For Immediate Release
OPC Foundation and AIM Partner on AutoID Integration
Scottsdale, AZ – April 14, 2015 – The AIM German industrial association and the OPC Foundation have announced the introduction of the OPC AIM Companion Specification for simplifying the integration of AutoID systems with IT systems. First revealed at Hannover Messe Industrie in April 2015, the specification is designed as an essential component for the successful integration of AutoID for the Industrie 4.0 concept.
AIM represents the global network of AutoID experts. AutoID systems facilitate automatic identification of the parts and transport items in industrial processes that are increasingly being enhanced with sensors and Real-time Locating Systems (RTLS).
OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA) and OPC specifications are vendor-independent and platform-neutral tools. Their objective is to integrate production control with leading IT systems. The new specification will enable faster integration of AutoID and IT systems in all application fields.
AutoID systems use barcodes, two-dimensional codes, RFID, NFC, RTLS, sensors and other technologies. They are necessary components for the successful control of processes in production and in material flow and logistics chains. They also provide important data for leading software systems, including Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP).
AutoID system integration is fundamentally significant for realizing global concepts like “Internet of Things” and “Industrie 4.0”, also in combination with Cyber Physical Systems (CPS).
Olaf Wilmsmeier, Product Manager Software with the Harting Group, Espelkamp, and AIM Germany board member, emphasizes: “After a year of intensive co-operation between OPC UA and AIM experts from renowned companies in the AIM Germany System Integration Working Group, we announced the first version of the AIM OPC Companion Specification at Hannover Messe. So far, for example, AutoID readers for barcodes and RFID to a large extent are vendor-specifically connected to leading software systems. With the new OPC AIM Specification we provide the market with a manufacturer-independent standard for integrating AutoID systems faster and cheaper.”
Stefan Hoppe, Vice President, OPC Foundation, explains: “The OPC Foundation goal is to create an industrial standard for horizontal and vertical integration from sensor to the IT enterprise level. The OPC Unified Architecture was originated in industrial automation but is meanwhile also being used in other vertical markets. OPC UA has been set as communication technology as part of the reference architecture for Industrie 4.0 – controlling transport of data and information with integrated mechanisms for system security and access.
“Interesting for other organizations are the OPC UA modelling capabilities which help describe what needs to be transported,” adds Hoppe. “The AIM Germany industrial association recognized early on the OPC UA potential. The implementation of the common specification will strongly lead to simplified and secure connection of AutoID systems with the world of control but also direct into the enterprise IT world.”
Automatic Identification and Industrial Automation Go Hand in Hand
The AIM Germany co-operation with the OPC Foundation is based on a common risk evaluation regarding the deficiencies of current system integration in manufacturing, materials flow control and logistics. The new OPC AIM Companion Specification unifies diverging standardization activities and accomplishes a significant value-add for integration projects for users in numerous branches as far as concerned acceleration and cost reduction. The specification is designed to prevent the emergence of diverging and competitive specifications that would irritate users. Obtaining OPC AIM Companion Specification documents requires membership in the AIM association or OPC Foundation: www.opcfoundation.org – www.aim-d.de – www.AIMglobl.org
About The OPC Foundation
Since 1996, the OPC Foundation has facilitated the development and adoption of the OPC information exchange standards. As both advocate and custodian of these specifications, the Foundation’s mission is to help industry vendors, end-users, and software developers maintain interoperability in their manufacturing and automation assets. The OPC Foundation is dedicated to providing the best specifications, technology, process and certification to achieve multivendor, multiplatform, secure, reliable interoperability in industrial automation and related domains. The organization serves over 440 members worldwide in the Industrial Automation, IT, IoT, Building Automation, Oil & Gas and Smart Energy sectors. For more information about the OPC Foundation, please visit https://opcfoundation.org.
For more information, contact:
Stefan Hoppe, Vice President
OPC Foundation
+49-5246-963-4533
Stefan.hoppe@opcfoundation.org
