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Tecnologic and Unitronics in Partnership
Tecnologic have been partnering with global PLC manufacturer Unitronics in the UK for the past two years, to supply the latest touch screen interfaces as part of the integrated solutions we already provide to our customers. This article takes a closer look at the Unitronics PLC range and the benefits that Unitronics components can offer to our UK clients.
Why Partner with Unitronics?
Unitronics have been designing and manufacturing automation components and solutions since 1989. With distributors on every continent, their reach is truly global, and their clients include many blue chip companies including Coca Cola, General Motors, Mercedes, Fiat and Michelin. Tecnologic are now able to supply the same world class Unitronics components to our UK manufacturing clients.
Although Unitronics specialise in making programmable logic controllers for automation applications, this belies the huge range of industries and applications for which Unitronics PLC’s may be used. From Packaging to Printing, Mining to Medical, Data Entry to Defence, Unitronics PLC’s are used within most major industries to improve control accuracy, reduce processing costs and provide easier to use interfaces.
Unitronics have also led the way in terms of user interface integration and ease of use, and their new generation of integrated touch screen PLC’s allows Tecnologic to offer our customers substantial improvement in usability, as a well as powerful PLC capability. In short, the Unitronics PLC range perfectly complements the existing Tecnologic offering, enabling us to provide even better solutions to our customers.
To browse our Unitronics PLC range please click here.
The Unitronics PLC Product Range
The distinctive feature of Unitronics PLC’s is that they all include fully integrated displays. The type and size of display varies depending on the cost and complexity of the PLC.
For instance, Unitronics Micro PLC’s (such as the Jazz series Micro PLC) feature simple one or two line character LCD displays, offering a very low cost solution suitable for simple to medium complexity automation tasks.
For medium complexity applications a Unitronics PLC with built-in LCD display (Vision 120 or Vision 130) offers a graphic display screen operated via an alpha-numeric keypad. The display is capable of showing diagrammatic information, with space for hundreds of user-defined images.
But for the most complex applications, a Unitronics PLC with built-in touch screen offers exceptional ease of use combined with value for money. Screen sizes range from 3.5 to 12.1 inches and the touch screen panels are fully integrated with the PLC. This means a saving on hardware costs (only one component to buy, rather than two or more) as well as a saving on labour (no need to wire up separate components).
The smallest of the Unitronics touch screen products is the Vision 350 which has a 3.5 inch colour display capable of showing up to 1000 different user-defined screens. The Vision 570, Vision 1040 and Vision 1210 models feature 5.7, 10.4 and 12.1 inch touch screens, all integrated with a powerful PLC which can be programmed to automate and control a large number of different processes at the same time replacing switches, relays and transmitters.
The choice of screen size will depend on the complexity of the operation being controlled and the level of graphical information necessary to display to a user. As usual, Tecnologic will help you analyse your application and choose the right Unitronics PLC to suit your application.
To browse our Unitronics PLC range please click here.
The Benefits of Unitronics to UK Manufacturers
End users of control and automation systems are increasingly expecting to see the type of touch screen controlled interfaces that they are used to in their mobile phones, games consoles and many other consumer products. Furthermore, products which have appealing and colourful interfaces, even those controlling industrial processes, look better and are far easier to sell, than those which do not.
Tecnologic’s core business involves helping our customers find the best solutions for their applications, and that includes meeting the needs of your end users. Unitronics products enable you to move your products to the next level by including easy to use, colour touch screens into your solution, while also giving you outstanding power and accuracy to control or automate a vast range of industrial processes including temperature control, motion control and much more.
But the inclusion of a colour touch screen does much more than make the end product more appealing or easier to use. It enables the integrated PLC to be more easily and directly programmed to perform the required operations. This means the potential to cut down on development time considerably, compared to designing, building and programming a bespoke solution. And, unlike other PLC products, all Unitronics PLC software tools are free of charge. All this means reduced development timescales and costs for you.
Unitronics PLC’s perform particularly well when it comes to temperature control applications, where Tecnologic have traditionally specialised, and where other non-specialist PLC’s tend not to perform so well. Adopting the Unitronics PLC range means that our existing customer base, who look to us for the latest temperature control solutions, can now be assured of up-to-the minute components that provide the accuracy and control they need.
To browse our Unitronics PLC range please click here.
Why Buy Unitronics PLC Components Through Tecnologic?
When you buy through Tecnologic you are getting far more than just a component – you are taking advantage of over 20 years of experience in creating turnkey solutions for our customers.
Our business is focused around helping you put together a complete solution for your application. Our reputation is built on long term relationships with customers who trust us to understand their requirements and give honest advice. For complex applications we will arrange a site visit to ensure we thoroughly understand your requirements. We will then take the time to discuss alternative options with you, allowing you to make fully informed decisions regarding price, capacity, performance and so on.
In addition, we can supply sale or return evaluation units, enabling you to fully test any Unitronics PLC for yourself before committing to a sale. If you require assistance, a software writing service is available, to ensure your Unitronics PLC is correctly programmed for your specific application. And for those writing their own software, Unitronics provide a high level of free support from their own engineers.
To browse our Unitronics PLC range please click here.
How Can I Find Out More About Unitronics Products for My Application?
To browse our Unitronics PLC range please click here.
Alternatively, contact us today on 01252 377 600 for a no-obligation chat about your application or to arrange a site visit.
To see our instrument range at a glance click here.