In the digital production world, machines from different manufacturers must be able to communicate with each other using uniform standards. For this purpose, universal protocols such as OPC Unified Architecture (UA) will be used in industry in the future. This represents a standard for platform and manufacturer-independent data exchange with a service-oriented architecture. The protocols commonly used in the IT world such as TCP, http(s) or, in the future, new protocols used in cloud applications such as MQTT are used as the transport layer. In order for the systems of a casting cell to understand each other across manufacturers, additional standards are required, the so-called OPC UA Companion Specifications. These are currently being developed in international working groups.

In the future, this will open up new networking possibilities:

• For the integration of our equipment and measuring systems into the die casting cell, an OPC-based interface will be created in addition to the established fieldbus solutions, which will enable a deeper integration of all components into the die casting machine control system or into the cell control system. The aim here is to achieve the most extensive plug-and-play networking possible and to be able to operate the entire cell from a single location.

• The acquisition of machine and process data from all components for the purpose of process control and optimization, quality assurance and predictive maintenance. Wollin’s machine controllers already offer these capabilities, and we are constantly developing the functionalities further.

Wollin‘s machine controllers already offer these capabilities, and we are constantly developing the functionalities further.