Mr. Mosch, Mr. Billmann, the Industry 4.0 platform already exists. You are now launching an Industry 4.0 user group - the Industrial Digital Twin Association, or IDTA for short. Are you now working on legitimizing the platform?

Billmann: The initiative to set up a user organization originated in the Industrie 4.0 platform. A task force of the Industry 4.0 platform was commissioned to think about the further development of the models and solutions that had been created. We were part of this task force and presented our joint concept of a user organization there, which met with great approval within the Industry 4.0 platform. So there is no question of digging away. The organizations will work together very closely and in partnership: the user organization technically, PI4.0 politically.
Mosch: The user organization gives the valuable technical results of the Industry 4.0 platform a home, solves the existing IP problems and forms the port for the further development and internationalization of the administration shell. The aim is to bring together the parallel development strands to create the industrial digital twin of Industrie 4.0. With an approach that is as open as possible, we want to build on the current concepts and development statuses and bring the industrial digital twin to market maturity in a consolidated manner. And this is precisely where the Industrial Digital Twin Association complements the Industry 4.0 platform. Key content and concepts were developed in the Industry 4.0 platform and these are now being further developed and tested in the IDTA on the basis of open technologies and together with users.

What exactly do you want to develop?

Mosch: Within IDTA, we want to bring the digital twin for Industry 4.0 to a level of maturity on the basis of which companies can develop additional digital services for each of their products. We have already seen the first prototypes at SPS 2019. Now, however, we must increasingly move from the prototype stage to the industrial solution. Ultimately, the digital twin in Industry 4.0 applications serves as an interface between physical industrial products and the digital world, with potential for new data-based business models for both small and medium-sized factory equipment suppliers and large end users from the automotive and process industries, for example.
Billmann: We also want to develop the German asset administration shell community, which has grown over the last few years, into an international digital twin community. The concept of the administration shell has already been convincing in Germany and has found many supporters. A few seedlings have already sprung up at European and international level. The task now is to further increase the internationality and make the Administration Shell even better known in Asia and America.

Meik Billmann, Automation Association in the ZVEI: "We want to develop the German administration shell community into an international digital twin community.

© ZVEI

What does this developer platform look like in practice?

Billmann: We are currently still in the process of founding the association, so the practical design has not yet happened - we are in the concept phase. The user organization sees itself as an integrator of the many existing initiatives and as the first point of contact for information on the administration shell.
Mosch: How the further development of the models, testing and certification, training and cooperation with partners will look will be defined in the coming weeks and months. We have a very strong group of founding members who are contributing their different perspectives and needs. We are convinced that an important organization for the industrial production of the future is taking shape here.

You are now starting with a total of 23 founding members. What are the next steps?

Mosch: We have already been able to attract a number of important companies with the idea of the IDTA as a user organization for Industry 4.0. From software providers to component manufacturers and machine builders through to users, the industry is ready to take this initiative forward. This shows the breadth of the market for Industry 4.0 and the associated administration shell as a digital twin.
Billmann: The commitment of other technology associations that contribute their expertise is also important for the user organization. We have now learned that Industry 4.0 only works together. Both the AutomationML and eClass associations as well as the OPC Foundation and the Profibus user organization welcome the founding of this association. Together, we have a lever to advance the technology of the digital twin for Industry 4.0 and bring it to the world.

The founding members

The Industrial Digital Twin Association was founded on the initiative of Plattform Industrie 4.0.

The founding members are: ABB, Asentics, Bitkom, Bosch, Bosch Rexroth, Danfoss, Endress+Hauser, Festo, Homag, KUKA, Lenze, Pepperl+Fuchs, Phoenix Contact, SAP, Schneider Electric, Schunk, Siemens, Trumpf, Turck, VDMA, Volkswagen, Wittenstein and ZVEI.