What are the Next Generation Automation Legends Series Controllers, and why did we develop them?

 

The NextGen Legends Series controllers are modern Panel Mounted Process Control Stations that provide Functional Equivalency to some of the most Legendary Panel Mounted Controllers of the past, from some of the most well-respected names in the automation industry.

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We believe that our customers, both current and future, have made significant investments in these units and the engineering behind the conrtrol strategies in them.

 

Additionally, you, our clients likely have an installed base of them, that are still running portions of your facilities today.

 

It is very likely that these units will remain running, because your operations and engineering staff are comfortable and familiar with them, and they were a quality product to begin with.

 

As mentioned, the original controllers are from the past, and time changes things:

• Perhaps the original manufacture has moved on from those products (that’s a polite way to say they are obsolete).

• Perhaps that manufacturer has left the marketplace or was acquired by another company and product lines were consolidated. (that’s a polite way to say they are discontinued and out of production).

 

The result is that support, replacements & repairs may no longer be available, however there is a loyal following of users whose operations are dependent on these.

 

We are keenly aware of the costs that would be incurred by yourselves, if you were required to “Start Over” and replace everything…Everything includes:

 

• New Training and Qualifying of your staff

• Re-Engineering of the control strategy

• New Hardware

• New Software

• And other related costs

 

There are some costs that are not measured in Dollars and Cents, like your operations comfort and confidence in the controls they have interacted with for years, and possibly decades.

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These are the true costs that we address with NextGen Legends Series controllers.

 

Why do we state, “Functional Equivalency”, well because, unless a manufacturer owns the intellectual property (IP) of those Legendary controllers, there is no way to EXACTLY match 1 for 1 the original hardware and software.  If a company owned the IP, and could find components & software, then they could re-start manufacturing the originals, and therefore those models would not be obsolete.

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How we achieve “Functional Equivalency”

• We believe that from an operational perspective the user interface must mimic the original as closely as possible.

• We have designed and implemented the I/O of our units to exceed the capability and quantities of the original units. 

• We have designed and implemented our configuration tools to include Proprietary Software Libraries that contain equivalent functionality and equivalent elements (Function Blocks or Function Codes) and can be implemented in a way that feels similar to the existing units, while incorporating the modern IEC 61131-3 described programming languages.  

We offer a modern controller with modern software and features that were not available in the originals that we believe will endure, just like the original.​​