Global automation and technology leader Emerson is joining the Linux Foundation’s Margo. Particularly, Margo aims to make edge applications, devices, and orchestration software work seamlessly. That is, across multi-vendor industrial automation environments.

As process and discrete manufacturers implement enhanced digitalization, they encounter challenges at the edge. Specifically, due to multi-vendor and multi-technology devices, apps, and orchestration environments that do not easily integrate.

Thus, the Margo initiative addresses these challenges by creating a practical reference implementation, open standards, and testing toolkits.

Simplified, Seamless Interoperability

The approach aims to remove obstacles in building, deploying, scaling, and operating complex, multi-vendor industrial edge environments. Thus, helping manufacturers of all sizes build new and better digital operations or modernize existing ones.

“The modern OT edge is the backbone of our next-generation automation architecture. Therefore, enabling the availability of data and computing closest to where it is necessary,” said Peter Zornio, Emerson’s chief technology officer. In addition, Zornio said, “Successful implementation will require open-edge standards that will enable scalable, simplified, and seamless interoperability. Particularly, among applications, edge devices and orchestration software – no matter the vendor technology.”

For that reason, Zornio said Emerson is glad to join the Margo initiative. This will help create a unified and cohesive edge management ecosystem. Moreover, Zornio said, “Our collective progress will make it easier, faster and less costly for our customers to develop digital transformation programs that realize the full potential of AI, machine learning and analytics at the edge.”

Full Support of Automation Providers

The Margo initiative complements Emerson’s Boundless Automation™ vision for a next-generation, modern automation architecture. Specifically, designed to break down data silos and enable computing power where it is best suited, whether that’s in the field, edge or cloud.

Drawing its name from the Latin word for edge, Margo has the backing of the largest automation providers globally. Thus, Emerson joins Margo along with industry peers to develop open and secure edge interoperability standards for industrial automation ecosystems.
The Margo project represents a significant industry collaboration to define mechanisms for interoperable orchestration of edge applications, workloads, and devices. Moreover, it will deliver the promise of interoperability through an open standard, reference implementation, and comprehensive compliance testing toolkit.

17 September 2024