First communication test between new and existing control system
First connection between new PLC and existing I/O
Modernising older machines is rarely about starting with a blank slate. In this project, the goal is to give the heavylifter a new control system while continuing to integrate with existing field equipment and I/O.
The photo shows an important milestone in the project – the first test where the new PLC was connected to existing signals and I/O in the plant.
Before further development could begin, it was essential to verify that communication between the new control system and the existing installation worked as expected. During the test, signals were read and checked against the existing plant to ensure data was transferred correctly.
The result was better than expected. All required signals were read without issues, and the system behaved stably throughout the entire test run. This gave us early confirmation that the chosen architecture was correct and that we had a solid foundation for further development.
Such milestones may not be the most visible externally, but they are often among the most important. When communication between old and new works as it should, work can continue with function implementation, hydraulic testing, and later the drive system.
This test marked the start of the journey towards a modern control system for the heavylifter – and gave us valuable confirmation that the project was on the right track from day one.