o6 Automation GmbH is a software company based in Karlsruhe, Germany, specialising in industrial automation connectivity through OPC UA (Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture). The company originated as a spin-off from Fraunhofer IOSB, one of Germany's leading applied research institutes, and serves as the official maintainer of open62541, an open-source implementation of the OPC UA standard for industrial communication.
The company's technical work spans two main areas. First, it stewards open62541 as an open-source project, maintaining the library and engaging with its broader community. Second, it produces o6 Embedded, a software distribution modelled similarly to Linux distributions, which packages open62541 alongside extensions including plugins and event loop functionality for embedded industrial environments. Engineers working at o6 Automation operate across real-time systems, embedded software, connectivity and interoperability protocols, and open-source library development.
Alongside its software products, o6 Automation offers commercial services to organisations implementing OPC UA: professional support, consulting on industrial connectivity and interoperability, and custom development. The company also provides a CRA-ready support offering designed to help manufacturers meet compliance requirements, including the necessary artifacts, processes, and long-term maintenance commitments.
The company's technical focus sits at the intersection of open-source stewardship and enterprise-grade industrial software, with a strong emphasis on long-term maintenance and standards-based interoperability across manufacturing and automation infrastructure.
