About Us
NodeHarbor uses AI to turn raw industrial data into actionable insights. We help small and mid-sized manufacturers modernize by integrating directly with existing PLCs and sensors. Our edge-powered analytics, real-time alerts, and approachable, offline-ready dashboards are purpose-built for harsh environments—without the complexity or cost of traditional integration firms.
Our Approach
We partner with manufacturers, energy companies and government contractors to bridge the gap between cloud platforms and rugged field operations. Each engagement follows:
Discovery & Data Access
Assess your equipment, PLCs, and network to identify accessible data and integration points.
Edge Pipeline Design
Design lightweight, local-first pipelines for real-time data processing, alerts, and resilience.
Deploy & Insight Delivery
Install, test, and tune dashboards and alerting so your team sees the metrics that matter.
Practical Use Cases
Most In-Demand Services of IoT Consultants
Edge Data Integration
Bridge the gap between sensors, PLCs, and modern platforms with resilient edge pipelines.
We build lightweight, local-first systems that tap into your existing equipment and convert machine data into clean, structured streams — ready for dashboards, alerts, or remote monitoring.
Offline & Remote Analytics
Gain real-time visibility in environments where cloud connectivity isn’t guaranteed.
From air-gapped defense sites to rural facilities, we deploy field-tough analytics solutions that operate offline — collecting, processing, and displaying critical insights on-site.
IoT Readiness & Roadmapping
Plan and prioritize sensor and data system upgrades across your operation.
We assess your current systems and design a step-by-step integration plan, ensuring that each investment in IoT — from the first sensor to full-site visibility — delivers measurable ROI.
Machine Data Audit
Discover what your equipment is already telling you — and how to act on it.
We inventory your existing PLCs, sensors, and control systems to uncover what data is accessible, what matters, and how to extract value through thresholding, logging, and alerting.
Firmware to Dashboard
From embedded code to real-time UI — we build the full data path.
We write modular firmware for rugged microcontrollers, structure edge processing logic, and design dashboards that display your most critical operational metrics in real time.
Predictive Monitoring
Catch problems before they cause downtime with trend-based alerts.
We implement threshold logic, rolling averages, and lightweight anomaly detection at the edge — giving your team a heads-up when vibration, temperature, or pressure starts drifting out of bounds.
Free IoT Industry Insights for Business Owners
Discover practical strategies, case studies, and technical insights that help small and medium-sized businesses leverage IoT for real ROI.
How We Can Help You
Technologies We Leverage
Bluetooth Low Energy
connectivityEnergy-efficient wireless communication for IoT devices with limited power resources.
MQTT
connectivityLightweight messaging protocol designed for constrained devices and low-bandwidth networks.
AWS IoT Core
cloudManaged cloud service that enables connected devices to interact with cloud applications.
Azure IoT Hub
cloudManaged service for bi-directional communication between IoT applications and devices.
Secure Boot
securityHardware-based security feature that ensures devices boot using only trusted software.
Docker
developmentContainerization platform for consistent deployment across environments.
Time Series DB
analyticsSpecialized databases optimized for handling time-stamped data from IoT sensors.
UI/UX Design
developmentCreating intuitive interfaces for both web dashboards and on-device displays.
Edge Computing
developmentProcessing data near the source to reduce latency and bandwidth usage.
End-to-End Encryption
securitySecuring data from device to cloud with robust encryption protocols.
Rust & C/C++
developmentLow-level programming for resource-constrained devices with strong safety guarantees.
5G & NB-IoT
connectivityNext-generation cellular connectivity options for IoT devices requiring wide-area coverage.
Real Results: Machine Monitoring
How we helped a precision parts manufacturer reduce downtime by 37% without replacing equipment
The Challenge
Unexpected Downtime
CNC machines were failing with no warning, causing production delays and rushed maintenance.
Condition Visibility
No way to see real-time machine health or trends to predict potential failures.
Legacy Equipment
Mix of Siemens and Allen-Bradley PLCs with no budget for replacing functional machines.
Our Approach:
Non-invasive monitoring system that connected to existing PLCs to extract sensor data without modifying control logic. Data processed on-site with alerts and insights delivered to both shop floor displays and management dashboards.
The Results
Early vibration pattern detection identified bearing wear before catastrophic failure
Temperature trend analysis allowed for scheduled maintenance during planned downtime
Cycle time optimization identified 12% potential throughput increase
Implementation Timeline
Initial Assessment
Site survey, identified equipment types, PLC protocols, and network architecture. Defined key metrics with maintenance team.
Connectivity & Edge Installation
Installed industrial edge devices with secure read-only connections to Siemens S7 and Allen-Bradley PLCs. Set up local network for data processing.
Data Processing & Analysis
Configured data pipeline for vibration, temperature, and cycle time metrics. Implemented baseline modeling and anomaly detection algorithms.
Dashboard & Alert System
Deployed local Grafana dashboards for shop floor and management. Set up escalating SMS/email alerts for different condition thresholds.
Monitoring & Optimization
Continuous refinement of anomaly detection thresholds based on real-world events. Monthly review of system effectiveness and metric updates.
Initial Assessment
Week 1Site survey, identified equipment types, PLC protocols, and network architecture.
Connectivity & Edge
Week 2-3Installed edge devices with secure connections to PLCs. Set up local network for data processing.
Data Processing
Week 3-4Configured data pipeline for all metrics. Implemented anomaly detection algorithms.
Dashboard & Alerts
Week 4-5Deployed dashboards and set up escalating alerts for different conditions.
Monitoring & Optimization
OngoingContinuous refinement based on real-world events. Monthly system review.
Ready to Talk?
Schedule Free 15-Minute Field Readiness Consult. Get a no-obligation review of your site's connectivity, power and security posture—and see how quickly we can get you up and running, or, send us a message below.
Let's Build Something Together
If you're ready to bring your device from bench-top to field—or you need a hardened infrastructure for the ones already out there—let's talk.
hello@nodeharbor.io
Location
Chicago, IL