The Sparkplug Plug-in

The Sparkplug Plug-in for industrial MQTT communication

Sparkplug offers a production-oriented approach and works according to the MQTT principle. MQTT is popular in the IoT world. The simple and lightweight communication protocol is especially suitable for machines and devices with low resources. Sparkplug complements the MQTT communication and provides a defined MQTT payload. That provides machines and devices in production with a structure with which they send their data to an MQTT broker. This definition ensures less project planning effort and enables efficient use in production. Sparkplug has a firm place in the industry and convinces by advancing digitalization.

Sending and receiving MQTT messages via the Sparkplug Plug-in with the Sparkplug standards is now possible with the OPC Router. Defined as a node, the OPC Router can send information with a specified MQTT payload or receive it from the MQTT broker as an application.

Sparkplug Plug-in

These and other customers rely on the OPC Router

Volkswagen
tesa
Smurfit Kappa
Vitakraft
frischli
Beiersdorf

It can be as simple as that.

Sparkplug connection via drag & drop

The connection of your Sparkplug Plug-in is quite simple and intuitive with the OPC Router via drag & drop. Our screenshots show exemplary Sparkplug transfers. In the first screenshot, the OPC Router receives the information that data has changed on the OPC Server. At the same time, it sends this change as a node to the MQTT broker and stores it in a database. In the second screenshot, the OPC Router receives data from the MQTT broker as a subscriber. This data is stored directly in the database.

OPC UA Pub/Sub
OPC UA Pub/Sub

From OT to IT – via MQTT using Sparkplug

  • Achieve more with coupled systems:
    Using the OPC Router as an MQTT client, you send or receive valuable data to/from MQTT-enabled systems. The Sparkplug Plug-in sets a new MQTT standard and allows non-MQTT capable devices to communicate data with the IoT and the cloud.
  • Industry 4.0 with Sparkplug:
    The networked systems of Industry 4.0 communicate via many different interfaces. MQTT is one of them and primarily ensures the integration of IoT devices and the cloud in the Industry 4.0 world. The OPC Router builds the bridge to the infrastructure of networked production.
  • Data hub and IoT gateway:
    The OPC Router enables you to network your systems graphically. Its Plug-ins turn it into a data hub in the industrial environment. Simple configuration, sophisticated monitoring and robustness are its distinguishing features. With the Sparkplug Plug-in, it assumes the function of an IoT gateway.

Use Sparkplug for your MQTT communication.

Test the OPC Router with the Sparkplug Plug-in now without any obligation and request your free demo.

Sparkplug Plug-in use cases

OPC Router
Cloud Computing

From the OT to the database

Storing machine data in one place and making it available for further processing has several advantages. Using the Sparkplug Plug-in, the data is sent to an MQTT broker. Sparkplug’s defined MQTT payload simplifies the application at the machine and ensures an efficient workflow with little programming effort. Via the MQTT broker, the data is stored in a database, such as the SQL database. From there, they can be retrieved by other systems. Data can also be sent from the database back to the machine.

Connecting systems with the OPC Router Sparkplug Plug-in

Transfer-Objects

The Sparkplug Plug-in has two transfer objects that turn the OPC Router into a publisher.

Sparkplug Node Publish

With the Sparkplug Node Publish transfer object, the OPC Router sends as node within the MQTT communication. The Transfer object is responsible for sending information and data to the MQTT broker.

Sparkplug Application Command

The Sparkplug Application Command transfer object turns the OPC Router into a sender as an application. Data can be sent to the MQTT broker via the transfer object.

Trigger

The Sparkplug Plug-in has two triggers that complete the Subscribe principle.

Sparkplug Node Device Data

The Sparkplug Node Device Data Trigger is triggered when data changes. On the signal, the OPC Router as node receives the data via MQTT from the MQTT broker.

Sparkplug Command Trigger

The Sparkplug Command Trigger turns the OPC Router as application into a subscriber. The trigger is released when the MQTT broker has received new information. This information is then sent to the OPC Router.

Browsing

Browsing is offered via the Sparkplug Plug-in transfer objects. The MQTT payloads set in production are available for selection in the dropdown.

Haven’t found the right information yet?

Here you will find more information on our software as well as an overview of all available OPC Router Plug-ins. We also provide a free demo with which you can test a fully functional version of OPC Router.