Evolution of Industrial Control Panels in Automation

  

UNI-TECH, one of the best automation companies in Pune, has been in the industry for several decades now. Over this period, machines have evolved and technologies have changed. A major industrial machine, control panels, has seen a fascinating journey that spans several decades, marked by continuous technological advancements and the growing demand for more sophisticated and efficient industrial processes.

 

●     Before the 20th Century: In this era, industrial processes were primarily controlled manually, and not much of technological advancements were witnessed. Operators had to physically manipulate switches, valves, and levers to regulate machinery.

●     Early 20th Century: The operation became more centralized and the control panels featured switches, fuses, and indicators.

●     Mid-20th Century: It was the time when automation began. Relays provided a means to control electrical circuits through the use of electromagnetically operated switches.

●     Late 20th Century: It was a revolutionary era when the first PLC control panels were introduced. This programming of logic functions eliminates the need for extensive rewiring. After this, human-machine interfaces were integrated for a more user-friendly way to operate the industrial process.

●     21st Century: As the network and communication progressed, touchscreen and data analytics were brought into the picture.

 

Today, there are different types of control Panels from CE and UL certified to AMF and PCC, for efficient processing.