The scope of the OPC UA PROFINET Companion Specification is to define an OPC UA Information Model to represent the standardized object model (Object Dictionary) from PROFINET.

This OPC UA Information Model shall enable standard OPC UA Services to access the objects of PROFINET devices in a vendor independent way. The access can happen through an OPC UA Server directly integrated in the PROFINET device, or through an OPC UA Server aggregating Object Dictionaries of multiple PROFINET devices. This will allow the implementation of horizontal communication between PROFINET devices and OPC UA devices on the field level, as well the vertical communication initiated from devices in the process or enterprise level, e.g. for diagnostics, configuration, condition monitoring, visualization etc.

OPC Foundation

OPC UA is the interoperability standard for the secure and reliable exchange of data and information in the industrial automation space and in other industries. It is platform independent and ensures the seamless flow of information among devices from multiple vendors. The OPC Foundation is responsible for the development and maintenance of this standard.

OPC UA is a platform independent service-oriented architecture that integrates all the functionality of the individual OPC Classic specifications into one extensible framework. This multi-layered approach accomplishes the original design specification goals of:

• Platform independence: from an embedded microcontroller to cloud-based infrastructure
• Secure: encryption, authentication, authorization and auditing
• Extensible: ability to add new features including transports without affecting existing applications
• Comprehensive information modelling capabilities: for defining any model from simple to complex

PROFINET Standardization Group (PNO)

The PROFIBUS and PROFINET user organization (PNO: Profibus Nutzerorganisation e. V.) was founded in 1989 and is the largest automation community in the world and responsible for PROFIBUS and PROFINET, the two most important enabling technologies in automation today. The PNO is member of PROFIBUS and PROFINET International (PI).

The common interest of the PNO global network of vendors, developers, system integrators and end users covering all industries lies in promoting, supporting and using PROFINET. Regionally and globally about 1,400 member companies are working closely together to the best automation possible. No other fieldbus organization in the world has the same kind of global influence and reach.