At SPS IPC Drives 2017, Microsoft will be presenting automation solutions based around the Microsoft Azure cloud and data platform with its special Industrial IoT solution offerings. Microsoft's stand and that of the OPC Foundation (Hall 7, Stand 670) will include the 'Azure IoT Suite Connected Factory Preconfigured Solution', which establishes a connection between the 'Azure IoT Suite' and industrial plants. This allows the solution to be used to analyze the data stream of devices during operation and also to make changes to the devices in a secure manner. At the trade fair, Microsoft will also be showcasing a new user interface for the Connected Factory, which is updated monthly and continuously developed further. Microsoft is the world's largest open source supplier for the non-profit organization OPC Foundation with the interoperability framework OPC UA for networking machines. Microsoft's open source integration of OPC UA runs on devices with Windows, Linux, iOS or Android. Integration with the 'Azure IoT Suite' makes it possible to cloud-enable millions of applications and industrial plants that are compatible with the OPC UA standard, enabling more efficient and flexible centralized control. At the OPC Foundation stand (Hall 7-670), Microsoft will be showing a live demo of how Azure has integrated the OPC UA Global Discovery Server (GDS). The version of the GDS runs on Azure IoT Edge and is already attracting interest from partners: Kontron is a first-time user of the GDS integration. In Hall 7 (Stand 193), Kontron will be presenting the integration of its products and new IoT services with Microsoft Azure. Kontron offers a new solution especially for hybrid requirements, where the storage and analysis of production data can take place both on the factory floor and in the cloud. Kontron will be presenting further details at a press conference today.

There are now 13 partners who integrate OPC UA gateway components into their products to create a seamless connection to the Microsoft Cloud: Softing, Unified Automation, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Kepware, Cisco, Beckhoff, Moxa, Advantech, Nexcom, Prosys OPC, MatrikonOPC, Kontron and Hilscher.

Hilscher is presenting a new configuration of its Edge Gateway series that connects directly to the Microsoft Cloud. Via the 'Azure IoT Hub' cloud service, selected sensor data can be securely transferred to the cloud for further processing and visualization. According to Microsoft, what is unique about this is the particular depth of integration, which goes down to chip level and therefore enables transparent access to real-time data in the field. Passive and therefore non-reactive access to real-time data is possible. Hilscher can be found both on the Microsoft stand and on its own stand in Hall 2, Stand 540.

As another partner, Beckhoff Automation will be presenting two new products at the Microsoft stand: With the 'C6015' device based on 'Windows 10 IoT Enterprise', Beckhoff supports a seamless connection to the Microsoft Cloud. The compact device is suitable for retrofitting in tight control cabinets, for example. The 'EL9160' IoT Bus Coupler, which enables direct bi-directional connection of EtherCAT I/O Bus Terminals in Microsoft Azure via OPC UA, will also be on show for the first time. With the IoT Bus Coupler, data can thus be transferred to the cloud via plug-and-play.