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Controls & Automation

PLCs, SCADA and HMI stations, building management, control panels, drive cabinets and industrial networks. What matters about a controller is rarely its rating - it is whether the program is backed up and whether the vendor still supports it.

15 types, and what a survey records

Equipment type	Recorded for each one
PLC	Platform · Firmware version · Program backed up · Networked · Vendor support status
BMS / BEMS Controller	Vendor / platform · Approximate point count · Remote access · Configuration backed up
SCADA / HMI Station	Platform / vendor · Firmware / software version · Program or config backed up · Remote access · Vendor support status
Control Panel / Automation Cabinet	Platform / vendor · Firmware / software version · Program or config backed up · Remote access · Vendor support status
Machine Controller / CNC Control	Platform / vendor · Firmware / software version · Program or config backed up · Remote access · Vendor support status
Industrial Network Switch	Platform / vendor · Firmware / software version · Program or config backed up · Remote access · Vendor support status
Safety Relay / Safety PLC	Platform / vendor · Firmware / software version · Program or config backed up · Remote access · Vendor support status
Data Logger / Edge Gateway	Platform / vendor · Firmware / software version · Program or config backed up · Remote access · Vendor support status
Server / Industrial PC	Platform / vendor · Firmware / software version · Program or config backed up · Remote access · Vendor support status
Robot Controller	Platform / vendor · Firmware / software version · Program or config backed up · Remote access · Vendor support status
Drive Cabinet / Motor Control Centre	Platform / vendor · Firmware / software version · Program or config backed up · Remote access · Vendor support status
Weighing / Batching Controller	Platform / vendor · Firmware / software version · Program or config backed up · Remote access · Vendor support status
Barcode / RFID Reader	Platform / vendor · Firmware / software version · Program or config backed up · Remote access · Vendor support status
Vision Controller	Platform / vendor · Firmware / software version · Program or config backed up · Remote access · Vendor support status
Historian / Database Server	Platform / vendor · Firmware / software version · Program or config backed up · Remote access · Vendor support status

Anything not listed is recorded under “Other Controls & Automation” — no list of industrial equipment is ever finished, and a register that pretends otherwise forces people to pick something untrue.

Other categories

Production · Surface Finishing & Treatment · Packaging & Labelling · Inspection & Test · Materials Handling · Process Heat · HVAC & Refrigeration · Ventilation & Extraction · Compressed Air · Electrical Distribution · Water & Effluent · Utilities · Lighting · Sensors / Instrumentation