3 questions to the new board member Christoph Kelzenberg

Dr. Christoph Kelzenberg, Director Digital Innovations at Phoenix Contact, has been appointed to the IDTA board. In a short interview, he talks about his experience in the field of Digital Twins and automation and his ambitions for his new role.

What is your professional background and how does your work overlap with the Digital Twin?

My doctor’s thesis at the Machine Tool Laboratory (WZL) at RWTH Aachen University focused on the creation of Digital Twins in production, so there were already points of contact before my time at Phoenix Contact. I am currently responsible for an innovation department focusing on digital technologies, which is part of the Chief Digital Office. Together, we are working to turn the vision of standardised and automated industrial data logistics into reality – with the Asset Administration Shell (AAS) as the central enabler.

What activities of the Asset Administration Shell (AAS)/IDTA have you been involved in so far?

My team is driving forward several activities related to the AAS: the development and expansion of our AAS server, the introduction and implementation of new Submodels, the evaluation of missing technology components, and the onboarding of new areas within Phoenix Contact. In addition – and this is where I am mainly involved – we are working more closely with software companies to make the systems “AAS-ready.”

Why is an initiative at IDTA important?

The IDTA community consists of a large number of active member companies. Their employees work together on industry-ready concepts and standards relating to Digital Twins – including testing them for application in operational practice. There is no better way to solve everyday problems relating to industrial data logistics quickly and effectively than in a consortium with other industrial companies.