What Is OPC-UA?
OPC-UA (Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture) is an international standard communication protocol for industrial automation. It enables secure data exchange between equipment regardless of manufacturer.
Key Features of OPC-UA
Challenges of Heterogeneous Equipment Integration
Manufacturing floors contain a mix of PLCs, CNCs, and robots from various manufacturers. Each uses proprietary communication protocols, making data integration difficult.
OPC-UA Gateway Approach
Connect OPC-UA gateways to legacy equipment to convert Modbus, PROFINET, and other protocols to OPC-UA.
Native OPC-UA Approach
Modern equipment supports OPC-UA natively, allowing direct integration.
Case Study
Results from integrating 23 machines from 5 different manufacturers via OPC-UA at an automotive parts factory:
Conclusion
OPC-UA is the data integration standard for smart factories. POLYGLOTSOFT's IoT Gateway natively supports OPC-UA to easily integrate heterogeneous equipment.