Mitsubishi Chemical Group and the Japan Analytical Instrumentation Manufacturers Association (JAIMA) have agreed to conduct a Proof of Concept (PoC) jointly to verify the usefulness and promote the communication standard Laboratory and Analytical Device Standard (LADS) OPC UA, which supports interoperability between platforms for laboratory and analytical devices, in order to achieve the realization of the next-generation lab through digital transformation (DX).
In laboratories, the digitalization and automation of experimental environments are being promoted with the aim of significantly improving the acquisition, management, and analysis of data for material development in terms of quality and quantity. However, most of the current experimental equipment is designed for standalone operation, and the lack of communication functions with external devices or the need for manufacturer-specific communication protocols and software have become bottlenecks in further digitalization and automation.
Both parties will work towards the application of communication and interoperability standards for laboratory equipment, which is the first in Japan, to remove these bottlenecks and further promote the DX of laboratories, aiming for the early dissemination of LADS OPC UA. By introducing LADS OPC UA and connecting many experimental devices plug-and-play, it will be possible to easily and securely monitor and control experimental equipment and acquire and store data. In addition, efficient collaboration among multiple experimental devices and researchers will be possible, reducing time, cost, and technical constraints associated with automation.
Through this initiative, both parties aim to facilitate the construction of flexible next-generation lab systems suitable for research and development, promote the DX of laboratories, and contribute to accelerating material development.
In addition, we plan to exhibit and introduce the LADS OPC UA initiative at JASIS, scheduled to be held at Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall from September 4th to 6th, 2024.
JASIS HP:
※1 OPC UA stands for "Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture". It is an open standard developed by the OPC Foundation in 2006, which has become an international standard as IEC 62541, which is used in industries such as industrial automation to ensure safe and reliable data exchange between devices and software. LADS is an industry standard that utilizes the capabilities and information structures, communication formats, and security functions specified in IEC 62541 to build and operate information models for laboratory experimental equipment and software.
*2 indicates that it can be used immediately when connected.
*3 JASIS is an exhibition where manufacturers of analytical and scientific instruments come together to showcase cutting-edge scientific and analytical systems & solutions.
