PLCopen signed an agreement with the Open Process Automation Forum (“OPAF”) to cooperate in the development of relevant standards and specifications.
PLCopen, as an organization active in industrial control, is creating a higher efficiency in application software development: in one-off projects as well as in higher volume products. As such it is based on standard available tools to which extensions are and will be defined. With results like Motion Control Library, Safety, XML specification, Reusability Level and Conformity Level, and OPC UA Communication, PLCopen made solid contributions to the community, extending the hardware independence from the software code, as well as reusability of the code and coupling to external software tools.
The Open Process Automation Forum is a Forum of The Open Group. OPAF will define standards for an open, interoperable, secure process automation architecture. These standards enable development of fit-for-purpose systems consisting of cohesive functional elements acquired from independent suppliers and integrated easily via a modular architecture characterized by open standard interfaces between elements. Their first priority is to select standards from existing applicable industry standards. When no applicable standard exists, OPAF will work with standards development organizations to develop one.