Waldkirch – SICK AG provides standardized information from over 40,000 SICK sensors in the form of Asset Administration Shells (AAS) to customers and partners, free of charge. The company is announcing this at the Hanover Fair. In doing so, SICK is demonstrating its aspiration to contribute significantly to the advancement of industrial digitalization.
As a supplier of sensor solutions, SICK AG has been a part of digital ecosystems from the outset, and recognized early on the importance of open access to sensor information. SICK is thereby supporting the essential components of industrial digital value-adding chains. This includes, amongst other things, data spaces via the International Data Spaces Association (IDSA). In light of this, SICK is now supporting Manufacturing-X, an initiative of the Industry 4.0 platform moderated by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, which aims to network global cross-company actors into integrated value-adding chains and enable a standardized, global exchange of data. The Asset Administration Shell with so-called sub-models provides an important foundation for this. It provides relevant information about the product in a virtual space and allows Industry 4.0-type applications as well as the implementation of a digital twin. The users benefit from the reduced time and effort involved in the provision, design-in, and maintenance and documentation of sensors in their industrial applications.
Right on time for the Hanover Fair 2023 – the hub for industry professionals – SICK AG is announcing that it will be making available over 40,000 AASs that meet the Industrial Digital Twin Association (IDTA) standard. This enables important information from over 40,000 SICK sensors to be integrated and further utilized by customers and partners in a standardized and efficient manner. The sensor manufacturer already now supports the “Digital Nameplate” sub-model and is working on other models to digitally represent the sensor throughout the entire product lifecycle and thereby drive digitalization in the industry.
“The aim of all our digital solutions is to create value for our customers in their specific ecosystems. That is why we rely on open standards and collaboration with industry partners”, says Dr. Niels Syassen, Member of the Executive Board responsible for Technology and Digitization. “The Manufacturing-X initiative as well as alliances driven by the industrial base, such as the Industrial Digital Twin Association, are making an important contribution in this area,” confirms Syassen.
Asset Administration Shells in the SICK AssetHub
At the launch of this new development, all Asset Administration Shells will be able to be downloaded via the SICK AssetHub. The AssetHub is a digital, web-based Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) system that creates an interactive view both of individual sensors and machines as well as entire plants. The Asset Administration Shells will, in future, also be made available via the SICK.com website.
SICK is one of the world’s leading solutions providers for sensor-based applications in the industrial sector. Founded in 1946 by Dr.-Ing. e. h. Erwin Sick, the company with headquarters in Waldkirch im Breisgau near Freiburg ranks among the technological market leaders. With more than 50 subsidiaries and equity investments as well as numerous agencies, SICK maintains a presence around the globe. In the 2021 fiscal year, SICK had more than 11,000 employees worldwide and a group revenue of around EUR 1.9 billion. Additional information about SICK is available on the Internet at http://www.sick.com or by phone on +49 (0)7681202-4183.