Intelligent Actuation & Connected Infrastructure
RIFT Actuators
From Physical Control to Intelligent Asset Management
RIFT is developing a new approach to electric actuation that goes beyond simply moving a valve, damper or mechanical asset.
By combining intelligent electric actuation, low-power operation, renewable power, sensing, connectivity and operational data, RIFT creates opportunities to make remote and distributed infrastructure easier to control, monitor and maintain.
The principle is simple:
Control. Observe. Act.
Control the physical asset. Observe what is happening. Then use the information to make better operational and maintenance decisions.
This approach is particularly relevant to water and wastewater, agriculture and irrigation, ventilation, industrial automation and remote infrastructure where assets may be widely distributed and access to power or communications can be challenging.
RIFT Actuators
More Than an Actuator
Traditional electric actuation provides a means of physically moving a valve or mechanical component.
But for modern infrastructure, moving the asset is only part of the challenge.
Operators also need to know:
- Did the valve move?
- What position is it in?
- Is the asset operating as expected?
- Is its performance changing over time?
- Is there an issue that requires attention?
- Can the asset be accessed without visiting site?
The RIFT approach is designed around connecting physical movement with operational information, creating greater visibility across distributed infrastructure.
The presentation identifies this as a fundamental operational challenge: sending a command does not necessarily mean that the valve has moved or that the expected flow has been achieved
RIFT Actuators
Control. Observe. Act.
A Smarter Way to Manage Remote Assets
CONTROL
Automate the physical asset.
RIFT electric actuators provide automated control for valves and other mechanical equipment, with functionality depending on the selected model and configuration.
This can include:
- On/Off operation
- Position control
- Modulating control
- Adjustable speed
- Failsafe functionality
- Local control
- Remote operation
RIFT Actuators
OBSERVE
Understand what is happening.
RIFT SMART technology provides actuator information, while the developing RIFT Sensor Hub concept provides a route towards bringing additional field information into the system.
Potential data sources include:
- Valve status
- Flow
- Pressure
- Soil moisture
- Temperature
ACT
Turn information into action.
Operational information, alerts and historical data can help operators prioritise intervention, identify issues and make better maintenance decisions.
This is the fundamental proposition behind RIFT’s connected infrastructure approach.
One Intelligent Infrastructure Platform
Build the Solution Around the Application
Not every asset requires the same level of technology.
RIFT’s approach is designed to be modular, allowing the solution to develop according to the requirements of the application.
A project could begin with electric actuation and then introduce additional capabilities where they provide value.
Electric Actuation
Automate the physical asset.
Low-Power Operation
Reduce the energy required to operate remote equipment.
Solar & Battery Power
Create opportunities for autonomous operation where mains power or new cabling is difficult.
Sensing
Capture additional information from the asset or surrounding environment.
Connectivity
Transmit information from distributed assets using an appropriate communications technology.
Data & Alerts
Use operational information to identify exceptions, monitor history and support better decisions.
The presentation specifically recommends a retrofit and progressive approach, starting with existing assets and adding intelligence where it creates value.
RIFT Actuators
Intelligent Actuation
Start With the Asset
The actuator remains at the heart of the system.
RIFT electric actuators provide the physical movement required to control valves and other mechanical equipment.
Depending on model and configuration, RIFT technology can provide:
- Precise positioning
- Position indication and feedback
- Modulating control
- Adjustable speed
- Failsafe options
- Local controls
- SMART functionality
- Low-power operation
The presentation highlights position feedback as particularly important because it provides greater confidence that an instructed valve movement has actually taken place.
Low-Power Infrastructure
Automation Where Traditional Power Is Difficult
One of the key opportunities for RIFT’s technology is remote infrastructure.
Many assets are located away from convenient mains power. Installing new electrical infrastructure can add cost and complexity, particularly across large geographical areas.
RIFT’s low-power architecture is designed to make battery and solar operation more practical for suitable applications.
