GENERAL NEWS
Latest update on ‘ OPC UA for Machine Tools ’
A new version of the ‘ OPC UA for Machine Tools ’ Companion Specification ’ has recently been released . The Joint Working Group of the OPC Foundation is supported by the VDW ( German machine tool builders ’ association ) and has produced a supplement that now makes it possible to integrate existing inventory systems . The collection of important operating data and KPIs offers further advantages .
Dr . Wilfried Schäfer , Executive Director , VDW , is pleased with the progress : “ The update of the specification for machine tools sees us pass a further important milestone . This will make the use of the Companion Specifications even more attractive in the future and ensure greater acceptance among industry clients . We hope to be able to provide demonstrations at forthcoming trade fairs . Our umati ( universal machine technology interface ) connectivity initiative showcases the open data exchange in a tangible form and naturally plays an important role in this .”
Numerous OPC UA Companion Specifications for machine and equipment engineering are currently being developed at great pace . They enable open interface standards based on OPC UA to be used between machines , devices and software and are being developed into a global production language under the leadership of the VDMA ( German mechanical engineering association ). Just under 50 such specifications have already been published or are currently under development .
“ However , before the exchange of data via existing interfaces or systems can be translated into new , open standards , it is becoming clear that future-proof technologies such as OPC UA must first be broadly established in the market . This applies particularly to shop floor and machine data collection ( SFDC and MDC ), which are wellestablished in the automotive industry . In most cases , however , customers apply their own in-house standards which is an obstacle to widespread standardisation ,” commented the VDW .
The new extension of the ‘ OPC UA for Machine Tools Companion Specification ’ addresses this dilemma . The first version concentrated on the global monitoring of machine tool status , whereas the focus of the next step , version 1.01.1 , is on collecting important operating data and key performance indicators ( KPIs ).
“ The large number of company representatives involved in the process made it possible to incorporate their experience with all the different SFDC / MDC systems used by customers . Almost all parameters that are currently used in these systems are included in the KPI extension . [ Shop floor data can therefore be used ] in an OPC UA ecosystem through simple mapping or , during a transitional phase , vice versa . Current initiatives such as the ‘ Catena-X ’ automotive network are pointing the way towards integrative , platform-based ecosystems that will replace proprietary installations in the medium term ,” it added .
Now that this milestone has been reached , Dr . Alexander Broos , Head of Research and Technology , VDW , already has his sights firmly set on the next steps .
“ We plan to upgrade our umati demonstrator to include ‘ pub / sub ’ ( publish / subscribe ) technology in Q4 of 2022 . This further simplifies the connection of machines and software by a significant degree yet also considerably increases the added value of the interfaces for cloud devices ,” he explained .
Other forthcoming developments include energy monitoring , job management and machine tending . All three are currently being developed by the ‘ OPC UA for Machinery ’ working group in conjunction with the VDMA as part of the harmonisation efforts . An independent working group for additive manufacturing is to be established and a new subgroup of the existing machine tool group has also been set up for forming technology .
Manufacturers and users are joining forces to promote the use of open interfaces in the production environment . This facilitates the communication of machines and systems with each other and allows them to be integrated into customer- and user-specific IT ecosystems simply , seamlessly and securely . n
. umati . org
Don ’ t miss EuroBLECH 2022
EuroBLECH 2022 , the 26th International Sheet Metal Working Technology Exhibition , takes place from 25-28 October 2022 at the Hanover Exhibition Grounds in Germany . Around 1,300 exhibitors from 39 countries have already secured their stand space at the leading trade exhibition for the global sheetmetalworking industry .
Read our EuroBLECH preview on page 37 of this issue of ISMR with the exhibition introduction , visitor guide and selected hall highlights . ISMR is a EuroBLECH media partner and copies of its October issue will be distributed at the show entrances . You can also meet ISMR on its stand H92 in Hall 14 at the show .
Currently , major exhibitor countries at EuroBLECH are Germany ; Italy ; Turkey ; China ; Switzerland ; the Netherlands ; Spain ; Belgium ; Poland ; Austria ; Portugal and the USA . Exhibiting companies have already secured a net exhibition space of over 88,000 square metres .
“ A lot of innovations have been developed in the past few years , with a focus on cost and resource efficiency . While digitalisation and Industry 4.0 were topics that only large companies were achieving at the previous EuroBLECH , these key drivers have now reached the factories of small and mediumsized companies ,” commented Evelyn Warwick , Event Director , EuroBLECH , on behalf of the organiser Mack-Brooks Exhibitions .
EuroBLECH is a key event for design engineers ; production managers ; quality managers ; buyers ; manufacturers ; technical directors and experts from associations and R & D to discover the latest trends and machinery in sheet metalworking . Visitors to this year ’ s show can expect the complete spectrum of intelligent solutions and innovative machinery for modern production in sheet metalworking , which are presented in the form of numerous live demonstrations at the exhibition stands .
EuroBLECH is the largest exhibition for the sheet-metalworking industry worldwide and is the marketplace to discover and source the latest innovative manufacturing solutions . Numerous live demonstrations at the exhibition stands offer trade visitors the opportunity to experience machines and systems from all areas of sheet-metalworking in action . The EuroBLECH exhibition profile covers fifteen technology sectors and covers the entire sheet-metalworking technology chain .
On social media , EuroBLECH can be followed on LinkedIn and YouTube . The official hashtag is # euroblech . n