The 30 years of experience in user-oriented development and successful global marketing of technologies at Profibus & Profinet International (PI) was decisive for the initiative of the Omlox partner companies to entrust PI with the further development and distribution of the Omlox technology.

"We see Omlox as a very good addition to the existing Industry 4.0-oriented development activities of PI technologies," explains Karsten Schneider, CEO of the Profibus User Organization (PNO) and Chairman of Profibus & Profinet International (PI).

As early as April 2020, a vote was held among the members in accordance with the internal rules to confirm the inclusion of Omlox positioning technology in the PNO's technology portfolio and to establish the D omlox Committee. This laid the organizational foundation. In June, the Executive Board and Advisory Board then elected Dr. Matthias Jöst (Heidelberg mobil international) to head the committee and established the five Omlox working groups (Use Cases, Hub, Core Zone, Marketing, Quality Test) as the infrastructure for implementing the upcoming work and appointed the working group leaders. A 'Call for Experts' with a call for participation in the activities was distributed to all member companies worldwide in the relevant newsletters. The first version of the Omlox technology, which was formally handed over to PI, represented by Karsten Schneider, at the virtual go-live event on June 29, 2020, forms the basis for the start of work in the established working groups.

Like IO-Link, Omlox technology is technologically independent of Profibus and Profinet. The working groups will therefore operate independently in their activities, but can draw on the experience of the existing working groups if required. The advantage of the affiliation with the PNO results, for example, from the use of established globally networked structures and a proven set of rules for the work of the committees, the handling of IPs such as patents and copy rights, as well as the use of the existing contacts of the Regional PI Associations, Competence Centers and Training Centers to the industrial companies in the regions.