OPC Router Applications for Industry 4.0

Industry 4.0 represents a disruptive change caused by the expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) in production and logistics. The term includes innovations such as smart products and processes, deeper integration along the supply chain, and digital technologies in production.

The objective of applying these advanced technologies in this sector is a faster reaction to an increasingly variable customer demand, resulting in an increase in competitiveness and a change in the extended value chain that favors adaptation to dynamic and volatile markets.

The Challenge of Industry 4.0

The complexity of the emergence of Industry 4.0 is the management of an enormous amount of data that must be processed appropriately. Not only in the area of infrastructure, but also at application layer levels, where data must flow between interfaces from customized middlewares.

While integration with an ERP is essential, it is necessary to consider communication from all points of view of the business, especially where Industry 4.0 is gaining strength.

That is where OPC Router takes on special relevance, integrating PLC (programmable logic controllers), PCS (process control systems), SCADA, MES (manufacturing execution systems), SQL servers, label printers, email servers, etc. All through the same application that acts as a bidirectional communication gateway.

OPC Router, a New Way to Communicate all Systems in Industry 4.0

Logitek has OPC Router to create a bidirectional communication model, unifying the heterogeneity of APIs and protocols, thus providing the organization with a way to communicate its entire IT ecosystem with near real-time communication.

More and more organizations are betting on a solution like OPC Router to improve communication with the key applications of Industry 4.0, as it facilitates continuous optimization and automation of production processes, which is essential to improve product quality, production efficiency and, ultimately, achieve business success for a company.

OPC Router as a central communication platform offers automated data exchange by integrating all isolated systems and applications from the sensor to a SaaS solution in the cloud. Thanks to the integration of devices, sensors and databases with the ERP, the company has a continuous overview of its production. This being just one example, the possible uses are almost unlimited and a sea of possibilities opens up for companies.

Use Scenarios and Possible Applications in the Production Process of Companies

Organizations that benefit from this solution do so through various applications:

• Standard interfaces for data exchange: OPC Router offers a very visual interface to better detect key information and to control the different production processes of an industry.
• The most advanced middleware for IoT and Industry 4.0 projects: This is a solution that facilitates communication and information exchange between the different systems of a company in order to improve its management and efficiency.
• Implementation of various types of connection using plugins already prepared for market solutions: OPC Router allows you to easily install different plugins to communicate with the different systems of the company (SAP, SQL Server, etc.).
• Data acquisition to optimize production: It is used to enable the recording of process values, production figures, downtime, etc. that will be used as a basis for production optimization.
• Connectivity between the different automation systems to control incidents. The bidirectional communication enabled by OPC Router allows for better detection of failures in the production processes of an organization.
• Simple individual connections and transfers: The OPC router allows you to create simple individual connections and transfers using an easy-to-use graphical configuration that does not require the intervention of a computer scientist.

OPC Router represents a radical change in the way all the systems of a company relate to each other, which is key to improving production processes.