In practice we often encounter production machines that are more than 20 years old. These machines usually have mechanics which is still perfectly functional, but the control system may have become unreliable.
An electrical system often has smaller malfunctions. Sometimes these malfunctions are hard to eliminate because the electrical drawings are no longer up to date and the machines have already been subjected to series of modifications. The PLC is outdated, and there are neither spare parts for it, nor engineers on the market who know how to work with it.
Machine availability is reduced due to frequent minor malfunctions and servicing, thereby reducing the machine’s working time.
This machine is a liability for the production, because in case of possible PLC malfunction or malfunction of any other part of the control system can cause the machine or the plant to be shut down for a longer period of time.
Revamping the control system can revitalize a machine. Well executed revamping implies installing completely new sensors, electrical devices, control cabinet equipment and new PLC control and HMI systems with modern solutions for which you can easily get support when needed.
Such an investment provides a return through the increased availability of the machine for manufacturing and the reliability which the new control system provides.