If there is one topic that perfectly reflects where manufacturing is heading today, it is the ability to connect people, systems and data across the entire production environment. That is precisely why the theme of ABISS 2026 – Connecting Every OT/IT Dot in IIoT immediately resonated with us at Contec.
As an exhibitor and partner of this year’s event, we see the same challenge every day while working alongside manufacturers across Europe, the UK, and the US. Companies continue to invest in automation, digital platforms and new production technologies, yet many still struggle with fragmented systems, isolated data and increasingly complex industrial environments. The real opportunity is about making existing technologies work together in a secure way.
That conversation is exactly what makes ABISS one of the most relevant industrial events in Belgium.
The ABISS 2026 Theme: OT/IT Integration and Connecting Every OT/IT Dot
Manufacturing has changed significantly over the last decade. Production lines generate more information than ever before, machines are becoming increasingly intelligent, and cloud platforms, AI and advanced analytics are opening up entirely new possibilities.
Yet despite all this progress, one challenge continues to slow many digital transformation initiatives: connecting everything together.
It is no longer unusual for a manufacturer to operate multiple PLC platforms, SCADA systems, MES applications, ERP software, quality systems and cloud services simultaneously. Individually, these technologies deliver value. Together, however, they often create a landscape that is difficult to integrate, expensive to maintain and increasingly challenging to secure.
This is exactly the challenge that ABISS 2026 addresses. Rather than focusing on individual technologies, this year’s event explores how Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT) can work as one connected ecosystem, enabling manufacturers to make better decisions, respond faster to change and build factories that are ready for the future.
40 years of industrial transformation
This year also marks an important milestone for Contec as we celebrate 40 years of helping manufacturers transform their operations.
Looking back, it is remarkable how much manufacturing has evolved during those four decades. Projects that once focused on individual machines or production lines have gradually expanded into connected production environments where automation, industrial IT, manufacturing systems and cybersecurity all play an equally important role.
In many ways, the theme of ABISS tells the same story.
The industry’s biggest challenge is no longer deciding whether factories should become digital. That decision has already been made. Today’s challenge is understanding how to connect machines, applications, people and data in a way that creates real operational value while remaining secure and scalable for years to come.
That evolution mirrors our own. As manufacturing has become more connected, our role has grown beyond automation projects to helping customers build integrated industrial environments where information flows seamlessly across the entire organisation.
From automation projects to connected manufacturing
Every manufacturer follows a different digital transformation journey, but the conversations we have with customers are becoming remarkably similar.
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How can production data be shared more effectively between systems?
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How do we connect OT and IT without introducing unnecessary complexity?
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How can MES, ERP and cloud applications exchange information in real time?
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How do we prepare our operations for AI while maintaining reliability and cybersecurity?
How can production data be shared more effectively between systems?
These questions rarely have a single technology answer.
They require an integration strategy.
Today, Contec helps manufacturers design and implement connected production environments by combining industrial automation, manufacturing integration, Industrial IT, cloud connectivity and cybersecurity into one coherent approach. Instead of treating each technology as a separate project, we focus on creating architectures where systems work together naturally, allowing information to move securely from the shop floor to business applications and back again.
The result is not simply more connected technology, it is better visibility, faster decision-making and a stronger foundation for future innovation.
Why Unified Namespace is becoming part of the conversation
One topic we expect to discuss frequently during ABISS is Unified Namespace (UNS).
Although the name may sound highly technical, the principle behind it is surprisingly straightforward.
Rather than creating dozens of individual connections between machines, applications and software platforms, a Unified Namespace provides a common, real-time information layer where systems can publish and consume data in a consistent way.
For manufacturers, this means fewer point-to-point integrations, less maintenance, greater visibility across operations and a much more flexible architecture that can grow alongside the business.
Perhaps more importantly, Unified Namespace helps organizations prepare for what comes next. As manufacturers continue adopting AI, advanced analytics and cloud-based applications, having a reliable and well-structured data architecture becomes increasingly valuable.
In that sense, Unified Namespace is not simply another technology trend, it is an approach that helps reduce complexity while creating a stronger foundation for connected manufacturing.
Connectivity and cybersecurity must go hand in hand
Greater connectivity inevitably brings another important consideration: cybersecurity.
Industrial environments are becoming more connected than ever before, while regulations such as the Cyber Resilience Act are placing increasing emphasis on secure products, resilient systems and stronger cyber governance.
For manufacturers, cybersecurity is no longer something that can be added once a project is complete. It needs to be considered from the very beginning, alongside automation, network architecture and system integration.
That is why cybersecurity has become an essential part of Contec’s approach. Whether we are integrating production systems, connecting OT and IT environments or supporting cloud initiatives, our objective is always the same: helping customers build connected operations that are both efficient and secure.
Meet Contec at ABISS 2026
ABISS has always been much more than a technology exhibition. It is where manufacturers, engineers, operations leaders and technology partners come together to exchange ideas, discuss practical challenges and explore how industrial organisations can continue moving forward.
This year, those conversations will naturally centre around connected manufacturing, OT/IT integration, Unified Namespace, industrial cybersecurity and the future of smart factories, topics that have become part of our daily work with customers across Europe.
As Contec celebrates 40 years of industrial transformation, we are looking forward to being part of those conversations once again.
Whether you are exploring Unified Namespace, planning to modernise your manufacturing environment, strengthening your cybersecurity strategy or simply looking for a better way to connect OT and IT, we would be delighted to meet you at ABISS 2026 in Kortrijk and discuss how those ambitions can be turned into practical, future-ready solutions.
We look forward to seeing you there. Mark ABISS in your agenda.
