Kepware Creates New OEM Offerings

Kepware Creates New Licensable Products to Deliver OPC Interoperability

Portland, ME, February 3, 2008 – Kepware Technologies, the leader in Communications for Automation, announced today that it has developed new product offerings to deliver OPC interoperability, ranging from OPC-Classic to the newest OPC-UA, for license with OEM software products in the automation marketplace.

Software vendors are constantly challenged with staying current with technology and offering the best and most interoperable solutions. Kepware will now offer its leading OPC technology as licensable components, for incorporation into third-party automation software solutions. This new product enables OEMs to leverage Kepware OPC Clients and OPC Servers as plugable components, maintained and certified by Kepware, to meet the latest specifications for OPC-Classic and OPC-UA. The use of “Kepware OPC for Interoperability” will ensure the industry will have the world’s best and most widely adopted OPC technology in products from all vendors.

OPC technology, managed by the OPC Foundation, is the interoperability standard enabling data transfer between all software products in the automation marketplace. Initially developed in 1996, OPC was based on Microsoft COM and DCOM technology. Today, OPC is the most widely leveraged form of interoperability in the market. The OPC of today has now been renamed to OPC-Classic and a NEW OPC-UA will provide additional interfaces, running alongside OPC-Classic, but delivering the latest benefits of Web Services, Object Modeling, Security and Platform Independence.

“Kepware is known as a Driver company,” explained Tony Paine, Executive VP and CTO of Kepware Technologies. “In actuality, we are a technology company with Drivers as our main deliverable. Our new products are a repackaging of our existing technology – the industry’s best and certified OPC Clients and Servers – for license. Software vendors will no longer need to be responsible for the development of OPC technology, or be concerned with interoperability certification. This will be managed by Kepware. Products leveraging Kepware technology will be “Connected with Kepware” in a program similar to “Intel Inside®”.

“There is no doubt that Kepware is the leading supplier of OPC technology in the world,” says Thomas Burke, President of the OPC Foundation. “They deliver OPC Products to end users, on desktops under private label agreements and embedded in panel products, enabling device connectivity with Windows CE based panel products. It is my goal to see OPC become the Plug and Play interoperability standard for all markets dealing with real-time, message and history data transfer. Kepware is the right choice for OEMs that want proven OPC Interoperability and a partner that will manage it for them.”

[an error occurred while processing this directive] According to Craig Resnick, Research Director, ARC Advisory Group, "Manufacturers, processors, and OEMs seek OPC interoperability and communication solutions designed to handle their specific automation and enterprise requirements with unquestioned reliability. However, when automation suppliers develop their own, or purchase OPC toolkits, they put their company’s reputation on the line when they deliver those solutions to their customers, as the performance of those solutions will have a direct effect on procuring future projects and orders. Kepware appears to be in a unique position to deliver managed and certified OPC licensable components to automation suppliers, based on their relationship with the OPC Foundation, experience in delivering interoperability and communication solutions, and the size and reputation of their solution’s installed base.”

About Kepware

Kepware is the world leader in communication software for automation and offers a unique experience in both OPC and embedded device communications. Since 1995, Kepware has focused on the development of communication drivers to automation controllers, I/O and field devices. Applications include M2M (Machine to Machine) and M2E (Machine to Enterprise) communications. Operating system support includes; Microsoft Windows Desktop, Windows Server and Windows Embedded (Windows CE and Windows Embedded NT/XP). Today, with over 140 communication protocols, and through the efforts of our direct sales, distribution and embedded partners, Kepware is the leading provider of communications with annual shipments exceeding 100,000 units. Kepware’s responsiveness to customer needs and strong partnerships with other leading automation suppliers ensures that your next application will be a success. Ask around and you’ll hear why automation professionals everywhere consider Kepware Technologies "Automation’s Best Friend". www.kepware.com

About The OPC Foundation
The OPC Foundation, dedicated to interoperability in automation and enterprise computing, is an independent, non-profit organization that comprises leading manufacturers and solution providers in factory and process automation as well as enterprise solutions. The OPC Foundation's charter is to develop worldwide industry-standards for data transfer offering multi-vendor interoperability and seamless connectivity of measurement and automation devices, systems, networks, and enterprise computing solutions used in the manufacturing and process industries, by leveraging open computing technologies. Board members and Officers are unpaid volunteers. Development of specifications is undertaken by volunteers from 500+ members worldwide. For more information about the OPC Foundation visit www.opcfoundation.org

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