Nematron Pointe Controller - Manual (Page 17)

Pointe Controller User Guide Chapter 1: Introducing the Pointe Controller
15
Real-time, open standard data sharing from production to the front
office; and
Direct connect operator panel interfaces available.
Since the mid 1970s, PLCs have been the foundation of traditional control
applications. PLCs have provided the advantages of localized control, modular
configuration, and rugged industrial packaging. Where traditional PLCs have
been weak has been in the areas of distributed architectures, communications
and more complex logic.
The 1990s brought new demands on control systems for deployability,
information collection and coordination. Since traditional PLCs are weak in these
types of capabilities, a new technology called “PC-based control” was launched
by Nematron and adopted by a number of other automation technology
companies. PC-based control has been very successful in mid-size to large systems
applications with distributed I/O and integration with other software systems for
e-manufacturing, MES, MRP, quality control and web access.
While “PC-based control” technology has brought the world of industrial
automation a number of improvements in processing power, communications,
performance and maintainability, it has had some current limitations. Those
limitations have been primarily based on the economics aspects of implementing
PC-based control being economically justifiable in only mid to high-end
applications.
Nematron developed the Pointe Controller to capitalize on the advanced features
of PC-based control while scaling the solution opportunity to medium and low-
end applications. While the Pointe Controller has many applications in
independent, non-networked applications, its unique design also forms the basis
for control solutions for widely distributed yet integrated applications.