Yokogawa Enhances Functionality of OpreX Collaborative Information Server

Yokogawa Electric Corporation (Headquarters: Musashino, Tokyo; President and CEO: Kunishige Shigeno) announces that it has enhanced the usability, multi-vendor connectivity, and overall system security of the OpreX Collaborative Information Server, a product in the OpreX Control and Safety Systems lineup, improving its operability as an integrated HMI (Human Machine Interface).

The OpreX Collaborative Information Server provides an information platform that aggregates and centrally manages vast amounts of data from equipment and various systems at customer plants worldwide, enabling a cross-sectional understanding of overall production activities. By delivering necessary information at the right time through integrated and remote operation environments, it supports efficient plant operation and rapid decision-making. The new version with enhanced functionality will be released on June 12, 2026.

Background of Development

Plants in the process industry consist of various facilities and equipment, and there is a growing need for an integrated HMI environment that allows efficient operation and monitoring while providing an overview of the entire plant. Furthermore, there has been a demand from operators to migrate while maintaining the screen layout and operational feel of their familiar existing control systems. While the OpreX Collaborative Information Server is being adopted as an integrated HMI, ensuring high affinity with the HIS (Human Interface Station) of the company's integrated production control system CENTUM VP, which is also part of the OpreX Control and Safety Systems lineup, and achieving a familiar operating environment sometimes required a certain level of engineering.

In recent years, with the increasing use of open combinations of equipment and software from different manufacturers, reducing the application development load for building a common platform, improving interoperability, and enhancing security have become important themes. Based on this background, Yokogawa has strengthened the functionality of the OpreX Collaborative Information Server.

Product Features

1. Realization of an Integrated HMI with Operability and High Affinity Close to the Conventional HIS

It is now possible to directly call up specific operation monitoring windows of the CENTUM VP HIS from the integrated operation and monitoring screen of the OpreX Collaborative Information Server. This allows on-site operators to use the OpreX Collaborative Information Server as an integrated HMI environment while maintaining the same functions, screen layout, and operability as the conventional HIS.

Additionally, screens of connected systems can now be displayed as remote desktop screens, further improving convenience as an integrated HMI.

2. Improved Application Development Efficiency

The information model function of the OPC UA server in the OpreX Collaborative Information Server has been enhanced, enabling support for multiple information models when connecting equipment from different manufacturers. This makes it easier to absorb differences in equipment and system configurations, improving application development efficiency and achieving high connectivity and interoperability.

* OPC Unified Architecture (UA) is a standard that significantly improves interoperability through platform independence, information model support, and enhanced security, and was internationally standardized as IEC 62541 in 2011.

3. Reduction of IT Security Risks

The OpreX Collaborative Information Server now supports the company's security configuration set "IT Security Tool" based on the CIS benchmark*. Applying this tool strengthens the settings of Windows computers on which the OpreX Collaborative Information Server is installed, contributing to reducing security risks across the entire platform.

In plant operations requiring high reliability, this supports stable system operation from a security perspective.

* A guideline for securely configuring systems published by the Center for Internet Security (CIS®) in the United States.

https://www.cisecurity.org/cis-benchmarks/cis-benchmarks-faq

Primary Markets

Plants such as oil and gas extraction/refining, petrochemicals, chemicals, renewable energy, electric power, pulp and paper, food and pharmaceuticals, iron ore, steel, water distribution, and water treatment.

Applications

Plant monitoring, operation, control, data collection, data provision, record keeping, etc.

Related Information

Collaborative Information Server

https://www.yokogawa.com/solutions/products-and-services/control/control-and-safety-system/collaborative-information-server/ciserver/

What is OpreX?

OpreX is the comprehensive brand for Yokogawa's control business. The OpreX Collaborative Information Server belongs to OpreX Control and Safety Systems, one of the product and solution groups that constitute OpreX Control. OpreX Control provides excellent, highly reliable control technology that quickly responds to changes in customer management, operations, and business, supporting highly efficient, high-quality, safe, and stable operational foundations.

For details: https://www.yokogawa.com/solutions/featured-topics/oprex/

Company names, organization names, product names, service names, and logos used in this document are registered trademarks or trademarks of Yokogawa Electric Corporation, each company, or each organization.