Press release - March 31, 2023

Hannover Messe: open standards for a connected Industry 4.0

Interoperability is the key to a successful Industry 4.0. To achieve this, the Asset Administration Shell standardizes the exchange of digital data between assets, systems, and organizations. At this year’s Hannover Messe, CONTACT Software will demonstrate first practical applications. 

In order to fully exploit Industry 4.0’s potential, companies need global standards to connect their systems and assets. A crucial step in this direction is the Asset Administration Shell (AAS). It creates a framework for the description of digital twins and enables end-to-end information flows between companies, assets, and IT platforms. In consequence, companies can reduce errors, accelerate processes, and benefit from transparent as-maintained asset data for maintenance and service. 

At the OWL joint booth D27 in hall 7 at the Hannover Messe, CONTACT will present first practical applications that illustrate the potential of the AAS. Together with partners from automation technology and mechanical engineering, the software provider has expanded its IoT platform Elements for IoT with export and import functionality for the AAS. This enables companies to significantly increase the degree of automation when integrating an IoT component into the digital twin. In the future, the export and import functions will become an integral part of the Elements platform. 

As a member of the Industrial Digital Twin Association (IDTA), CONTACT participates in the further development of the AAS. The company also takes part in research projects to create solutions that carry the AAS into industrial practice. CONTACT Software will showcase its entire solution portfolio at its main booth H20 in hall 17.