Red Lion adds innovative options to rugged graphite platform
Red Lion Controls recently announced its rugged Graphite® platform has been expanded to include a new Graphite Core Controller and Graphite Crimson® Control Module that combine communication and control capabilities to reduce cost and ease operations. Both hardware offerings leverage an enhanced version of Red Lion’s powerful Crimson 3.0 software with added Crimson Control functionality to provide a single programming solution for control, networking and data visualization.
Crimson Control enables customers to use IEC 61131 programming languages – such as Ladder Logic, Function Block, Structured Text and Instruction List – to solve specific application needs by developing logic control much like a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) or Remote Telemetry Unit (RTU) without the added expense.
The Graphite Core Controller features all-metal construction and works with a variety of I/O modules to combine IEC 61131 control capabilities with networking and data visualization alongside the core functionality – protocol conversion, data logging and web serving – of a Graphite seven inch HMI minus the graphical display.
“Adding control and expansion options to our Graphite platform enables organizations to take communication and control capabilities even further to enhance factory automation and process control applications,” said Paul Bunnell, director of product management at Red Lion Controls. “Customers can easily reduce equipment cost and complexity by using our new IEC 61131 control functionality to program logic control code without the need for additional software or hardware.”
To support this extended functionality, Red Lion now offers rugged Graphite expansion racks that work with the Graphite platform to provide a scalable solution enabling organizations to remotely mount up to twelve plug-in modules to the back of a cabinet without extensive wiring.
Red Lion’s Graphite platform includes a built-in web server that enables users to monitor and control applications via PCs, tablets or smartphones. SMS text-messaging and email alerts provide early warning of process issues, which helps avoid costly downtime or site visits. In addition, protocol conversion lets customers select from more than 300 industrial protocols to seamlessly integrate disparate devices.
