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The CC-Link Partner Association (CLPA) is strengthening ties with other third party industry associations by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AutomationML e.V., in order to incorporate its “CSP+” and “CSP+ for Machine” device profile technologies into AutomationML models.

The CLPA has demonstrated a history of forming close ties with other third party technology associations in order to offer a better solution for users of its open gigabit industrial Ethernet technology, CC-Link IE, and open fieldbus, CC-Link. Over the past several years, this has included creating a companion specification with the OPC Foundation for the CLPA’s “CSP+ for Machine” technology, and a specification developed with PROFIBUS & PROFINET International (PI) to encourage interoperability between CC-Link IE and PROFINET.

At the SPS/IPC/Drives 2018 fair, the CLPA took this track record one step further by the signing of an MoU with AutomationML e.V. AutomationML (“Automation Markup Language”) is an open XML based format defined by IEC 62714 for exchange of plant engineering information. It is regarded as the “glue” for seamless automation engineering by helping to automate production engineering tasks, reducing time and effort. Being an open technology, it fits well with the CLPA’s own mission of providing open automation network technology worldwide.

The subject of the cooperation is the integration of the CLPA’s CSP+ (Control and Communication System Profile) technology into AutomationML models. CSP+ is also XML based and defines CLPA partners’ automation device characteristics, making it easy to configure and maintain CC-Link IE and CC-Link based networks. Recently, the CLPA took this one stage further by introducing “CSP+ for Machine”, allowing complete machines to be treated as a single device, further simplifying plant engineering while increasing process transparency. The resulting application specification will tie in seamlessly with the upcoming new version of the AutomationML Communication whitepaper.

John Browett, general manager of the CLPA in Europe commented, “The CLPA is all about openness. We have demonstrated this by the previous relationships we have formed with the OPCF and PI. By now also working with AutomationML e.V., we are continuing to make it easy for machine builders and end-users worldwide to build and maintain systems with CC-Link IE and CC-Link.”

Andreas Graf Gatterburg, first chairman of the board at AutomationML e.V. continued, “We are pleased to welcome the CLPA to our comprehensive automation network support. We are looking forward to a successful cooperation that will see CSP+ integrated into our data exchange format, further increasing the range of solutions available to plant engineering staff worldwide.”

About The CC-Link Partner Association (CLPA)

The CLPA is an international organisation founded in 2000 dedicated to the technical development and promotion of the CC-Link family of open automation networks. The CLPA's key technology is CC-Link IE, the world's first and only open gigabit Ethernet for automation and an ideal solution for Industry 4.0 applications due to its unmatched bandwidth. Currently the CLPA has over 3,400 member companies worldwide, with more than 1,800 certified products available from over 300 manufacturers. CC-Link is the leading open industrial automation network technology in Asia and is becoming increasingly popular in Europe and the Americas.

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Editorial contact: DMA Europa Ltd. : Carly Ellis
Tel: +44 (0)1562 751436
Fax: +44 (0)1562 748315
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Email: carly@dmaeuropa.com
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Reader contact: CLPA-Europe : John Browett
Tel: +44 (0) 7768 338708
Fax: +49 (0) 2102 532 9740
Web: eu.cc-link.org
Email: john.browett@eu.cc-link.org
Address: Postfach 10 12 17 40832 Ratingen Germany