CC-Link Partner Association

GlobalActivity
ReportVol.8

CLPA and OPC Foundation Sign MoU
Working together toward collaboration between factories and ICT

Release of new specifications to drive the expansion ofCC-Link IE compatible devices
New branches open in Mexico and Thailand

Cover Story

CLPA and OPC Foundation Sign MoU

C L PA a nd t he OP C Fou nd a t io n wo r k t oge t he r t owa r d s
collaboration between factories and ICT
Expansion of CC-Link IE, accelerating both "horizontally"and "vertically"
In A p r il 2016, the C C - L ink Pa r t ne r A s s o cia t ion ( CLPA ) a n d t he OP C Foun da t io n a g r e e d to wo r k to g e t he r towa r dcollaboration between factories and ICT. Currently increasing demands include connection of production site FA andmanagement layer ICT. This leads to improved productivit y through analysis of data derived from production sites.
In this context, CLPA and the OPC Foundation aim to create smar t factories for advanced production by unifying theinterface between FA and ICT.
result, the interface between devices and ICTat production sites will be unified, dramaticallysimplifying the connection between the two(currently this is extremely labor-intensive).
At a time when the amount of informationin Industrie 4.0 is increasing, this collaboration
is significant for both the CLPA, responding
to needs with 1Gbps-broadband CC-Link IE,
and the OPC Foundation, using OPC UA with
the Industrie 4.0 standard interface. Global Director Naomi Nakamura of CLPA pointed outthat "by expanding CSP+ and incorporating
it with OPC UA, all devices can be handled
as a single device, making it easy to shareproduction site information across the enterprise". Thomas J. Burke, President of theOPC Foundation, also emphasized the effectof the alliance, saying that "through collaboraCC-Link IE and ICT systems will also be connectable via OPC UA

tion with CLPA, we can realize effective solu-

At the end of 2015, CLPA agreed to aim

system with the management division's IT

tions for connection of CC-Link compatiblefor enhanced network interconnectivity withsystem, defined in Industrie 4.0 as the stan-devices with the cloud, allowing us to provide

PROFIBUS & PROFINET International (PI).

dard interface between FA and ICT. This

CLPA and OPC members with a world where

Common specifications for connecting CC-agreement aims to combine CC-Link IE andall information is integrated across vendors."

Link IE and PROFINET have been developed

OPC UA, in order to prepare for the age of

The "smart factory" aiming at next gener-

to facilitate communication between different

Industrie 4.0 and the Industrial IoT, linking allation manufacturing has become a realistic

networks at the field level.

the "things" in the factory vicinity.

goal through connecting production sites andIf CC-Link IE and PROFINET are enhanc-More specifically, CLPA will expand the de-management with the IIoT and Industrie 4.0.

ing their collaboration on the horizontal axis,

vice profile description specification "CSP+"In the face of this major trend, it is no longer

the latest agreement is intended to enhancein order to handle various device information

meaningful to focus on small differences be-connectivity in the vertical direction. The OPC

in a unified manner. Mapping specifications

tween the standards. It is in light of this trend

Foundation advocates the "OPC UA" inter-with the OPC UA model will be defined inthat CLPA continues to promote collaboration

face that links the production site FA control

collaboration with the OPC Foundation. As awith other standards such as PI and OPC.

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NewsAnnouncing "CC-Link IE Field Network Basic"

Release of new specifications
to drive the expansion of CC-Link IE compatible devices
Cyclic communication enabled by just implementing software

New specifications that suppor t the use of the IIoT ( Industrial Internet of Things) will be available in CC-Link IE. TheCC-Link Par tner Association ( CLPA ) has announced the addition of CC-Link IE Field Net work Basic, an open field
network using general-purpose 100Mbps Ethernet communication, as a new standard in the CC-Link IE Ethernet-based
integrated network lineup. This will enable device control and visualization through CC-Link IE simply by implementing
the software on Ethernet devices.
opment will allow any network-compatible hardware to be shared between
different protocols, leading to cost reduction as well.
The communication speed of CCLink IE Field Network Basic is
In order to promote the IIoT visualiza-

