Enhanced operator interface panels

Red Lion Expands Industrial Automation Portfolio with G3 Kadet Series Additions

Red Lion Controls has expanded its portfolio of industrial automation solutions with two new additions to its G3 Kadet series of operator interface panels. With high‐resolution, wide‐format screens, the new G304K2 and G307K2 panels provide complete Human Machine Interface (HMI) functionality for PLCs, motor drives and other communications‐capable devices to drive productivity in industrial environments through improved visibility, management and control. Offering the same powerful multi‐protocol conversion facilities as the previous generation, the following new G3 Kadet models provide enhanced functionality for both machine builders and end users:

• 4” G304K2 includes an Ethernet port (10 base‐T/100 base‐TX) and supports up to four Ethernet protocols from a list of over 70 supported protocols. Two serial protocols – chosen from a list of over 150 – may also be assigned to the unit’s RS232 and RS485 ports, allowing it to communicate with an unlimited number of disparate devices simultaneously.

• 7” G307K2 offers a WVGA wide screen with a resolution of 800x480 for organisations who require a larger display. The high‐definition display supports 32K colors to provide superior clarity for detailed user interfaces. The panel supports up to four Ethernet and three serial protocols simultaneously.

Both models excel at protocol conversion, which allows integrators and system designers to seamlessly integrate disparate equipment. The ability to easily integrate devices from different manufacturers enables machine builders to select the most cost‐effective PLCs, drives and motion controllers while end users leverage best‐in‐class components for the task at hand. End users are also able to use the Ethernet port to upgrade existing serial‐based control systems, which avoids the risk and downtime associated with traditional PLC upgrades.

“Our new high‐resolution 4” and 7” operator interface panels offer more capabilities at half the cost of many competing full‐feature display panels,” said Jeff Thornton, director of product management at Red Lion Controls. “With the addition of these new models, Red Lion offers customers a comprehensive range of HMIs for numerous industrial applications.”

Red Lion’s Crimson 3.0 software, which includes access to over 220 communications protocols, comes standard with either model for easy deployment and programming. This allows customers to costeffectively standardise on one HMI for all of their machines, regardless of the PLC or drive manufacturer used.

• Red Lion products are marketed in Ireland through Instrument Technology.