By combining IO-Link and OPC UA in a single device, Pepperl+Fuchs offers its customers data communication from the lowest field level to the cloud. The data can then be analysed in detail to facilitate Industry 4.0 solutions.
Pepperl+Fuchs is the first company to combine the advantages of IO-Link and OPC UA in a single device to help customers implement their vision of Industry 4.0.
Although sensor data is currently stored in central control systems that are difficult to access, this solution now makes the information available to decision-makers and AI systems worldwide. When used as a sensor interface, IO-Link provides in-depth data for identifying, configuring parameters for, and diagnosing a sensor. The data can be forwarded to computer- or cloud-based systems via OPC UA, an Ethernet-based protocol specifically designed for machine-to-machine or machine-to-cloud communication. These systems analyse the data for specific applications, such as predictive maintenance solutions in which an optical sensor can proactively flag lens contamination and thus prompt cleaning in good time before malfunctions occur. This flow of data helps customers to increase productivity and secure long-term business success as digitalisation becomes ever more important.