IoT-enabled industrial ecosystem aims to improve worker comfort

Big Ass Fans and Lexmark have collaborated to launch CommandSense, an innovative IoT-powered comfort ecosystem designed to enhance the wellbeing of industrial and manufacturing workers. This fully automated system aims to mitigate heat stress, improve safety standards, and reduce energy costs in industrial facilities.

CommandSense offers a new way for businesses to manage rising temperatures, especially after the record-breaking heat of the past summer, while aligning with evolving regulations for worker safety and addressing concerns about cost, infrastructure, and sustainability.

With 25 years of experience in delivering high-quality comfort solutions for complex environments, Big Ass Fans has been a leader in the industry. CommandSense is its latest offering, introducing a comprehensive solution to manage facility temperatures and improve working conditions for frontline staff.

“At Big Ass Fans, our goal is to provide comfort without compromise,” said Ken Walma, President and CEO of Big Ass Fans. “CommandSense represents a new era for this mission. We’re proud to bring this automatic comfort and cooling solution to frontline associates and take worker safety to the next level.”

CommandSense integrates Lexmark and Microsoft technology, combining Lexmark’s advanced capabilities with Big Ass Fans’ robust design. The system constantly monitors factors such as occupancy, humidity, and temperature, automatically adjusting fans, heaters, and ventilation systems to provide precise control over indoor conditions.

“Innovation is so exciting to watch,” said Demetrios Karathanasis, IoT portfolio Director for Lexmark. “The Lexmark team is thrilled to provide the foundational technology that has allowed Big Ass Fans to make the leap from manufacturing exceptional products to offering comfort without compromise through CommandSense.”

Each CommandSense setup is tailored to the specific needs of its facility, delivering bespoke comfort control for small to medium-sized operations, with potential scalability for larger environments. The system uses a combination of Edge computing, an IoT platform, environmental sensors, and advanced technology for seamless integration. It offers significant benefits, including:

• Alleviating heat stress by up to 60%, which can boost worker productivity by up to 50% when used alongside Big Ass Fans’ heaters
• Providing continuous monitoring and automatic alerts if any system components encounter issues
• Using up to four times less energy than traditional HVAC systems, leading to potential savings of up to $1 million over a five-year period

CommandSense aims to set a new standard for comfort and energy efficiency in industrial workplaces, ensuring employees remain safe and comfortable while helping businesses manage costs and improve productivity.

There’s plenty of other editorial on our sister site, Electronic Specifier! Or you can always join in the conversation by commenting below or visiting our LinkedIn page.