ISA Expo 2003: ICP DAS USA controller offers best of PC, PLC worlds

Houston, TX—ICP DAS USA Inc. is showcasing its recently announced advanced controller, WinCon-8000, at ISA Expo 2003 this week. ICP DAS USA is co-locating with Indusoft in Microsoft’s exhibit at Booth #1631.

By Control Engineering Staff October 22, 2003

WinCon is referred to as a ‘PC+PLC’ system

Houston, TX— ICP DAS USA Inc. is showcasing its recently announced advanced controller, WinCon-8000, at ISA Expo 2003 this week. ICP DAS USA is co-locating with Indusoft in Microsoft’s exhibit at Booth #1631.

To offer the best of PC and PLC worlds, WinCon-8000 uses a PLC platform with an Intel Strong ARM CPU running the Windows CE.Net 4.1 operating system. However, it can also run PC-based control software developed with tools such as VB.Net, Visual C#.Net, and embedded Visual C++.

WinCon-8000 also supports Indusoft’s off-the-shelf supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) package in its PLC platform. For users who prefer to program in ladder logic, WinCon offers ISaGRAF and TraceMode, which are programming tools that use IEC 61131-3 languages, including ladder logic, flowchart and several others. With built-in VGA, Ethernet, Compact Flash, USB, keyboard and mouse ports, WinCon allows customers to use a regular LCD monitor or touchscreen to view the controller’s human-machine interface (HMI).

WinCon’s design stresses the integration of HMI and logic, and targets customers presently using PLCs and PCs. ”Our WinCon provides many special functions that PLC users have dreamed of, such as local data logging, easy communication via Ethernet and USB ports, and use of a regular LCD monitor instead of an expensive operating panel,” says Eric Ratliff, senior application engineer at ICP DAS USA. ”WinCon definitely brings control technology to a higher level.”

ICP DAS USA (Rolling Hills Estates, CA) is a leading global manufacturer of PLCs, embedded controllers, and data acquisition and communication products.

Control Engineering Daily News DeskFrank J. Bartos, executive editor fbartos@reedbusiness.com