[Editor's Note] At the 2025 Smart Factory & Automation Industry Exhibition, STMicroelectronics attracted the attention of visitors by showcasing various smart factory automation solutions that incorporate I/O-Link technology. I/O-Link-based products such as vibration sensors, ToF sensors, and RFID readers were showcased, and it was also reported that interest in I/O-Link is gradually increasing in the Korean market.

We met with STMicroelectronics' Yang-Gu Kang, representative, and looked at various products and solutions based on ST's I/O-Link that are applied to smart factories.

■ Please introduce the products being introduced at this exhibition.

The reason I participated in this exhibition was to introduce ST products. Most of the products shown here are those that incorporate I/O-Link.

There are the following I/O-Link-integrated vibration sensors, ToF sensors, RFID readers, input boards, master boards, tower lights, solenoid valve drivers, digital output boards, and PLC boards.
■ What are the market trends related to smart factory automation systems?

What is currently demanded in the smart factory field is the trend of connecting products by grafting I/O-Link. Customers mainly want solutions that integrate hardware and software and have everything built in place.

■ Why are ST’s factory automation system products attracting attention?

What makes this product noteworthy is that ST currently offers a variety of solutions, allowing customers to quickly adopt the product.

Finally, there is the PLC, and the ST solution that goes into it is the ST MCU, and for the sensors and other I/O-Link communications, there is the L6360 or L6364.

■ What are the main applications?

The current demos are of products that can be used in factory automation. It can be applied to a system that has I/O-Link grafted.

For example, when a button is pressed, the input board receives a signal, and then the I/O-Link master receives the information and ultimately sends it to the PLC. The PLC executes the program according to the defined logic, and the tower light turns on accordingly.

So, I think it will be of great help to companies that build these systems or to customers that commercialize each product.

■ What are the main advantages and differences compared to competitors?

For key benefits, ST not only provides semiconductors, but also enables turnkey solutions to be commercialized in finished product form for rapid application by customers.

In terms of differentiation compared to competitors' products, while competitors usually only sell chips, ST can provide total solutions quickly and at a low price.
■ What were the reactions on site at this exhibition?

As we continue to progress, we continue to meet students and business people. In the case of China and Europe, I/O-Link communication is integrated, but in Korea, there are some shortcomings.

As I have been doing this for a while, I feel like my interest in I/O-Link is growing.

(Continued in Part 2)