OPC-UA is the ‘international language of production’. Also in the future in the plastics industry. That’s why we have this topic at the top of our agenda for the development of the Hurricane.
We see several advantages for plastics processing of interface communication with the machine via OPC UA. Here are our top 3:
- High technical standard: The new Euromap standards build directly on the OPC UA communication standard and thus on the world language of production – this goes hand in hand with sustainability and security!
- Interoperability: Due to the rate of diffusion in the industry, the machines fit seamlessly into existing systems – the Euromap 77, for example, is a ‘must have’ of all modern MES systems!
- Efficiency: The possibility of integration creates planning and transparency – lower downtimes providing higher productivity!
The increasing importance of OPC UA was confirmed at K 2022. As part of the world’s leading trade fair for the plastics industry, the VDMA demonstrated the economic advantages of the communication capability of plastics machines in a showcase. Our industrialization partner Tederic Machinery was the only Chinese manufacturer to pioneer among the Asian manufacturers and one of 40 exhibitors to send live production data from an injection molding machine via the Internet to the central umati demonstrator. Connected was the NEO-E208c electric toggle injection molding machine, which produced pipettes. Customers and visitors were able to access the live production data via smartphone and at the VDMA’s Circular Economy Forum on the exhibition campus. Euromap 77 was implemented in a standardized manner by the KEBA Group machine control system.