Powered by exports of manufactured goods, Mexico has overtaken China as the biggest US trade partner, and foreign investment in new factories continues to surge. Manufacturing wages have been rising sharply and worker shortages are growing, however, especially in industrial zones. Let's take a look at the advantages that make industrial switches essential in today's connected automation world. Industrial environments are notorious for harsh conditions, from extreme temperatures to vibration and electromagnetic interference. Although versatile, the industrial switch primarily joins Programmable Logic. Mexico still enjoys big advantages as a manufacturer for North America. But growing labor and infrastructure constraints—and US protectionism—threaten to erode its competitiveness. The productivity and network availability of your machines and.