Often described as a “pipeline” that provides connectivity between different vendors’ controls systems or information systems, OPC has not had much impact on packaging machinery yet. But some industry observers, especially those who are seeking ways to better synchronize and integrate processing and packaging in the packaged goods manufacturing sector, believe OPC could become an important connectivity tool. That’s what makes Burke’s appointment notable to builders and buyers of packaging machinery.
“OPC allows computing platforms based on any technology or Operating System to interoperate locally, or over networks including the Internet,” says Russ Agrusa, chairman of the OPC Foundation’s marketing committee. “Hard in our sights now is Unified Architecture, which will rationalize our OPC specifications into a single entity and add benefits such as web services and XML into our offering. Tom has a big contribution to play here, and I look forward to working with him to achieve his objectives.”
The OPC Foundation, dedicated to interoperability in automation, is an independent, nonprofit organization that comprises leading manufacturers and solutions providers in factory and process automation. The OPC Foundation’s charter is to develop worldwide industry standards for data transfer offering multi-vendor interoperability and seamless connectivity of measurement and automation devices, systems, and networks used in the manufacturing and process industries by leveraging open computing technologies. Board members and officers are unpaid volunteers. Development of specifications is undertaken by volunteers from 350+ members worldwide. Burke can be emailed at thomas.burke@opcfoundation.org.
