Point to point configuration tool.

Migration path for users and vendors supporting modern intelligent device management and monitoring initiatives.

FDT Service Provider M&M Software released fdtCONTAINER® version 4.8, a point-to-point device configuration tool supporting the latest FDT 3.0 specification to meet user demands for modern intelligent device management and monitoring initiatives has been announced by the FDT Group. This release also includes updated developer tools which simplify the migration to FDT 3 systems and smart device DTMs for the vendor community.

“M&M Software is proud to be an FDT Service Provider offering invaluable advice and support to system and device suppliers interested in innovative system and device management strategies based on the FDT standard.” Says Pingsheng Xu, development manager for M&M Software. “We are thrilled that our product offerings now support the latest FDT (3.0) UE standard allowing users and vendors a seamless migration path for industrial device management modernization, providing new features supporting smart manufacturing projects.”

M&M Software’s FDT UE-ready product line includes: • OEM fdtCONTAINER application 4.8 – Free point-to-point device management and configuration tool supporting all DTM generations for users. • fdtCONTAINER component 4.0 (aka. FDT UE - Desktop Common Component) – The official component for integrating the FDT 3.0 interface and DTM runtime into an engineering application for system vendors with branded customizations and other value-add features. • dtmMANAGER development suite 4.0 – The comprehensive FDT 3.0 DTM development suite provides a simplified environment for device vendors to develop DTM’s allowing vendors to focus on the value-add device model features.

Smart manufacturing initiatives drive end users and suppliers of industrial automation systems and devices to seek modern and comprehensive device management solutions that use interoperable, efficient, and sustainable plug and play engineering tools. FDT, an IEC 62453 embedded software standard, normalizes device data and communication between any host and device. The standard rooted in the host and device environment provides users a single tool for intelligent device management, operation, diagnosis, and maintenance. The latest FDT 3.0 specification enables a FDT Unified Environment (FDT UE) for IT/OT data-driven operations via authenticated OPC UA, FDT UE and mobile clients.

FDT Group partners with leading service providers worldwide that assist companies interested in FDT-enabled product development. These organizations provide training and resources to educate customers about FDT (FDT 1.x and 2.x) and FDT UE (3.0), offer technical guidance on system and device integration, and help suppliers future-proof their system and device management strategy. Providers are updating their product offerings and development tools to assist next-generation architectures based on the FDT 3.0 standard designed to meet industry demands for modern intelligent device management and monitoring initiatives for the process and factory markets.

“Working closely with our service providers, such as M&M Software, reduces barriers for FDT product development for market entry,” says Steve Biegacki, FDT Group managing director. “The global industrial automation community has widely adopted the FDT standard, and M&M Software has been a key player for its acceptance by enabling multi-vendor support over multiple communication protocols while leveraging a common information model and user interface.”

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FDT Group Sponsoring Member announced!

M&M Software GmbH of St. Georgen (D), has elevated it membership status to that of sponsoring member of the FDT Group. In raising its support to the highest level possible, M&M Software will take a seat on the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the FDT Group.

"I am delighted to have M&M Software as a sponsoring member," comments Glenn Schulz, Managing Director of the FDT Group. "M&M Software has been active in the FDT Group since its inception and has played key roles in our Architecture and Specification working group, our Test and Certification working group, and various marketing committees. The M&M Software commercial products and services are major components of the FDT® ecosystem. Their executive leadership is a welcomed enhancement of their support of FDT."

"FDT is the most important technology standard used in our business unit software solutions for device integration," observes Mr. Andreas Boerngen, Director of Sales and Marketing at M&M Software. "In the past years we already have contributed a lot on working group level. With the introduction of FDT2™, we see a huge potential to take the standard a step further by integrating and combining of latest trends and technologies like mobile and cloud computing. We want accelerate the FDT 1 to FDT2 transition. Most importantly, we want to listen closely to the system providers and end users of FDT to learn more about their requirements and needs on device integration."

M&M Software has nominated Mr. Andreas Boerngen to the Board of Directors and Mr. Frank Schmid to the Executive Committee of the FDT Group.