KMC Controls Provides Innovative, Intuitive IoT and Automation Solutions

The Internet of Things (IoT) is not merely a step along the path to digital transformation; it is the driving force. At the core of IoT are smart devices. They come in every shape and size, from nanochips and smart dust to gigantic machines. However, while IoT seems to be just one technology, it actually incorporates many technologies, such as cloud computing, data analytics, mobile, sensors, and machine-to-machine communications. In today’s fast-paced, interconnected world, collaboration in developing new technology is vital to fielding successful new solutions. One interesting opportunity is automating and controlling building systems, reducing energy consumption and operating costs while maximizing operational efficiency, comfort and safety. KMC Controls is one such company that helps facilities achieve higher levels of energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality, and with their new IoT platform, they’re doing a whole lot more.

Dating Back to the 60’s

Founded in 1969, KMC Controls is an independently owned, American manufacturer of building automation and IoT solutions, selling to a number of global channels such as system integrators, system distributors, IT providers and OEM partners. For nearly 50 years, the company has been helping facilities achieve higher levels of energy efficiency and indoor air quality by automating and controlling building systems. This long history of OT (opesrational technology) success and expertise has formed the foundation for a strong entry into commercial IoT, a unique perspective given IT (information technology) has largely led the charge in the consumer IoT world. By developing open, scalable solutions, KMC provides an affordable IoT platform for businesses of all sizes across nearly every vertical: KMC Commander.

IoT Goes Beyond Building Automation

The KMC leadership team is dedicated to emerging technologies and providing innovative solutions to its customers. From the beginning, KMC founder Ken Kreuter began with a mission to design and manufacture HVAC control system products like damper actuators, pneumatic-electric switches, and logic relays. Now out of their 100,000 square foot manufacturing facility in New Paris, Indiana, KMC’s solutions have expanded to full, modern digital building automation solutions. Tying these types of solutions together with other building systems is now a top priority for the company as it dives deep into IoT. In many ways, building automation was the first IoT – intelligent sensors, connected to intelligent devices that communicate to each other, run by software on intelligent controllers. Sounds a lot like IoT, which is the reason KMC is uniquely positioned to provide such a solution.

A Partnership is Formed

Three years ago, KMC saw a changing tide. IT was taking a more prominent role in building automation systems. IoT was becoming common in industry vernacular. And KMC was doubling down on its promise to provide innovative and intuitive solutions. After an impromptu conversation with Intel, a partnership was quickly formed. Having a shared vision for the future of commercial IoT, Intel was instrumental in introducing KMC to Dell, who now offers lines of IoT Edge Gateways, hardware used by KMC Commander today. KMC Commander is in fact the most advanced IoT platform for enterprise-level building automation and control. It provides cutting-edge integration, analytics, and visualization technology in real-time delivered to your mobile device. Also it provides a single cloud-based mobile platform for uniting buildings across networks, protocols and locations. With a deep understanding of the OT side of the buildings, KMC Commander brings an innovative solution to unite all the building networks in a single platform in true IT fashion.

Open, Secure and Scalable

KMC Commander is built on three pillars to ensure IoT success. KMC’s platform is truly open, meaning regardless of protocols, devices, or legacy systems being integrated, the data is not made proprietary. While IT environments have typically been open, OT systems are notoriously ‘closed’ by nature, unless of course you pay a premium for drivers or special integrations. KMC Commander gives you the data to do what you want via our included open API. The second pillar is security. With over a dozen security features built into the physical and digital layers, the platform is among one of the most secure. Security features include physical port and communications whitelisting, TLS encryption, and a containerized Linux operating system. The last pillar is scalability; both functionally and financially. With KMC Commander, aggregate your buildings’ data, whether together on a single campus or spread across the globe, the platform easily gathers the data together to one location. And all of this can be accomplished in such a cost-efficient way that most of the time, it’s considered an operating expense as opposed to a capital expense. All said and done, KMC Commander prides itself on being truly open, truly secure and truly scalable, unlike any other IoT platform on the market.

Your Building. Your Data. KMC’s Platform

When a major Florida school system was looking for a way to better track the energy usage of their cafeterias, they turned to KMC Commander to monitor the utilities. What began as a simple metering project, quickly turned into a long term project to incorporate much more, creating a true IoT strategy. They began planning to incorporate temperatures from their refrigerated areas, saving weekend trips to document food temperatures. They also quickly realized the ability to monitor backup generators and fuel levels, helping ensure when major storms would come through, the generators ran and food storage remained at appropriate levels. This project is not unlike other IoT projects, starting on a small scale and quickly ramping up with full monitoring and control capabilities, and KMC Commander’s scalability makes that possible. It can for you too!

What’s Driving the Future

As KMC Controls continues as a best-in-class IoT solutions provider, there are two things driving its present and future success. First, a strong, dedicated team of people united in a shared vision for what IoT is and can be, led by their CEO, Richard Newberry; and second, a continually growing, strengthening relationship with Intel and Dell. Collaboration is the key to IoT success, and KMC is well positioned internally and externally to realize that success.

From the Founder’s Desk

Richard A. Newberry, CEO: He leads KMC Controls as the CEO to optimize growth and profitability. He has led corporate development, new product innovation, and competitive strategy for the company since 2014. With more than 35 years of executive and general management experience in energy, oil and gas, technology manufacturing, and building automation segments, he applies a total solution view to guiding innovation and forging strategic partnerships with industry-leading technology firms. He currently leads KMC’s collaboration with Silicon Valley tech giants, including Intel and Dell, developing a revolutionary IoT solution.

“Our tightly integrated product development and manufacturing processes result in the most innovative and intuitive solutions on the market!”