According to Manufacturing AUTOMATION, PHYTEC is presenting their phyCONTROL-Nova industrial PC for the first time at the SPS trade show in Nuremberg, Germany on November 19, 2025. The scalable embedded system uses an ARM-based NXP i.MX 8M Plus Quad-Core processor with an NPU delivering up to 2.3 TOPS of AI performance. It offers up to 8 GB of RAM and 64 GB of eMMC storage in a compact, fanless design. The device comes with Yocto-based Linux or Debian and supports industrial protocols including EtherCAT, plus applications like NodeRED and CODESYS. It features multiple interfaces including dual Gigabit Ethernet, USB ports, RS232/485, CAN, and digital I/O, with expansion capabilities through an M.2 connector for adding AI chips or real-time Ethernet systems.
The modular edge computing play
Here’s what’s interesting about PHYTEC’s approach. They’re not just selling another industrial PC – they’re selling a platform. The modular design means customers can start with a base system and add exactly what they need, whether that’s additional AI processing with a Hailo chip or industrial networking through Hilscher technology. That’s actually pretty smart when you think about it. Industrial applications vary wildly, and a one-size-fits-all solution often means paying for features you’ll never use.
Why this matters for manufacturing
Look, industrial automation is getting smarter, and companies need hardware that can keep up. The 2.3 TOPS NPU performance means this thing can handle machine vision and predictive maintenance tasks right at the edge without shipping data back to the cloud. And with support for real-time protocols like EtherCAT, it’s clearly aimed at the manufacturing floor where timing is everything. Basically, they’re positioning this as the brain for next-generation industrial equipment.
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Right place, right time?
The timing here is worth noting. SPS is one of Europe’s biggest industrial automation shows, so PHYTEC is clearly making a statement. But here’s the thing – the industrial PC space is getting crowded. Everyone from traditional automation giants to startups is pushing edge computing solutions. Can PHYTEC’s modular approach and ARM architecture give them an edge? The cost savings they’re promising could be compelling for OEMs building volume products.
So what’s the bottom line? PHYTEC seems to be betting that flexibility and specialized performance will win over manufacturers tired of overpaying for generic industrial computers. Whether that bet pays off will depend on how well they execute and whether the industrial world is ready to fully embrace modular, ARM-based solutions at scale.
