Introduction
Sfera Labs, led by COO Maria Chizzali, proudly states, “We were the first company to introduce Raspberry Pi in the industrial automation environment.”
This Italian company specializes in creating, manufacturing, and selling open technology for the industrial sector, focusing heavily on automation servers, I/O modules, and sensors built on Raspberry Pi technology.
The inspiration behind Sfera Labs came directly from the capabilities of Raspberry Pi, showcasing their commitment to leveraging this powerful platform for innovative industrial solutions.
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Sfera Labs' Key Challenges in Industrial Applications
Sfera’s customers have a wide range of needs, from pure industrial applications that use I/O for multiple sensors—especially in the energy sector, a significant market for Sfera—to edge computing solutions with Raspberry Pi, and even airport security applications. These clients prioritize affordability, mechanical strength, and product durability.
As COO Maria Chizzali notes, "In the industrial automation sector, long-term availability is critical. Nobody is going to invest in an application if they are not 100% sure that in five years they will be able to use the application.”
From the beginning, Sfera Labs aimed to create an open platform that allows system designers to avoid being locked into proprietary systems that only work with a specific manufacturer's hardware and software.
Chizzali explains, “Back then, if you wanted a way to control your heating system, you had to buy software from the same company. The same goes for building control and automation systems.”
This led to Sfera Labs' ambition of creating hardware-independent software that could interface with a variety of systems, including Siemens and Legrand.
Their goal was to empower designers to choose the best components from different products without being tied to a single company because of the software.
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Innovative Solutions by Sfera Labs:
Sfera Labs began by identifying features that could assist industrial customers make the best use of Raspberry Pi, such as DIN rails, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), and sturdy hardware enclosures.
They started developing expansion boards equipped with various ports, I/O modules, sensors, and power supplies tailored for different industrial applications. Today, Sfera has built product lines around control and server units, I/O modules, and sensor modules.
One standout product is Strato Pi, a control unit recognized for its wide range of communication protocols, reliability, and fault tolerance. Sfera integrated Raspberry Pi into Strato starting in February 2016 and later upgraded to the Raspberry Pi Compute Module with the Strato Pi CM in 2019.
They released the CM Duo edition in 2020, which has two SD card slots—one for extra storage and another for a backup disk.
Strato is especially useful for smaller enterprises, such as small hotels or bed and breakfasts, because it allows them to regulate heating, lighting, temperature, and access with a single unit that costs roughly 200 euros. According to Chizzali: "It's been in our product line since forever and is one of our most popular products."
Sfera's other two main hardware ranges include Iono input/output control modules and Exo environmental sensors and interfaces.
Both product lines support a wide variety of wired and wireless communication protocols, making them excellent choices for enhancing existing networks that monitor factors like noise, humidity, seismic activity, and air quality.
In 2021, Sfera launched Exo Sense Pi, built on the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4. Sfera created sensors and sensor server software to work in conjunction with the CM4.
Chizzali describes a common use case where a user wants to monitor a room's air quality, temperature, and ventilation while also tracking occupancy levels.
A Bluetooth sensor counts the number of people in the room, and through a wireless connection to an external speaker, the device can issue an audible warning, such as “Please wait for someone to exit this room before entering.”
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Why Raspberry Pi is the Best Fit for Sfera Labs
Sfera Labs picked Raspberry Pi because it has a high number of products and promises to keep making them for a long time.
Chizzali believes that open platforms like Raspberry Pi are important because many people understand how to use them, and there is strong community support.
This is better than closed systems because if a supplier shuts down or a programmer leaves, there are many others who can help.
People are starting to see the value in this support in different areas, including businesses and factories.
Those who use closed systems frequently feel stuck, unable to adjust things as new regulations or needs arise. To stay up with developments, industries want systems that can adapt swiftly.
An open solution, such as Raspberry Pi, provides greater flexibility than traditional systems, which rely on updates from a single manufacturer.
With 40 million Raspberry Pis sold and a forum with almost 300,000 members and 1.6 million posts, the community is a great resource for solving problems.
Chizzali points out that if something goes wrong, those using closed systems have to wait for the next update. But for Raspberry Pi, the community can often find solutions in just a few days.
Raspberry Pi is also great for creating new ideas because it’s inexpensive. “You can buy a few Raspberry Pis, test your software, and when it’s ready, you’re good to go,” Chizzali says. You don’t have to build special hardware.
This faster testing helps Sfera reach production quicker and enter the market sooner. Because of this, Raspberry Pi is not only where Sfera does most of its business but also where they do a lot of their research and development, making it the top choice for their industrial applications.
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Sfera Labs' Global Impact and Client Success
Sfera Labs is now active in 62 countries, with major markets in North America, Europe—especially Germany and the Netherlands—and Australia. A big part of their business comes from energy companies. “Energy companies often work with new technology, so they use Raspberry Pi and related software,” says Maria Chizzali.
They are also finding new opportunities in emerging markets in Africa. “We have grown steadily and have now developed over 100 different protocols,” she adds.
Sfera's long-term clients are happy with their work. Hi-Interiors, known for the Hi-Can Smart Bed, has partnered with Sfera for ten years. COO and co-founder Gianni Tallarico shares, “Hi-Interiors focuses on changing furniture through technology, and we needed a partner strong in electronics and software. Sfera Labs used Raspberry Pi’s open platform to create the control system for our HiCan and HiAm products with their Strato Pi server and Exo Sense sensors. The success of this project led to a ten-year partnership. The modular system Sfera Labs built made it easier to develop our next-generation smart bed, the Hi Bed.”
Source: “Sfera Labs” https://www.raspberrypi.com/success-stories/sfera/. Raspberry Pi, Accessed 30 September 2024.
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Conclusion
Sfera Labs has successfully used Raspberry Pi to change how industrial applications work. By focusing on flexibility, open technology, and strong solutions, they have met the diverse needs of clients in areas like energy and automation.
Their commitment to innovation is clear in their products and the partnerships they’ve built, helping them succeed in competitive markets.
With a strong presence around the world and happy customers, Sfera Labs continues to lead in using Raspberry Pi for industrial applications, showing how it can grow and adapt in a fast-changing technology world.
