In motion control, OPC is essentially a means to enable communication between devices such the motion controller and PLCs, DCS and other equipment within a control network. OPC is really an application specific rendition of the more widely encountered OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) and is based on Microsoft Windows COM (Component Object Model|) architecture.

Developed by the OPC Foundation, it forms a standard software interface to hardware databases. Most modern control systems support data exchange based on the OPC Foundation's Data Access Specifciation Version3.0. This specification defines a standard set of objects, interfaces and methods to enable data interoperability.

In Delta Tau's case, for example, A PMAC OPC (communications software) allows communications with a variety of PLCs and controllers via a multitude of Fieldbus choices.