Rockwell Automation Expands Branch Motor Control with 140ME Devices
Motor control | Branch-circuit protection, panel simplicity, diagnostics, and maintainability
✓ What motor-control problem does the 140ME address?
Motor branch circuits need coordinated disconnecting, short-circuit, overload, and switching functions. When those functions are spread across multiple devices, panel layouts, wiring, commissioning, and troubleshooting can become more complex.
Rockwell Automation's new Allen-Bradley 140ME Motor Protective Switching Devices combine disconnect capability, magnetic short-circuit protection, electronic overload protection, and manual motor switching in one compact device.
Consolidated motor protection
Protection against overload, phase loss, and short-circuit conditions is combined with disconnecting and manual switching functions for a more coordinated motor branch.
Simpler panel implementation
A compact, multifunction device can help reduce component count, simplify installation, and preserve usable control-panel space for accessible wiring and service.
Clearer maintenance response
Visible status information and predictable trip behavior can help technicians identify faults, restore operation, and support consistent uptime.
✓ How does it fit into the larger motor-control architecture?
The 140ME is part of Rockwell Automation's Branch Motor Control and Protection portfolio. It is designed to work alongside 100-E Contactors, 140MT Motor Protection Circuit Breakers, and E100 Electronic Overload Relays as part of a coordinated in-panel motor-control architecture.
Within the latest EtherNet/IP In-cabinet Solution, connectivity through a 100-E Contactor communication module can make device-health information, operating data, and diagnostics available on the EtherNet/IP network. That visibility can support faster troubleshooting and condition-based maintenance while reducing conventional control wiring.
What should designers verify before applying it?
✓ Confirm motor full-load current, starting characteristics, and required trip class.
✓ Verify branch-circuit ratings, short-circuit current ratings, and upstream coordination.
✓ Plan contactor, protection, control-power, network, and enclosure requirements as one system.
✓ Document settings and diagnostic data so maintenance teams can respond consistently.
✓ How can BEA help?
BEA can help evaluate where the 140ME fits within new or updated motor-control panels, including device selection, protection coordination, contactor integration, EtherNet/IP connectivity, PLC programming, panel design, startup, and lifecycle support.
Supporting resource: Rockwell Automation 140ME product announcement.
Planning a motor-control panel or protection upgrade?
Britton Electronics & Automation helps industrial and municipal customers evaluate, integrate, commission, and support practical motor control, electrical protection, PLC, networking, and panel improvements.
Call BEA to discuss your motor-control, panel-design, or maintenance support needs.
Endress+Hauser Celebrates New US Facilities and Partner Growth
Vendor news | Process instrumentation, local support, training, and customer resources
✓ Why does this vendor news matter?
Endress+Hauser announced the inauguration of two new US facilities, marking an investment in regional support, training, collaboration, and long-term customer service.
For BEA customers, vendor investments like this matter because process instrumentation projects depend on more than hardware. Application support, training access, service resources, and strong representative relationships all affect how well systems perform over time.
Greenwood, Indiana
The Endress+Hauser USA Innovation Center and George E. Booth Co. headquarters opened as a 108,000-square-foot commercial office and light-industrial facility designed to support sales, service, training, and customer engagement.
Edgemont, Pennsylvania
A new campus supports Eastern Controls and includes expanded Process Training Unit and Innovation Center resources for hands-on process automation learning.
Customer support network
The announcement reflects continued investment with sales and service representative partners that help customers apply measurement technology in real facilities.
✓ What technology and support does this strengthen?
Endress+Hauser process instrumentation supports flow, level, pressure, temperature, analytical measurement, gas detection, and control valve applications across industries such as water, wastewater, food and beverage, chemical, oil and gas, and life sciences.
✓ Use vendor training resources to improve application knowledge before projects start.
✓ Coordinate instrumentation selection with local sales and service support.
✓ Plan commissioning, documentation, calibration, and lifecycle support early.
✓ How can customers use this?
BEA can help customers apply Endress+Hauser instrumentation as part of practical automation systems, including device selection, panel integration, PLC and SCADA connectivity, startup support, and maintenance planning.
Supporting resource: Endress+Hauser US facilities announcement.
Need help applying process instrumentation?
