Control Retrofit Package

It is widely known that electronics fail and become obsolete at a faster pace than their mechanical counterparts. We find this evident in almost every industry. Often machines long outlive their original control technology. They still have good mechanical bones, but the machine downtime is ever growing due to electronic issues. Meanwhile, buying a new machine can be out of reach due to budget limitations or lead times, which makes retrofitting the most viable option. For a fraction of the cost of a new machine and less downtime than moving and replacing the old equipment, HCS can retrofit the electronic control system and increase your process output and reliability. A retrofit comes with many new features that will not only improve cycle times but bring dated equipment to modern standards. New electronic controls will have the capability to handle much more in terms of environment, memory, task management, operator input, and product tolerances than their predecessors.

Here are the key areas that a new, modern control system can improve your current process:

• Increased Productivity - An automated machine runs continuously and rarely needs a break except for maintenance. Increased throughput is the #1 reason most people choose to automate.

• Consistency - An automated machine performs the same task identically for every piece it processes. Achieving consistent, high-tolerance production can be challenging when different operators control an older machine. Through effective automation, products can be manufactured with unwavering consistency, day after day, year after year.

• Safety - When you remove most or all of the human interaction from a process, you remove most or all of the chances of being harmed by the process. One of the primary purposes of automation is to remove human interaction. So, in addition to improving throughput and/or consistency, automation makes most jobs safer and is particularly useful when the process itself is hazardous in some form or fashion.[1]

In addition to the above improvements to production, a retrofit will help free up personnel costs and maintenance man-power at your facility. If you have equipment that was manufactured by a now defunct company, then you probably are already experiencing the frustration of trying to service the machine and find spare parts. A retrofit package will include new motors, drives, controller, operator panel and components, cabling, etc. All of these items be current available items from vendors within the US, allowing for shorter lead times and current manufacturer warranties. In addition, the customer will be provided with new electrical schematics and manuals to aid with future troubleshooting.

Contact Hagood Control Systems today to set up an appointment and our experts will survey your existing equipment, assess your desired outcome, and execute a retrofit that meets or exceeds your manufacturing needs.