Industrial IoT Course Launches at IES Cavanilles, Featuring IXON Cloud Solution

Located in Alicante, IES Antonio José Cavanilles is a public vocational and secondary school dedicated to industrial education. Its curriculum spans electrical installations, automation, robotics, CNC machining, mechanical manufacturing and mechatronics, delivered through on‑site and blended learning to upskill active professionals with cutting‑edge technologies.

Professor Roberto Álvarez, an electrical engineer who joined IES Cavanilles in 2008, has been teaching Industrial Automation and Robotics. He specialises in Industrial Communications and PLC programming and is currently developing a new Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) specialisation within the Smart Manufacturing track.

Why introduce a Smart Manufacturing course focused on IIoT?

The industrial IoT landscape is still evolving in academia, yet many companies are deploying IIoT to optimise operations. Students need hands‑on exposure to this technology to meet future job demands. Not every company has a dedicated IT department; therefore, offering secure IIoT and VPN solutions can be a game‑changer for business performance. As a teacher, my goal is to equip working technicians with practical knowledge they can apply in real projects.

What does a course like this require?

A robust curriculum must cover core communication protocols, followed by an in‑depth look at IIoT‑specific standards. It also needs to demonstrate industrial remote access via VPN and the integration of an IIoT platform with other systems.

During my research, I evaluated several platforms and discovered IXON’s Cloud solution. Initially drawn to its remote‑access capabilities, I was impressed by the platform’s comprehensive IIoT features, making it an ideal match for the course.

Any technician with minimal knowledge of the equipment can configure the router and the PLCs to select the data that will be sent to the IXON Cloud.

— Professor Roberto Álvarez, IES Cavanilles

How will IXON’s solution be integrated into the new course?

Starting in 2022, students will work directly with the IXON Cloud – including the router and its features – gaining hands‑on experience with a market‑tested solution. They will learn to establish VPN access, monitor machinery, collect and analyse data, and implement these skills in capstone projects.

IXON’s solution is especially well suited for educational environments: VPN setup is intuitive, requires no port forwarding, no DNS configuration, and is managed entirely through a web interface – perfect for teaching complex concepts in a straightforward manner.

IXON is unbeatable in its configuration simplicity, putting remote management and data collection within the reach of any technician without great knowledge of networks and with remarkable security.

— Professor Roberto Álvarez, IES Cavanilles

What’s next?

In the upcoming quarter, we will delve into IXON’s Cloud services and explore its IIoT platform, providing tangible insights into machine data. For example, a machine builder can use the platform for predictive maintenance, offer supervisory access to users, or provide engineering services with full device access.

The ability to grant users role‑based access is a powerful feature. It allows multiple students to practise with varying levels of control, encouraging exploration of integration possibilities with other platforms. As the course evolves, we will refine its components based on industry trends and our hands‑on experience.

Get an impression of the set‑up and implementation:

Read Mr. Álvarez’ blog here.