This creates opportunities for remote automation without necessarily requiring extensive new power cabling.
Potential applications include:
- Remote water assets
- Agricultural irrigation
- Reservoirs
- Environmental systems
- Remote ventilation
- Distributed infrastructure
The presentation specifically identifies low-power battery and solar operation as an important part of the remote infrastructure proposition.
RIFT Actuators
Solar & Battery-Powered Actuation
Powering Automation Where It Is Needed
A RIFT actuator can form part of a wider renewable-powered installation.
A typical architecture could combine:
Solar Generation
↓
Battery Storage
↓
RIFT Electric Actuator
↓
Valve / Mechanical Asset
This approach can be particularly relevant where extending mains power would be expensive, disruptive or impractical.
The exact power requirements will depend on actuator size, operating duty, environmental conditions, communications requirements and the wider site design. The presentation also notes that project-level savings need to be assessed against the specific application rather than assumed universally.
Sensors & Field Data
Go Beyond Valve Position
An intelligent asset can provide much more information than whether a valve is open or closed.
RIFT’s developing Sensor Hub concept is intended to provide a route for collecting, timestamping and buffering additional field information.
Potential inputs include:
Flow | Pressure | Soil Moisture | Temperature | Valve Status
This creates opportunities to consider the condition of the asset alongside the conditions around it.
For example, in an agricultural application, valve operation could potentially be considered alongside soil moisture and irrigation requirements. In water infrastructure, actuator information could potentially be combined with process or network measurements.
The Sensor Hub and associated sensing functionality are identified in the presentation as in development, rather than current released-product functionality.
Connected Infrastructure
Bringing Remote Assets Into View
Distributed assets can be difficult to monitor when they are spread across fields, reservoirs, treatment sites or remote compounds.
A connected infrastructure approach can provide a route to bringing information from these assets back to the operator.
The proposed architecture identifies several possible communication technologies, including:
- Cellular
- Wi-Fi
- LPWAN
The appropriate solution will depend on the location, coverage, power availability and application requirements.
These communication options should currently be regarded as architecture options within the development roadmap, rather than claims that every interface is already available across the RIFT product range.
RIFT Actuators
Remote Monitoring
Know What Happened, Where and When
For distributed infrastructure, the value of remote monitoring is not simply being able to see a dashboard.
The real value is knowing what is happening at the asset.
RIFT’s connected approach is intended to provide greater visibility of:
- Asset operation
- Valve position
- Operational events
- Field conditions
- Alerts
- Historical information
This can help operators move away from routine checking towards more targeted intervention.
The presentation identifies reduced routine checking and unnecessary visits as a potential benefit of combining remote valve operation, position feedback and telemetry.
Asset Intelligence
From Reactive Maintenance to Better Decisions
Maintenance decisions are often made using fixed schedules or following a failure.
Connected asset information creates the opportunity to develop a more informed approach.
By monitoring asset behaviour over time, operators can potentially identify changes that warrant investigation and prioritise maintenance accordingly.
This supports a move towards:
Monitor → Identify → Prioritise → Intervene
Rather than treating every asset in exactly the same way.
The presentation identifies condition-based service models as a future option within the wider development roadmap.
Agriculture & Irrigation
A Practical Route to Connected Irrigation
Agriculture provides a strong example of how the RIFT approach can extend beyond conventional water infrastructure.
Irrigation assets can be distributed across large areas, with valves, pumps and sensors potentially located away from mains power and reliable communications.
RIFT’s proposed approach is to begin with existing irrigation infrastructure and automate high-consequence assets before progressively introducing additional intelligence.
Potential applications include:
- Borehole and reservoir isolation
- Pump house control
- Mainline switching
- Remote branch control
- Drip irrigation
- Sprinkler systems
- Centre-pivot irrigation
- Fertigation
- Glasshouse irrigation
These applications are identified within the RIFT agricultural development proposition.