Britton Electronics & Automation helps industrial and municipal customers evaluate, integrate, commission, and support practical controls, instrumentation, networking, safety, and electrical improvements.
Call BEA to discuss your process measurement, automation, or maintenance support needs.
Phoenix Contact Technology Alliance Program Expands EP Raptor Platform
Industrial networking | EP Raptor, validated applications, and OT cybersecurity
✓ What problem are we solving?
Industrial networks are carrying more control, monitoring, security, and edge-computing workloads. As those systems grow, owners need compatible applications that can be validated for industrial use instead of treated as one-off software experiments.
Phoenix Contact's Technology Alliance Program supports the EP Raptor platform by connecting validated third-party applications with industrial network switching and computing hardware.
Stronger application ecosystem
Validated partner applications can expand what the EP Raptor platform can support in industrial environments.
Better OT visibility
Cybersecurity, asset management, incident response, and network monitoring tools can help teams see and manage risk more clearly.
Cleaner integration path
An alliance program can reduce uncertainty when adding third-party software to critical industrial networks.
✓ What technology supports the solution?
The program focuses on interoperable applications for Phoenix Contact's EP Raptor Series of industrial network switches and the broader industrial computing ecosystem.
TAP is built on a simple principle: customers who rely on Phoenix Contact's substation-grade hardware can choose the applications that best fit their operational and cybersecurity needs.
✓ Review the industrial network architecture and connected assets.
✓ Match cybersecurity, monitoring, and application needs to validated platform capabilities.
✓ Plan deployment, documentation, and long-term support before adding tools to critical networks.
Who is included in the first wave?
As part of the program's first wave, Phoenix Contact has formed partnerships with:
- CyVault™ a global OT/ICS cyber defense leader offering advanced, comprehensive protection and industry-first OT/ICS CyberSOC as a Service for industrial organizations and critical infrastructure, with Adaptive Automated Incident Response.
- EmberOT helps industrial companies see threats clearly, safeguard vital systems, and emerge more capable.
- Industrial Defender provides robust OT asset management and compliance automation for critical infrastructure operators.
- JPEmbedded delivers advanced communication and cybersecurity solutions for power systems and industrial networks.
- PCItek delivers integration consulting, solutions, and products to the utility industry.
- Radiflow protects industrial sites by providing unified visibility, real-time threat detection, and automated risk management.
- SyskeyOT provides customer-centric cybersecurity solutions for OT/IACS networks.
Phoenix Contact had previously announced partnerships with Xona and Forescout, which are also part of TAP.
✓ How is the solution implemented?
BEA can help customers evaluate industrial network hardware, cybersecurity requirements, application integration, and support expectations before deploying new OT tools.
Supporting resource: Phoenix Contact Technology Alliance Program information.
Need help applying this in your facility?
Britton Electronics & Automation helps industrial and municipal customers evaluate, integrate, commission, and support practical controls, instrumentation, networking, safety, and electrical improvements.
Call BEA to discuss your controls, automation, networking, or maintenance support needs.
The Hidden Risks of Frankenstein Control Systems
Controls modernization | Mixed PLCs, obsolete hardware, and support risk
✓ What problem are we solving?
Many facilities accumulate mismatched PLCs, drives, HMIs, software packages, and bridge devices over time. The system may run, but support becomes harder every time another platform is added.
Britton Electronics & Automation helps customers identify where patchwork controls create real operational risk and where standardization or phased modernization would improve supportability.
Less troubleshooting complexity
Standardized platforms reduce the software and hardware knowledge required.
Lower recovery risk
Obsolete or mismatched systems are harder to repair after a failure.
Better long-term planning
A modernization roadmap lets owners fix risk before downtime forces the issue.
✓ What technology supports the solution?
Frankenstein systems often include multiple PLC brands, undocumented logic, legacy networks, obsolete HMIs, bridge devices, and tribal knowledge that only a few people understand.
✓ Inventory PLCs, HMIs, software, and network devices.
✓ Identify obsolete hardware and unsupported software.
✓ Create a phased plan to reduce platform sprawl.
✓ How is the solution implemented?
BEA can audit existing control systems, recommend standardization paths, and support migrations that reduce long-term maintenance risk.
Need help applying this in your facility?
Britton Electronics & Automation helps industrial and municipal customers evaluate, integrate, commission, and support practical controls, instrumentation, networking, safety, and electrical improvements.
