MTConnect, OPC to Develop Companion Specifications

The OPC Foundation and the MTConnect institute have announced a joint Memorandum of Understanding stipulating that the two organizations will cooperate in developing standards called MTConnectOpcUa. This set of companion specifications is designed to ensure interoperability and consistency between each of the two organizations respective standards as well as all equipment and software that implement those standards.

“(The collaboration) will provide the necessary infrastructure to revolutionize interoperability for the complete spectrum of manufacturing technology by leveraging the standards of both organizations and evolving technology that has already been well accepted and adopted by the suppliers,” says Tom Burke, president and chairman of the board for the OPC Foundation.

Another recent development is the MTConnect Institute’s proposal for establishing a Legacy Machine Tool Connectivity Working Group (WG). According to the organization, this group will address the issue of providing best practice and overall guidance for physically connecting thousands of legacy machine tools in shops around the globe.