Category
Industrial Automation Systems
Integrated stepper motors, positioning systems, PLCs, HMIs, remote I/O and gateways for machine builders and plants.
Industrial automation covers the drives, controllers, HMIs and network gear that machine builders and plants use to position, control and connect equipment without manual intervention. This page covers Halstrup-Walcher positioning drives, Pixsys PLCs and HMIs, protocol gateways, remote I/O modules, Exner pH housing control units and a transportable worktable. For temperature and process loops, see process controllers.
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Automation Subcategories
21 Products · Automation
CNV520 | Protocol converter Modbus TCP/ Modbus RTU
CNV520 | Protocol converter PROFINET-ModbusRTU
EPL200 | Open frame PLC
EXmatic 470
Electro-pneumatic control unit with integrated connection hose for EXtract 8XX housings
EXmatic 471
Electro-pneumatic control unit for automatic cleaning of EXtract 8XX retractable housings
MCM260X
Remote I/O module with CANopen and Modbus-RTU, up to 9 analogue-digital I/O points
MCM280X
Remote I/O module with Modbus TCP/IP Ethernet and RS485 RTU bridge mode
Multi-loop PID Controller
NeoTable
Worktable
PL280 | Compact PLC with integrated I/Os
PL600 | Modular PLC - OPC-UA Server / MQTT
PL700 | Modular PLC - CODESYS
Selection guide
Industrial Automation Systems Guide
Choosing the right automation component
Start from the job, not the brand.
- Automatic format changes: for light axes (NEMA 17/23, up to about 3 Nm), use integrated stepper motors. For heavy spindles, long travel or continuous duty, use the HIPERDRIVE positioning system.
- Machine control and operator interface: touchscreen HMIs with a built-in soft-PLC, compact and modular PLCs, and an open-frame PLC board are all on the HMI & PLC page.
- Many temperature or process loops in one panel: a multi-loop PID controller replaces dozens of single-loop units and gives one point of central monitoring.
- Bridging networks: connect Modbus RTU devices to Ethernet or PROFINET with a protocol gateway, or bring field I/O onto the network directly with a remote I/O module.
- Automatic sensor care: pneumatic retractable pH and ORP housings need something to trigger retraction, cleaning and calibration; that's the pH housing control unit.
- On-site work: the NeoTable worktable gives technicians a stable surface on a machine frame, cabinet or site, without a bench.
Fieldbus support
Most components join an existing plant network without a redesign.
- Protocols: depending on the product, these components speak IO-Link, PROFINET, EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, POWERLINK, CANopen, Modbus RTU or Modbus TCP.
- Check per product: not every model on this page carries every protocol, so confirm the exact list on the specific product page.
- Mixed networks: mixing an EtherCAT drive with a Modbus-only PLC still needs a gateway in between.
Who uses these products
- Machine builders: in packaging, printing, food and pharma specify the positioning drives, PLCs and HMIs at the design stage, so format changes and recipes can be set from the operator screen instead of by hand.
- Plants: use the protocol gateways and remote I/O modules later, during a retrofit or a SCADA upgrade, to bring older Modbus RTU instruments onto a modern Ethernet or PROFINET network without replacing them.
Need loop control instead of positioning or connectivity? See process and temperature controllers and panel meters.
FAQ
Common questions
What is automatic format changeover?
It means adjusting a machine's guides, stops and spindles to a new product size by motor instead of by hand. A positioning drive, such as the Halstrup-Walcher PSD or HIPERDRIVE, moves each axis to a stored value on command from the PLC, so operators skip manual measuring and locking, and changeover drops from minutes to seconds.
Which fieldbuses do your automation products support?
It depends on the product. Positioning drives and the HIPERDRIVE support IO-Link, PROFINET, EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, POWERLINK or CANopen. Pixsys PLCs and remote I/O modules add Modbus RTU and Modbus TCP. Check each product's page for the exact list before specifying cabling, because not every model carries every protocol.
Can I connect Modbus RTU devices to a PROFINET PLC?
Yes. The Pixsys CNV520 protocol converter bridges RS485 Modbus RTU devices to a PROFINET network, so existing meters and drives don't need replacing. A separate CNV520 variant bridges Modbus RTU to Modbus TCP/IP Ethernet instead, for plants standardising on Ethernet rather than PROFINET.
What is a remote I/O module used for?
It puts digital and analogue inputs and outputs close to the machine or field devices, then sends them to the PLC or SCADA over a network. That avoids running long multicore cable back to the control panel, which matters most on retrofits and spread-out plant layouts.
How do I automate cleaning and calibration of a pH sensor housing?
Fit a pneumatic retractable housing with an Exner EXmatic control unit. It runs the retraction, rinse, cleaning and calibration cycle automatically on 24 VDC power and 6 bar compressed air, and returns the sensor to the process afterwards. The EXmatic 470 controls one housing, the EXmatic 471 controls two.
Do you supply PLCs that support CODESYS?
Yes. The Pixsys PL700 modular PLC runs CODESYS Control SL, alongside EtherCAT master, PROFINET device and EtherNet/IP support. If your team already programs in LogicLab instead, the PL280, PL600 and EPL200 use that environment, with IEC 61131-3 function blocks for control logic.
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