The OPC Foundation (OPCF) and the FieldComm Group (FCG) are pleased to announce a collaboration to drive multi-vendor interoperability of instrumentation devices based on OPC UA and the extensions for the field level, named OPC UA FX (Field eXchange). This development will incorporate preliminary work by both organizations. This will ensure that the market will…

After almost 4 years of close and fruitful collaboration between the four leading standards development organizations, FieldComm Group, ODVA, OPC Foundation, and PROFIBUS & PROFINET International (PI), combined with significant support from 12 major industry project partners, the participants are pleased to announce a successful completion of the APL Project. The result is a completely…

With the new edgeAggregator, Softing offers a flexible, container-based solution for managing complex system architectures in OT/IT integration all the way to edge and cloud applications. Data exchange plays a particularly important role in the integration of production and management levels up to edge and cloud applications. Already with a small number of servers and…

The MTConnect Institute, the standards development organization that maintains the MTConnect standard, announces the release of MTConnect Version 2.0. The Institute previously submitted MTConnect Version 1.8 to ANSI. The 2.0 version of the free, open, model-based standard that supports semantics for discrete manufacturing is a significant advancement from previous versions. Starting with Version 2.0, the…

Everything is moving – this expression best describes the dynamics in production and logistics today. Products, robots, autonomous vehicles, and humans in between. To ensure a smooth production flow in such a mobile environment, machines and software systems need a common understanding of the positions of things in space. Some associations have already dedicated themselves…

The Avnu Alliance, CC-Link Partner Association, ODVA, OPC Foundation, and PROFIBUS & PROFINET International jointly announce that they are collaborating to develop a single conformance test plan for the IEEE/IEC 60802 Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) profile for Industrial Automation. The test plan will be used as a base test by all the participating organizations and…

ODVA announced that the EtherNet/IP Specification has been enhanced to enable EtherNet/IP networks to support the Ethernet-APL physical layer for process automation. Licensed Vendors for the EtherNet/IP technology can immediately start developing EtherNet/IP components for Ethernet-APL, including controllers, power switches, field switches, and instrumentation. Ethernet-APL is the new intrinsically safe, two-wire extension of 10BASE-T1L (IEEE…

Avnu Alliance, an industry consortium driving open, standards-based deterministic networking, announces globally-scaled testing capabilities and a comprehensive update of its certification testing procedures at newly authorized, commercial test houses around the world. This advanced global certification program will streamline certification testing of devices with Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) capabilities, including devices implementing the Milan network…

Advantech, a leading supplier of industrial communication solutions, is proud to release the EKI-2701MPI-5G PoE injector. This compact, industrial-grade solution delivers Wi-Fi 6 network infrastructure, power over Ethernet (PoE) and advanced connectivity to out-of-date, extant infrastructure. It supports multiple data rates (10M/100M/1G/2.5G/5G) and IEEE802.3bt 90W PoE output, and is an excellent choice for obsolete infrastructure…

Advantech, a leading supplier of industrial communication solutions, is proud to announce a management firmware revision for the EKI-7000 Ethernet switch. This downloadable enhancement will deliver higher security levels to the OT industry, enable reliable network service in harsh environments, and provide interactive user interfaces for instantaneous site condition control and monitoring. These revisions further…

Softing Inc., an industry leader in IT networks and cable testing products, releases its NetXpert XG2 Ethernet tester. This new series offers many of the same benefits and capabilities as the flagship NetXpert XG with the addition of several new hardware features, including 5 gigahertz (GHz) wireless local-area network (WLAN) support. Like the NetXpert XG,…

Molex, a global electronics leader and connectivity innovator, unveiled the results of a global survey polling manufacturing stakeholders to identify the top trends and technologies shaping the future of mobile devices. Survey findings reveal continued evolution of mobile-device form factors, disruptive features and innovations that will impact smartphones, smart wearables and other mobile devices manufactured…

Schmersal is pleased to announce the release of the SFB, a safety field box for PROFINET/PROFIsafe systems which allows simple plug-and-play installation of up to eight safety devices. Thanks to its universal device interface with an 8-pole M12 connector, it can be used to connect a wide variety of safety devices: electronic and electro-mechanical safety…

