21/08/2026
Obsolete can fail at anytime. Often, reactionary repairs or a mad scramble to find spares off eBay follow, but that’s no way to be running critical automation, manufacturing plants or process control systems.
However, obsolescence planning and scheduled PLC & HMI Upgrades, when implemented correctly, are proven to reduce downtime and increase productivity. Often, the ROI can be rapidly minimised through reduced downtime and maintenance alone!
The movement and sourcing of spares are genuine options, more so where downtime & stoppages simply don’t matter. However, for uptime critical applications, inc. factory production lines & essential automation, planned PLC & HMI Upgrades should be prioritised.