Call BEA to discuss your controls, automation, networking, or maintenance support needs.
How SCADA Systems Pay for Themselves in Water and Wastewater Plants
SCADA | Water, wastewater, remote monitoring, and operational savings
✓ What problem are we solving?
SCADA is often viewed as a cost, but water and wastewater systems can recover that investment through fewer site visits, faster response, earlier failure detection, and better operating visibility.
Britton Electronics & Automation designs SCADA systems around practical operations: what operators need to see, which alarms matter, which sites need attention, and how data supports decisions.
Reduced routine trips
Remote visibility can cut unnecessary site checks and overtime.
Earlier detection
Trends and alarms reveal issues before failures become expensive.
Better decisions
Operators can compare pump status, runtime, levels, and alarms from one system.
✓ What technology supports the solution?
SCADA systems combine PLCs, RTUs, telemetry, networks, alarms, historian data, maps, trends, and operator displays into a practical operating tool.
✓ Define the sites and data points that matter.
✓ Prioritize alarms that require action.
✓ Build screens and trends around operator workflows.
✓ How is the solution implemented?
BEA can design, program, commission, and support SCADA systems for water, wastewater, utility, and industrial customers.
Need help applying this in your facility?
Britton Electronics & Automation helps industrial and municipal customers evaluate, integrate, commission, and support practical controls, instrumentation, networking, safety, and electrical improvements.
Call BEA to discuss your controls, automation, networking, or maintenance support needs.
It Worked for 20 Years - Until It Didn't
Legacy controls | Obsolescence, pump systems, and modernization planning
✓ What problem are we solving?
A control system can run for decades and still be one failure away from a serious problem. Legacy PLCs, drives, HMIs, relays, and communications often fail when replacement parts and software support are hardest to find.
Britton Electronics & Automation helps customers move from emergency replacement to planned modernization so old systems can be supported before they become a crisis.
Reduced emergency risk
Planning upgrades before failure avoids damage-control decisions.
Better supportability
Modern hardware and documentation make troubleshooting easier.
Phased investment
Critical systems can often be upgraded in practical steps.
✓ What technology supports the solution?
Legacy control risk often appears as obsolete PLCs, unavailable HMIs, aging drives, undocumented logic, intermittent communication, and panels with no room for service.
✓ Identify obsolete components and single points of failure.
✓ Back up programs and document panel conditions.
✓ Plan upgrades around criticality, budget, and uptime needs.
✓ How is the solution implemented?
BEA can assess legacy panels, recommend modernization paths, and support migration, programming, commissioning, and documentation.
Need help applying this in your facility?
Britton Electronics & Automation helps industrial and municipal customers evaluate, integrate, commission, and support practical controls, instrumentation, networking, safety, and electrical improvements.
Call BEA to discuss your controls, automation, networking, or maintenance support needs.
Rockwell Automation M100 Electronic Motor Starter
Motor control | Electronic starters, safety, panel wiring, and diagnostics
✓ What problem are we solving?
Motor control panels can become complex when starters, overload protection, safety, and diagnostics require separate components and wiring.
Britton Electronics & Automation evaluates new motor control technology based on how it affects wiring, safety, troubleshooting, and long-term support.
Reduced wiring complexity
Integrated electronic starters can simplify panel design.
Improved motor control
Advanced switching can reduce electrical stress and inrush effects.
Better diagnostics
Smarter motor control devices can improve visibility into equipment status.
✓ What technology supports the solution?
Rockwell Automation's M100 Electronic Motor Starter is designed to simplify motor control wiring while supporting advanced functional safety and refined motor starting.
✓ Review motor load, safety, and control requirements.
✓ Compare starter architecture against panel and maintenance needs.
✓ Integrate status and diagnostics into PLC or HMI workflows.
✓ How is the solution implemented?
BEA can help evaluate, integrate, and support motor control components as part of a complete panel and automation system.
Supporting resource: Rockwell Automation M100 announcement.
Need help applying this in your facility?
Britton Electronics & Automation helps industrial and municipal customers evaluate, integrate, commission, and support practical controls, instrumentation, networking, safety, and electrical improvements.
Call BEA to discuss your controls, automation, networking, or maintenance support needs.