OPC-UA

Bringing Industry 4.0 to all

OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA) is a platform-independent communication protocol for data exchange, released in 2008 by the OPC Foundation. OPC UA is widely used in injection molding machines as a communication protocol for providing data to host
systems like Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES). This application gives a molding machine OPC UA server functions. It enables an IMM to provide an MES with about 200 types of data, including operating status, production quantity, product information and molding conditions. OPC UA makes it possible for an MES to centrally manage production information on molding machines from different manufacturers.

OPC-UA eliminates the need for development of communication software for each brand of machine, which greatly reduces system construction costs compared to using conventional PC (Ethernet communications).