The Internet of Things (IoT) is now upon us, and metal stamping technology is having a huge effect on this development. Stamping has played a very significant role in the automation of buildings and the connected infrastructure. Most of the components that make up the basic automation function of a building, or the infrastructure that connects various systems within it, are created using metal stamping. The basic sensors that are found in a building to make it automated—such as to turn on lights when someone enters a room—are made using metal stamping.
Sensors can be integrated into building infrastructure practically and affordably thanks to metal stamping. Metal-stamped parts like brackets, housings, and other forms ensure that the devices themselves are positioned accurately.

Yet it is essential to ask what exactly is being sensed. Environmental sensors collect all the key building data. Our real-time data streams allow us to see what's happening in our buildings at any given moment—how many people are in the building, for example, or how hot or cold it is. And the accuracy of what we're able to see hinges directly on how accurately we've positioned the sensors.
Efficiency and sustainability in building automation come from energy distribution components that are "metal stamped." These components, like electrical bus bars and connectors, form the skeleton of a reliable and efficient energy distribution system that allows power to flow to where it is needed. Heat sinks and other thermal management solutions stamped from metal not only look good, but also work well. They guarantee that everything runs cool enough to maintain the reliability and lifespan of a warm-running device. A heat sink ought to be sustainable and cost-effective, so the design has to be efficient.
The vital role of metal stamping in smart buildings is security systems. When smart buildings have security systems, they are always more secure. When an access control device needs to be installed, a custom-fabricated metal enclosure is made. The same goes for surveillance cameras and alarm systems. The custom-fabricated nature of these metal installations gives them a huge advantage in terms of structural integrity and also in terms of being tamper-resistant—who's going to get into a locked metal enclosure when no one can see the locked part? Metal stamping is a fine way to make a certain kind of intricate design in a certain kind of metal.
Building automation systems must be capable of growth and change. They must be scalable and adaptable. To produce the kinds of custom components needed for this, the automation industry turns to metal stamping. It is an ancient yet effective process that lets manufacturers easily replicate parts or change designs when needed. The building automation industry makes ample use of metal-stamped parts. The parts are consistent and compatible across all sorts of installations. The industry also relies on the scalability of stamped metal parts. Use of the components doesn’t limit the automation system's capability of future growth and change.
Advanced production processes elevate metal stamping to the next level. Metal stamping is no longer simply a mechanical-age method for making parts. Components for building automation systems come out of metal stamping die sets. ... That produces parts with tight tolerances and consistent quality. Our understanding of building control demands continues to increase. As our knowledge builds, so too does the need for more effective, more efficient parts. The lead times for components demand that they be made in quantities large enough to maintain some semblance of pace with the spaces that are automated.
Innovation in smart building development comes from the collaboration of experts in metal stamping, building automation, and IoT technology. These collaborations pool and apply expertise to drive the next level of innovation in smart buildings—largely in the realms of materials science, design optimization, and basic techniques of metal stamping. They also lead to enhancements in the core technologies of building automation and sensor technology—increasing the effectiveness of energy management systems and the integration of AI capabilities throughout the smart building.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is rapidly moving through the connected building space, bringing with it all the usual benefits of digitization—collecting data in real time, improving overall energy efficiency, ensuring all systems and people are secure, and making everything scalable and manageable.

Of all the connected technologies, however, the IoT in buildings is probably the most varied and fragmented. Within this ecosystem, metal stamping is a key player, tightly integrated into a wide swath of the components that make up Building IoT systems. Today, up to 90 percent of the smart ecosystem in a building relies on efficient, low-cost, and low-power solutions, for which metal stamping is almost always the answer.