IO-Link is the first standardised IO technology worldwide (IEC 61131-9) for the communication with sensors and also actuators. The powerful point-to-point communication is based on the long established 3-wire sensor and actuator connection without additional requirements regarding the cable material. So, IO-Link is no fieldbus but the further development of the existing, tried-and-tested connection technology for sensors and actuators.

The Industrial Internet Consortium was founded in March 2014 to bring together the organizations and technologies necessary to accelerate the growth of the Industrial Internet by identifying, assembling and promoting best practices. Membership includes small and large technology innovators, vertical market leaders, researchers, universities and government organizations.Industrial Internet Consortium Working Groups coordinate and establish the priorities and enabling technologies of the Industrial Internet in order to accelerate market adoption and drive down the barriers to entry. There are currently 19 Working Groups and teams, broken into 7 broad areas: • Business Strategy and Solution Lifecycle• Legal• Marketing• Membership• Security• Technology• TestbedsThese groups are comprised of Industrial Internet Consortium member company representatives. Member companies can assign an unlimited number of individuals to the Working Groups, which follows the one vote, one company rule.Testbeds are a major focus and activity of the Industrial Internet Consortium and its members. The Testbed Working Group accelerates the creation of testbeds for the Industrial Internet and serves as the advisory body for testbed proposal activities for our members. It is the centralized group which collects testbed ideas from our member companies and provides the members with systematic yet flexible guidance for new testbed proposals. Our testbeds are where the innovation and opportunities of the Industrial Internet – new technologies, new applications, new products, new services, new processes – can be initiated, thought through, and rigorously tested to ascertain their usefulness and viability before coming to market. Learn more about testbeds in general and specific testbeds below.

Siemens is the largest engineering company in Europe. With their positioning along the electrification value chain, Siemens has the knowhow that extends from power generation to power transmission, power distribution and smart grid to the efficient application of electrical energy.Featured Subsidiaries/ Business Units:- Digital Factory- Siemens Technology to Business (TTB)

Hitachi is a highly diversified company that operates eleven business segments: Information & Telecommunication Systems, Social Infrastructure, High Functional Materials & Components, Financial Services, Power Systems, Electronic Systems & Equipment, Automotive Systems, Railway & Urban Systems, Digital Media & Consumer Products, Construction Machinery and Other Components & Systems.Year founded: 1910Revenue: $94.0 billion (2014)TYO: 6501

As one of the largest and fastest growing technology solution providers in the U.S., Zones offers over 1,600 smart, ambitious professionals an environment that fosters rewarding careers in sales, computer and network engineering, logistics, and a variety of corporate and support functions.Zones is headquartered in the Seattle suburb of Auburn, Washington, with field offices, configuration labs, and logistics centers located across the United States. We also maintain a network of sales and support offices and affiliates around the world. Our primary business is the sale of IT hardware, software and services to Fortune 500 companies and large enterprise organizations, as well as growing firms of 250 to 5,000 employees. In addition to delivering the highest level of IT expertise, quality, selection and fulfillment, we offer our clients single-source capability for the comprehensive design and implementation of even the most complex networking, infrastructure, and data center deployments. The Zones sales organization is segmented into broad Enterprise, Mid-Market and Small-Medium Business teams, as well as targeted Healthcare, and Public Sector teams. Our technical professionals share their systems expertise with account teams and clients in a variety of solution sales, planning, design, engineering, implementation, and support roles.