RIFT Actuators
Retrofit Rather Than Replace
Add Intelligence to Existing Infrastructure
One of the most commercially attractive aspects of the RIFT approach is the potential to retrofit existing assets rather than replace an entire infrastructure platform.
Existing valves and irrigation systems can provide the physical foundation, with intelligent actuation introduced where it creates operational value.
The presentation specifically recommends starting with existing assets and progressively adding intelligence rather than requiring wholesale replacement.
This approach can make the transition towards smarter infrastructure more practical and scalable.
Water & Wastewater
Intelligent Infrastructure for AMP8 and Beyond
The water industry remains an important market for RIFT.
The same principles of intelligent actuation, low-power operation, remote monitoring and asset intelligence can support applications across:
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Water treatment
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Wastewater treatment
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Pumping stations
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Reservoirs
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Distribution networks
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Remote valve assets
As the water industry continues investing in smarter and more resilient infrastructure through AMP8, connected actuation provides an opportunity to improve visibility and control across distributed assets.
RIFT’s broader proposition, however, is not limited to AMP8. The technology characteristics that support water infrastructure also create opportunities across agriculture, ventilation, industrial automation and other remote applications.
Built for Different Environments
One Technology. Multiple Applications.
The same core technology can be adapted to different application requirements.
Water
Valve automation, remote assets and infrastructure management.
Agriculture
Irrigation control, field monitoring and remote water management.
Ventilation
Damper positioning, airflow control and environmental management.
Industrial
Process control, flow management and specialist automation.
Net Zero
Low-power actuation, renewable energy and autonomous infrastructure.
This application-led approach allows RIFT to focus on the engineering challenge rather than restricting the technology to a single industry.
Available Today. Developing for Tomorrow.
A Clear Technology Roadmap
RIFT’s connected infrastructure proposition is evolving.
To ensure the technology is presented accurately, it is important to distinguish between established capabilities and future development.
Available Now
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Actuator control
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Position features
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Local commissioning
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Low-power options
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Remote-site applications
In Development
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Sensor input capture
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Timestamped event data
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Telemetry
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Alert workflows
Future Options
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Fleet dashboards
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Advanced analytics
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Open integration interfaces
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Condition-based service models
This staged approach allows RIFT to develop the connected platform around real applications and evidence rather than simply adding technology for its own sake.
Designed Around Real Operational Outcomes
Technology for a Reason
RIFT’s objective is not to connect an actuator simply because connectivity is possible.
The technology needs to solve a genuine operational problem.
Reducing unnecessary site visits.
Confirming valve movement.
Improving visibility of remote assets.
Identifying operational issues earlier.
Supporting better maintenance decisions.
Making remote automation practical where power is limited.
The agricultural proposition in particular is deliberately outcome-led, with the presentation recommending that RIFT should lead with the operational problem before introducing the technology.
Designed for Reliable Remote Operation
Connectivity Should Never Be the Only Point of Failure
Remote infrastructure needs to remain safe and functional even when communications are unavailable.
The RIFT development approach therefore recognises the importance of maintaining local valve control independently of communications.
The wider telemetry architecture also needs to consider:
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Resilience
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Cybersecurity
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Interoperability
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Data ownership
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Alert quality
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Serviceability
These are important considerations when developing connected infrastructure for production environments. The presentation identifies them as design principles rather than current product certifications or implementation claims.
The Future of RIFT
From Electric Actuation to Intelligent Infrastructure
RIFT is evolving from a specialist electric actuator manufacturer towards a broader technology proposition built around intelligent actuation.
The actuator remains the foundation.
Around it, the solution can evolve through:
Actuation → Power → Sensing → Connectivity → Data → Intelligence
This creates opportunities to develop solutions that are not simply capable of controlling an asset, but can help operators understand, manage and optimise that asset over its operational life.
A Smarter Way Forward
The future of critical infrastructure will require more than simply installing new equipment.
