We build control panels supportable by anyone

By Fraser Lynch, Operations Manager
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Ever been trapped by an OEM's password protection? You're not alone, we see it every day and help people get around it. 

Westin Drives makes a conscious effort to design and build control panels eternally supportable by anyone, not just us. We're not in the business of trapping customers into needing our services, we prefer to encourage them. 

Take these two top quality control panels leaving the workshop today: Housing 110kW VSDs, SIEMENS S7-1200 PLCs, off the shelf control gear and basic SIEMENS HMIs. 

The inverter is for a stone saw blade, straightforward and therefore not on a communication network to the PLC. Which means that if it fails over the lifetime of the machine, it can be retrofitted with any 110kw inverter on the market, by anyone. 

The PLCs and HMIs have the programs stored in them, and supplied separately. If they fail, they can easily be swapped without being dependent on us. These panels are replacing 20-plus year old Italian control panels, no longer supported by the OEM. 

We'd like to hear your stories of how your OEM's have trapped you into using them. And of course if you want support in getting around them, give us a call. 

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