OPC UA has changed machine-2-machine communications. OPC UA is a service-oriented communications standard that is based on IPV4 and IPV6. Its flexible architecture combined with the .NET Standard specification creates a powerful environment to rapidly develop OPC UA applications. The .NET Standard solves the code sharing problem for .NET developers across all platforms by bringing…

Advantech adds the EKI-1511 series to its line of serial-to-Ethernet device servers. The EKI-1511 series are industrial grade, entry-level serial-to-Ethernet device servers that support widely adopted RS-232/422/485 serial modes for serial-to-Ethernet protocol conversion. The compact size and affordability are suitable for limited space applications, and projects requiring partial serial device digitalization. The EKI-1511 entry-level serial-to-Ethernet…

The numerous barriers to deploying high-speed Ethernet-enabled instrumentation in hazardous process automation facilities are now resolved with the introduction of Ethernet-APL technology. Ethernet-APL is the new two-wire, intrinsically safe physical layer suitable for use in demanding process automation applications. Ethernet-APL’s benefits include dramatically improved communication speed, hazardous area reach, power to field instrumentation, and long…

Moxa, a leading provider of network infrastructure solutions,  released the MXview Wireless add-on module for its MXview industrial network management software. MXview streamlines network management by visualizing networks, helping non-IT staff simplify operations and improve network uptime. This software has successfully helped many customers from around the world in different industries, such as in power,…

Belden Inc., a leading global supplier of specialty networking solutions, continues to offer its customers more options to manage high density, reduce installation time and safely transmit data and power with new Q2 2021 product launches. Cable: • DataTuff Cat 6 Armored Industrial Ethernet Cables are ideal for use in rugged industries, such as oil…

AutomationDirect’s StrideLinx Cloud has been upgraded to provide machine builders, system integrators, and end-users with an end-to-end cloud solution offering improved collaboration, advanced user management, easier navigation, and custom user-defined dashboards to make remote access and monitoring even easier. The StrideLinx secure VPN, a remote access solution, allows users to securely connect to remote systems…

HMS Networks is now expanding its Ixxat SG-gateway series for networking of energy components. Two new multi-IO versions allow traditional IO-sensors as well as sensors or devices in Wi-Fi networks to be connected to energy systems using IEC 61850 and IEC 60870. Users benefit from direct and seamless access to sensor data from the control…

Ewing-Foley, Inc. (EFI), a manufacturers’ representative firm that provides complete sales and marketing services to the datacom and networking industry, has announced its partnership with Softing Inc., an industry leader in industrial communications technology. Softing solutions target industrial communications applications using fieldbuses, industrial Ethernet protocols and data exchange. This partnership, which leverages EFI’s sales and…

ODVA announced that The EtherNet/IP Specification has been enhanced to allow vendors to bring the network to resource-constrained devices in-cabinet, including push buttons and contactors. Cost, size, and power restrictions have historically limited the usage of EtherNet/IP at the edge, where many nodes are still hardwired. However, the continued decrease in the cost of semiconductor…

ODVA announced that CIP Security, the cybersecurity network extension for EtherNet/IP, has added support for resource-constrained EtherNet/IP devices. CIP Security will provide device authentication, a broad trust domain, device identity via Pre-Shared Keys (PSKs), device integrity, and data confidentiality for resource-constrained devices such as contactors and push-buttons. Additionally, a narrow trust domain, user authentication, and…

Lanner Electronics, a global leader in SDN/NFV network appliances and rugged applied computing platforms, announces that its hyper-converged infrastructure appliance, the FX-3420, and Edge AI Appliance, LEC-2290, have been officially validated as NGC-Ready Server for Edge computing platforms. In a configuration with NVIDIA® T4 GPUs, Lanner network appliances have been tested for functionality, performance, and…

HMS Networks, a member of the PTC Partner Network, announced the availability of a new extension which integrates the Ewon Flexy edge gateways, and associated Ewon Talk2M cloud, with PTC’s ThingWorx Industrial IoT (IIoT) Solutions Platform. The Ewon extension for ThingWorx has been validated by PTC and has achieved ThingWorx Ready status. The PTC ThingWorx…