Hannover, Germany -- At the Hannover Fair this week, integration is emerging as a theme − from cable carrier systems to new motor and drive combinations.
Siemens Energy & Automation introduced a compact controller solution composed of the Simatic S7-1200 Controller and Simatic HMI basic panels that can be programmed with Step 7 Basic Engineering software.
"In the past, designers had to use separate engineering packages, which meant they had to constantly switch back and forth between the PLC, HMI and drive," says Siemens' Mike Krampe. "Now they can program in single environment, saving time in the development process."
Krampe pointed to the drag-and-drop feature, saying it makes it simple to make changes to any part of the system while keeping the data consistent throughout. The integrated capabilities also allow users to modify or expand production lines more easily than in the past.
The S7-1200 compact controller features built-in Ethernet, high speed motion control and onboard analog I/O, plus HMI panel connectivity, saving space and reducing the need for additional hardware.
