2025-05-15 [Case Study] OPA System with ASRock Industrial’s DCN for Open Automation

Open Process Automation (OPA) is revolutionizing industrial automation by offering unmatched flexibility, security, and efficiency while redefining industry standards. ASRock Industrial is spearheading this transformation, driving innovation with Distributed Control Nodes (DCNs) that eliminate vendor lock-in, enhance system interoperability, and ensure future-proof automation. By embracing an open, software-defined approach, ASRock Industrial’s DCNs has been integrated into the OPA system of a global leading energy company, setting new benchmarks in industrial automation, and enabling long-term scalability and operational efficiency. 

Challenges

Industry automation is evolving rapidly yet many companies remain trapped in proprietary ecosystems that stifle innovation, increase cost, and limit scalability. The challenges of traditional process automation systems include: 

  • Vendor Lock-in: Proprietary architectures force companies into closed ecosystems, limiting technology choices and increasing long-term costs. 
  • Limited Scalability: Expanding or upgrading automation infrastructure requires expensive overhauls, disrupting operations.
  • Cybersecurity Risks: Legacy automation systems were not built with modern cybersecurity threats in mind, exposing critical operations to increased risk.

 

As industries transition toward digitalization and smart manufacturing, the need for an open, software-defined approach to automation has never been greater. 


 

Solution

ASRock Industrial is leading the Open Process Automation revolution by deliver O-PAS™ compliant Distributed Control Nodes (DCNs) and IEC 61499 based solutions that provide flexibility, security, and seamless multi-vendor integration. Key Contributions of Open Process Automation:

  • Industry Leadership in OPA: As an active member of Open Process Automation Forum (OPAF), Universal Automation.Org (UAO), Coalition for Open Process Automation (COPA), and the FIDO Alliance, ASRock Industrial is shaping the future of open process automation. 
  • Leading O-PAS™ Validated DCNs: ASRock Industrial is at the forefront of developing DCNs that are fully compliant with O-PAS™ standards, ensuring open, scalable, and secure automation. Additionally, the iEP-5000G Series has been successfully integrated as DCN into the open process automation system of a leading global energy company.
  • IEC 61499 Compliance Solutions: ASRock Industrial’s solutions leverage the IEC 61499 standard to enhance interoperability and portability across industrial automation systems, providing exceptional flexibility and resilience for industrial automation industries.

 

With a commitment to advancing open, secure, and software-defined automation, ASRock Industrial’s solutions provide industrial enterprises with unprecedented control and flexibility over their automation infrastructure. 
 

Benefits

Vendor-Neutral Increases Profitability 
By adopting OPA-compliant architectures, ASRock Industrial empowers enterprises to select best-in-class hardware and software solutions without being tied to a single vendor. This enhances innovation and fosters a dynamic, future-ready automation environment, increasing profitability and competitiveness for enterprises. 

Secure and Resilient Industrial Automation
Cybersecurity is at the core of ASRock Industrial’s OPA solutions. Our advanced security measures and decentralized control architectures help industries safeguard critical operations from modern cyber threats while ensuring robust, uninterrupted performance. 

Scalability and Agility for Future Growth
As industries transition toward Open Process Automation, we are delivering the solutions that power this transformation. Our open, scalable and interoperable DCNs allow enterprises to easily adapt to changing industrial demands. These solutions provide the foundation for a new era of industrial automation, one that is open, secure, and built for the future. 
 

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