "We Talk IoT" Soundtrack on: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/05MOV4OV2MH2in2txsAGtG?si=ad08112cb8d443f4 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-NvQ6VJYtE&list=PLLqgVFfZhDRVYmpEqbgajzDvGL4kACRDp About Avnet Silica: This podcast is brought to you by Avnet Silica—the Engineers of Evolution. Subscribe to our newsletters here: https://my.avnet.com/silica/resources/newsletter/ You can connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/silica-an-avnet-company/. Or find us at www.avnet-silica.com.