Based on its recent analysis of the proportional integral derivative (PID) controller market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Gefran with the 2015 Global Frost & Sullivan Award for Product Leadership. Gefran’s PID controller, the 1350, has successfully addressed end-user pain points regarding display viewability by increasing the size of the display screen and offering customization based on end-user needs.
“The 1350 has a large display area measuring 83 x 68 mm (the biggest display area in its category), which enables operators to easily read the settings, alarms and messages”, said Frost & Sullivan research analyst Archit Kohli. “The controller has three displays; the first shows the actual present value, the second shows the set point, and the third checks for direct and immediate interaction during the initial configuration and operation”.
The 1350 has an energy monitor function that can alert the user of a possible breakdown and helps prevent unexpected system shutdowns by giving operators ample time to schedule maintenance in advance. Similarly, it also detects machine error and recommends remedial action to save users time.
Meanwhile, the controllers can be configured easily with the GF_eXpress programming tool for the computer. Gefran’s PID controllers can be connected to a communication network using the ModBus communication standard, which is one of the most widely adopted industrial communication standards.
The company is one of the first to develop a PID controller with a message storage facility and can store up to 300 messages. The solution is customized to the users’ needs, and the operators can choose from three languages.
The temperature on the controller is visible at a distance due to its large numbers and a white-on-black contrast on a large liquid crystal display (LCD) screen. Gefran has also ensured that the controller is a user-friendly human machine interface and highly configurable because the customer can require the desired frame colour.
The 1350, which has the largest display, is supported by Zapper, a portable, battery-powered configurator that allows the operator to save and store up to four programs. Additionally, operators can copy/paste parameters when the PID controller power supply is off. The packaging of the controller is specifically studied to allow the configuration of the product “on the shelf”.
Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has developed a product with innovative features and functionality, gaining rapid acceptance in the market. The award recognizes the quality of the solution and the customer value enhancements it enables. Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.
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