PKE OPC Development
OPC provides a unified, globally recognized standard for the exchange of data and messages. Based on this software interface, it is possible for the first time to link all technical systems cost-effectively in real time. Since 1998, the OPC interface has been part of PKE solutions, making it one of the pioneers in building management. Due to our many years of experience with open standards, we also offer our know-how to other companies in the development of powerful OPC servers.

What is OPC ?
OPC stands for OLE for Process Control, which describes the standard interface for data exchange under Windows (OLE – Object Linking and Embedding) in a customization for process control. A community of over 300 global companies called the OPC Foundation, since 1996 has specified the scope and functionality of this standard. OPC consists of a whole range of specifications that restrict the exchange of messages, histories and data to a well-defined scope of interfaces. So-called OPC servers are the data providers whose services are used by the OPCC clients. The focus is on the servers: they create the connection between the OPC world and the technical systems. Manufacturer-specific technologies have thus largely become obsolete.
The Advantages !
For the subsystem supplier, the main advantage is an intrinsically verifiable and demonstrably functional interface during the acceptance. Public documentations are limited to data point and message lists, version differences are relevant only within the own house. The commissioning is shortened considerably, because now the operation of the entire system can be checked by own tools prematurely. The manufacturer of the control system is limited to what the control technology is supposed to do: the preparation and management of data for the operator. Cost-intensive implementations of interfaces are largely eliminated. The biggest advantage is the operator. In addition to the time and cost savings for system integration, subsystems and control technology are interchangeable. No manufacturer is able to use proprietary technologies to deprive customers of functionalities or to make customer adjustments through an unjustified pricing policy. Since all data of the overall system are available transparently, the operator has the option of carrying out any further processing of the data independently or with the help of external service providers. The previous restriction and thus dependence on the temporary manufacturer of the sub- or control system is thus eliminated.
Our early decision to integrate the OPC interface has made life easier for us in more than 1,000 projects. Often it is more than 70% of the data points that we can integrate cost-effectively and reliably via OPC servers. In the meantime, we are even developing a large part of our new subsystem interfaces only as OPC servers and offer them to the respective manufacturers for redistribution.
Why OPC ?
Anyone involved in the technical building equipment, whether users, manufacturers, consultants or installers, the problem will be known: technical systems must be monitored, controlled and parameterized. Today, this can hardly be done with the individual PC-based systems of the respective manufacturers. Too many different user interfaces, philosophies and related training would be required.
A desirable communication between the systems is a high cost, since each system requires a separate interface to the third-party system. Modern control and monitoring centers therefore have a central management system, which manages all the technical facilities of a building or industrial plant. Every supplier of these systems faces the same problem: he has to develop an interface for every single or a few commercially available technical systems. Any variation or version change is to be noted any deviation between the documentation and the reality means a vulnerability. At the end, the customer has to pay, whether over interface and data point prices or hidden in the integration costs. This is where OPC technology comes in.
All manufacturers and thus participants in building services speak the same language with OPC. Whether fire detection system, electrical engineering or video surveillance, the entire information exchange takes place via a uniform interface whose functionality has been defined in detail. In industrial automation technology, it is already so far, no manufacturer in this area, it can still afford today to distribute its devices without an OPC server. This is different in safety engineering. Only few manufacturers have the advantages so far recognized by this technology. In contrast, the knowledge of a growing group of consultants and operators of the benefits of this technology stands. In recent months, lucrative tenders are emerging that require an OPC interface as part of the trade or subsystem. Shocked by this development, manufacturers are now forced to engage in this technique unless they wish to lose the contract to a more advanced competitor prepared for OPC.

Extract of available OPC server
OPC-Server Siemens Algorex | OPC-Server Esser Essernet |
OPC-Server HTTP | OPC-Server Hekatron HX16 |
OPC-Server Hekatron Integral | OPC-Server MetaCOM |
OPC-Server Minimax MX | OPC-Server SiNEO |
OPC-Server Siemens SiPass | OPC-Server Siemens SiPort |
OPC-Server Siemens Sistore | OPC-Server Geutebrück GeViScope / GScope |
OPC-Server Siemens Sigmasys/SM88 | OPC-Server SNMP Client |
OPC-Server Siemens SPC | OPC-Server Stentofon Alphacom |
OPC-Server Southwest Microwave | OPC-Server TAPI |
OPC-Server Siemens Transliner | OPC Server Plettac/Funkwerk VAZ |
OPC-Server Video Management | OPC-Server Wagner Supersens |
OPC-Server Zettler Zetfas | OPC-Server Check MK |
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