Red Lion Controls launches a new generation of HMIs for Factory Automation

Red Lion Controls, have announced their CR1000 and CR3000, its newest generation of Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs). Both products employ new Crimson® 3.1 software to provide more engaging interfaces with advanced design capabilities in addition to protocol conversion, data logging and web server for remote monitoring and control.

The new CR1000 and CR3000 HMIs are available in a broad range of sizes, from 4.3 inches up to 15 inches and feature a wide array of connectivity options to address the real-world challenges of today’s multi-vendor manufacturing environments. These HMIs provide customers with the ability to quickly interconnect devices from a variety of leading manufacturers thanks to the built-in and ever-expanding library of more than 300 industrial protocols available with Crimson 3.1. Updated and expanded symbol libraries and primitives with anti-aliased rendering, as well as the ability to support 16M colors, provide designers with added options for creating interfaces that deliver greater visual effectiveness with a more natural appearance, resulting in screens that accelerate operator learning and enable greater comprehension of on-screen information, symbols and messaging.

Crimson 3.1 also incorporates new features and shortcuts that make the development process simpler than ever. “Red Lion’s Crimson software is well known for its ease-of-use, but we have taken that even further with the release of Crimson 3.1 and these new HMIs,” said Paul Bunnell, Director of Product Management, Automation at Red Lion Controls. “Integrators now have even more features that speed up the creation of databases. From rearranging the order of primitives within libraries to make the most commonly used items easier to find, to giving users the ability to create a custom favorites list, we continue to look for ways to make the user experience intuitive and effortless.”

With a built-in web server, the CR3000 allows users to securely monitor and control their application via PCs, tablets or smartphones. SMS text messaging and email alerts provide early warning of process issues, which helps to avoid costly downtime. Additionally, the CR3000 provides data logging, critical for both troubleshooting and meeting regulatory requirements. “Real-time data logging allows for ongoing process improvements as well as immediate troubleshooting,” said Jeff Thornton, Product Manager, Indication & Interface at Red Lion Controls. “Users are now able to better access trend data directly from the screen with more tools to narrow or widen the scope of inquiry with simple, intuitive button controls.”

“High reliability and extreme environmental specs have become the hallmark of Red Lion’s N-Tron series Ethernet switches,” said Diane Davis, director of product management, networking at Red Lion Controls. “With more and more industrial devices using PoE, industry demands have increased across the board, so these models will be attractive to a broad spectrum of vertical markets including industrial, transportation and intelligent traffic applications.”

The new HMIs are housed in a rugged polycarbonate enclosure and address the challenges of the manufacturing environment with wide operating temperatures of -10C - +50C, high shock and vibration tolerance and an IP66 rating. They are ideal for industries such as manufacturing, packaging, food and beverage, and plastics.

Click here to see more details on the new Red Lion CR1000 and CR3000 HMI's.