A temperature controller combines components of a PID control into one unit so pharmaceutical equipment manufacturer Central Research Laboratories doesn't have to wire eight separate devices. Minnesota-based CRL (centres.com) designs and manufactures remote control machines that let operators safely perform dexterous maneuvers in hazardous, unfriendly, or sterile environments.

The lab had been using PLCs to control the hot-air sterilization of a seal with a system that called for wiring together items such as limit controllers, solid-state relays, and mechanical contactors from separate suppliers. PLCs require extensive software validation in the pharmaceutical market. The EZ-Zone ST controller with embedded code, on the other hand, shortened this process.

EZ-Zone ST from Watlow Electric Manufacturing Co., Winona, Minn., (watlow.com) uses a single control unit that installs faster than the eight items. It also has a smaller enclosure and delivers many ramp-and-soak cycles that meet differing time and temperature profiles.