Operators need infrastructure that is:
More efficient.
More visible.
More resilient.
More connected.
Easier to maintain.
RIFT’s intelligent actuation approach is designed around these requirements.
From a single remote valve to a network of connected assets, RIFT provides a pathway towards infrastructure that can be controlled, observed and managed more intelligently.
Intelligent Actuation for the Next Generation of Infrastructure
RIFT combines British engineering with low-power electric actuation and an evolving connected infrastructure platform.
Whether the requirement is a remotely operated water valve, a solar-powered irrigation system, an automated ventilation application or a specialist industrial installation, RIFT technology provides a foundation on which smarter solutions can be built.
Control the asset. Observe what is happening. Act on better information.
Ready to Explore What RIFT Can Do?
Let’s Discuss Your Application
Whether you are looking to automate a water valve, improve control of a remote asset, develop a low-power solution or explore a new application for intelligent actuation, RIFT can help you assess the possibilities.
Tell us about your requirements, your existing infrastructure or the challenge you are looking to solve. Our team can discuss the application with you and identify where RIFT technology could provide a practical solution.
Have a project in mind?
Get in touch with the RIFT team today.
Intelligent Actuation. Practical Solutions. Built for What Comes Next.
Get in touch
Send us a message
Remote Monitoring
Reduce Unnecessary Site Intervention
Where industrial assets are distributed across large facilities or difficult-to-access areas, remote monitoring can improve operational efficiency.
RIFT SMART Actuators can provide remote access capabilities depending on configuration, allowing operators to access actuator information without always requiring physical access to the equipment.
This can help reduce:
- Routine inspection requirements
- Maintenance travel
- Response times
- Operational disruption
Solar & Battery Applications
Industrial Automation Beyond the Grid
Although industrial installations commonly have mains electricity available, specialist and remote applications may not.
RIFT’s low-power technology can be integrated into suitable solar and battery-powered systems, opening opportunities for automation in locations where conventional electrical infrastructure is impractical.
Potential applications include:
- Remote industrial assets
- Environmental systems
- Agricultural infrastructure
- Remote process equipment
- Off-grid installations
- Temporary infrastructure
Industrial Ventilation
Automated Airflow Control
RIFT technology can also be used for industrial ventilation and airflow applications.
Electric actuators can provide automated positioning of dampers and vents, supporting controlled airflow within industrial environments.
Potential applications include:
- Industrial ventilation
- Airflow management
- Extraction systems
- Environmental control
- Specialist dampers
- Automated ventilation equipment
Water & Process Industries
Proven Technology With Broader Potential
RIFT’s experience within the water industry provides a strong foundation for industrial applications.
The same characteristics that make RIFT technology suitable for water infrastructure can be valuable in industrial environments:
Low power. Precise control. Intelligent monitoring. Configurability. Reliability.
Potential applications include:
- Water treatment
- Food and beverage processing
- Fire suppression
- HVAC
- Process control
- Industrial fluid management
RIFT Product Platforms
RAS
Precision Electric Actuation
The RAS platform provides flexible electric actuation for applications requiring reliable and controlled movement.
Suitable applications can include:
Dampers
Valves
Process control
Ventilation
Mechanical positioning
RAM
High-Performance Modular Actuation
The RAM Series provides 40–100Nm of torque with IP67 protection, making it suitable for demanding environments and industrial applications.
Depending on configuration, features can include:
Part-turn operation
Multi-turn operation
Modulation
Failsafe
Wiggle
Speed control
SMART functionality
RAL
Smart Connected Actuation
The RAL Series represents RIFT’s advanced approach to intelligent electric actuation.
Designed for applications requiring greater intelligence, connectivity and asset visibility, RAL can support:
Remote monitoring
Predictive maintenance
Low-power operation
Solar and battery systems
GPS
WiFi
Onboard PLC functionality
Modern automation integration