This is a major benefit for both the100M b p s . A l t h o u g h d i ff e re n t t o t h etion of production sites, a lot of devic-

users of the devices and the vendors

1Gbps speed of CC-Link IE, this is suf-

es and equipment need to be connect-

who develop them. Hardware design isficient bandwidth for the functions re-ed to the network. In reality, however,often required to support devices cor-quired for visualization, such as collec-

old devices and equipment were often

responding to protocols other thantion of operating information.

designed without taking networking

CC-Link IE, which makes product de-CLPA is already providing free sam-into account, limiting networking andvelopment and management more

ple code to members developing com-visualization with the IoT.

complex. However, enabling CC-Link

patible devices, expected to appear

IE simply by means of software devel-

this fall at the earliest.

CC-Link IE Field Network Basic isprovided as a new option making suchdevices and equipment compatible
with CC-Link IE. Notably, it allows device compatibility with CC-Link IE simply through implementing software ona device. Hence device makers canadd this compatibility to almost any
product with an Ethernet port, making
support for the network easier to implement. The approach is simple, yet
continues to offer the functions of CCLink IE such as linkage with host ITsystems. CC-Link IE integrates the entire production site, including alreadynetwork-enabled devices and equipment, realizing an environment readyfor IIoT use.

3

Special Report

New Branches OpenNew branches open in Mexico and Thailand
Locally-centered outreach expansion

The CC-Link Association ( CLPA ) opened branches in Mexico and Thailand from Februar y through March 2016. With
10 overseas branches now open, the new bases in these two countries, with their rapidly developing manufacturingindustries, are expected to accelerate the promotion and adoption of the CC-Link Family, beginning with CC-Link IE.

Ana Erika Vargas, Mexico
Branch（CLPA-Mexico）
Representative

Ana Erika Vargas"We hope to create opportunities for Mexican industries
to broaden their playing field
into the world."

Bovon Thiansawat, Thailand
Branch（CLPC-Thailand）
Representative

Bovon Thiansawat

Industry officials participate in the opening ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand in February"We will be building a coo p e r a ti ve re l a ti o ns hip w i threlated industries to expand
CC-Link throughout Thailand manufacturing."

Mexico's manufacturing sector is ex-count for the largest value are automobilesat the United States branch, which made it

panding, thanks to an abundant labor force,and associated components. Food manu-difficult to provide enough support to Mexi-

government support measures and so on.

facturers are also on the rise, and food-re-co. The new branch addresses this situation

It is particularly advantageous for the auto-lated industry exports in 2016 are expected

while helping to support the Mexican mar-mobile industry as an export base for North

to increase by 5.8% over the previous year.

ket in general,America. This has lead to automotive-relat-

Both countries are in increasing need of au-

Meanwhile, Bovon Thiansawat, the Thai-ed manufacturers from various countries in-tomation in order to enhance their interna-land branch representative, noted thatcluding Japan building their manufacturing

tional competitiveness.

"there has been interest in CC-Link IE as abases in there. Automobiles and associatedWith this in mind, the CLPA openedmeans to realize the Industry 4.0 concept".

components comprise nearly 30% of Mex-branches in these countries for rapid ex-

Both branches will be promoting aware-

ico's total exports. Industrial machinery ac-pansion there of the CC-Link Family. Ana

ness and adoption of CC-Link throughcounts for over 10%; these are among theErika Vargas, the Mexico branch represen-various seminars and exhibitions. With thegrowth industries that are leading the Mex-tative, pointed out that in Mexico, "there hasopening of these branches, local staff who

ican economy through double-digit growth.

been growing expectations of CC-Link IE as

share the same language and culture with

Manufacturing industries such as Japa-a means to improve productivity and on-site

the local users and technicians will startnese automotive manufacturers are also ad-safety." However, in the past, local techni-work, which is expected to further the mo-vancing into Thailand. The exports that ac-

cal training and so on had to be performed

mentum of market acceptance.

CC-Link
Partner Association
CC-Link Partner Association

6F Ozone-front Building, 3-15-58, Ozone, Kita-ku, Nagoya 462-0825, Japan
Phone: +81-52-919-1588
E-mail: info@cc-link.org

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Web: http://www.cc-link.org

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