Media briefing in Nuremberg, Germany, will address launch of fully integrated FDT/IIoT architecture
The FDT Group, an independent, international, not-for-profit industry association supporting FDT® Technology, today announced that it would conduct a press conference on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2016, at 11.30 Central European Time (CET) at SPS IPC Drives in Nuremberg, Germany. The organization plans to address the launch of a fully integrated FDT/Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) architecture bridging the process, hybrid and factory automation markets.
The media event (to be held in NCC Ost, Level 2, Kiew Room) will be highlighted by a number of important announcements related to FDT Device Type Manager™ (FDT/DTM™) and Frame Application (FDT/FRAME™) developments worldwide, including:
- Updated mission statement/branding for the FDT Group, including a new tagline, “Connecting the Intelligent Enterprise.” The FDT Group’s goal is to make the IIoT a reality via an ecosystem of automation vendors promoting interoperability, security and mobility through tomorrow’s new adaptive manufacturing assets. As such, it is modernizing its identity and providing new information resources, such as an enhanced website, for the global automation market.
- Launch of the FDT/IIoT Server (FITS™) for mobility, cloud, and fog enterprise solutions. FITS is intended to protect industry investments in FDT through advanced business logic, well-defined interfaces, and common components. In addition, it will enable operating system (OS) agnostic implementation of the technology while supporting today’s integrated automation architecture.
- Release of the FDT/OPC UA annex, enabling sensor-to-cloud, enterprise-wide connectivity. Automation system manufacturers can implement this annex in the FDT/FRAME. Suppliers with an FDT/FRAME embedded in their distributed control system (DCS), asset management system, programmable logic controller (PLC) or other system have the ability to include an OPC UA server in an application accessible from any OPC UA client application.
- Release of the ODVA Common Industrial Protocol (CIP) annex. Network adaptations of ODVA’s media-independent CIP protocol include EtherNet/IP™, DeviceNet™, CompoNet™ and ControlNet.™ The CIP annex enables the use of ODVA networks and Ethernet IP in the latest FDT/FRAME Applications.
“The FDT Group continues to advance its free and open standard to keep pace with the changing requirements of process, hybrid and factory automation for the ‘Connected World.’ While maintaining proven FDT heritage and bridging the existing installed base with modern control assets, we are evolving FDT to meet the needs of the new era of automation. This includes interoperability, mobility and security, as well as comprehensive IIoT deployment,” said Glenn Schulz, managing director of the FDT Group. “The FDT board of directors has approved initiatives driving the vision for the future of FDT benefiting both manufacturers and end users with advancements like the IIoT and Industry 4.0 delivered out-of-the-box, to support modernized asset integration and access to performance data for visualizing crucial operational problems.”
Schulz added, “Our press conference at SPS IPC Drives will outline our vision for the future with a modernized face for the FDT Group and offer updates on important activities across the globe.”
Members of the FDT Group board will attend the press conference to answer questions and provide additional information. They will be joined by OPC Foundation President and Executive Director Thomas Burke, and ODVA President and Executive Director Katherine Voss. Refreshments will be served.
The FDT Group will also present a technology exhibit in Hall 2, Booth 550 at SPS IPC Drives. The exhibit will feature an expanded FDT integrated application demonstrating advanced enterprise connectivity and interoperability, including multiple protocols, vendors and devices. The demonstration system simulates a brewing and bottling application using control systems and components commonly found in a brewery. More than 20 companies’ products will be included in this interoperability exhibit, which shows beer pumping between tanks and beer bottles being filled on a rotary conveyor.
Additionally, the FDT booth will highlight the progress made by the FDT Group and OPC Foundation in integrating the OPC UA architecture into an FDT/FRAME. This includes advancements in device information modeling and mobility solutions. A new, key feature will be a demonstration of robust device-to-cloud data exchange made possible by the two organizations’ collaboration. Visitors will see a display of asset health monitoring on a mobile device using the FDT/OPC UA annex.
For more information, please visit the FDT Group website.
About FDT Group AISBL
The FDT Group AISBL is an international non-profit corporation consisting of leading worldwide member companies active in industrial automation and manufacturing. The major purpose of the FDT Group is to provide an open standard for enterprise-wide network and asset integration, innovating the way automation architectures connect and communicate sensor to cloud for the process, hybrid and factory automation markets. FDT Technology benefits both manufacturers and end users, with advancements such as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Industry 4.0 delivered out-of-the-box – enabling modernized asset integration and access to performance data for visualizing crucial operational problems. Around the world, end users, manufacturers, universities, and research organizations are working together to develop the technology; provide development tools, support, and training; coordinate field trials and demonstrations; and enable product interoperability.
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