Rockwell Automation (www.rockwellautomation.com) is proud to announce their latest two mid-range controllers which integrate drive control, discrete, motion and safety capabilities in a single device. The L45S Compact GuardLogix and Allen-Bradley L43S programmable automation controllers (“PACs”) offer functions that are previously available only on Rockwell`s larger Allen-Bradley ControlLogix. These include information and diagnostics capabilities, which help reduce prolonged restarts and nuisance shutdowns, as well as one programming environment.

The new controllers use the same visualization, networking and configuration environment as Rockwell’s larger systems. It helps end-users and machine builders to integrate safety or machine applications cost-effectively to plantwide control systems.

Ken Deken, vice president for portfolio management of Rockwell, predicts that the two controllers will “open a new door for many manufacturers with mid-range applications who previously did not have the means to implement an integrated architecture. The scalability of the Integrated Architecture system means that manufacturers and machine builders can design their applications using a single control engine and a single development environment, regardless of the application size.”

By using Sercos communications, PACs can control approximately eight axes. When utilized with Allen-Bradley Kinetix 6200 servo drives, the controllers give machine builders advanced safety options such as safe direction and safe speed.

Also, the controllers support the use of Point Guard I/O modules and CompactBlock Guard I/O modules from Allen-Bradley on EtherNet/IP, enabling improved sharing and fast system configuration of information. The controllers have highest level of machine safety rating, up to SIL 3 and PL e.

When utilized with new RSLogix 5000 programming software from Rockwell, the latest PACs can utilize high-integrity add-on instructions (“AOIs”) for faster commissioning. The AOIs encapsulate code for usual routines to pre-validated modules, which can be easily reused to help lower risk of coding errors and save time. Manufacturers in regulated sectors, including food and beverage manufacturing and pharmaceuticals, can utilize the software to help protect intellectual property, fulfill regulatory requirements, and manage revision control.