A crucial component in the implementation of Industry 4.0 concept is an open and standardized communication platform. Open Platforms Communications - Unified Architecture (OPC-UA) is the data exchange Standard for a safe, reliable, manufacturer and platform independent industrial communication (IEC 62541).
It enables cross data exchange between different machines of different manufacturers.
The OPC-UA companion profiles consist of sector-specific information models that are described in close cooperation between manufacturers, users and research institutes. The profiles will ensure harmonized and secure exchange of information in heterogeneous systems.
Initiated from the use cases defined in the publicly funded research project “OPTIMUM”, on 26th of Oct. 2018 a working group was founded at VDMA (Association of German machine and plant manufacturers) for the definition of an OPC-UA companion profile for industrial EOT-cranes (EOT = Electric Overhead Cranes).
Ifak, University of Rostock and Demag are OPTIMUM Consortium Partners and members of this VDMA working group besides others stated below:
