EUROMAP interfaces: Processing New Milestone

The plastics industry is one step closer to a unified standard for communication between extrusion lines and MES systems.

Standardized interfaces for efficient networking

As manufacturing machinery and processes grow ever more complex, the limitations of existing hardware interfaces become increasingly evident. The EUROMAP 84 working group is therefore developing new interfaces based on OPC UA. Standardized interfaces are a fundamental requirement for effective and efficient networking of machinery and plants. In the age of Industry 4.0, it is not enough to simply define OPC UA as the transmission technology. It is also necessary to develop information models that define which machine and process data is transferred and which functions are provided.

Key milestone: K 2019

EUROMAP working groups will be presenting numerous new interfaces over the coming year. K 2019 is an important milestone for presenting their first batch of accomplishments. Lead by German manufacturing association VDMA, European plastics industry umbrella organization EUROMAP is currently working on numerous projects. Among them are OPC UA interfaces for exchanging data between injection molding machines and MES systems, between injection molding machines and robots, between injection molding machines and peripherals, and between blow molding machines and MES systems. Under the leadership of its “Plattform Industrie 4.0” initiative, the VDMA is working to develop general definitions for communication interfaces to be applied throughout the machine manufacturing industry.

The EUROMAP 84 working group is currently working on a specification for communication between extrusion lines and MES systems based on the open OPC UA standard.

New mapp component for database interfaces

B&R optimizes data management with the mapp Technology software toolbox

It is now easier than ever to implement databases in applications. With mapp Database, it is possible to archive data directly from the field level to database, regardless of whether that database is located on site or in the cloud. This drastically simplifies the management of large volumes of data.

Data archiving directly from the controller

Manufacturing machinery generates huge volumes of data, which must then be visualized, archived or passed on to higher-level systems. Giving mapp functions a database interface makes it possible to send data directly from the controller to databases, where it can be processed or archived. Commonly used database functions, such as stored procedures, allow KPIs to be generated as needed, resulting in a cockpit for optimizing manufacturing processes.

Consistent exchange of data

mapp Database can be connected to any mapp component that saves or reads data. Instead of generating individual files for alarm lists, process values and audit events, all data is sent automatically via mapp Links to to a database where it can be easily managed.

mapp Database allows both user data and data generated by mapps to be managed conveniently in an SQL database.

About B&R: B&R is an innovative automation company with headquarters in Austria and offices all around the world. On July 6, 2017, B&R became a business unit of the ABB Group. As a global leader in industrial automation, B&R combines state-of-the-art technology with advanced engineering to provide customers in virtually every industry with complete solutions for machine and factory automation, motion control, HMI and integrated safety technology. With Industrial IoT communication standards like OPC UA, POWERLINK and openSAFETY as well as the powerful Automation Studio software development environment, B&R is constantly redefining the future of automation engineering. The innovative spirit that keeps B&R at the forefront of industrial automation is driven by a commitment to simplifying processes and exceeding customer expectations.