A Boss PC-based control system brings high-tech flexibility to material handling for fast, accurate, and efficient operations. The Boss comes from material-handling company FKI Logistex, Cincinnati, (fkilogistex.com) and features a built-in networked graphical human machine interface (HMI), multiple processor capabilities, and support for a variety of I/O platforms.

The controller lets distribution center managers direct and measure their systems' productivity and combines productivity monitoring tools, machine control, data collection, system diagnostics, and HMI into a single software package.

The developer says the software's HMI is intuitive, offering easy access to status, diagnostic, preventative maintenance, and control information. It runs on Windows XP, Linux, Solaris, QNX, AIX, HP-UX, and Mac OSX.

Multi-processor support lets a single controller manage, and process more data and equipment. I/O support includes ControlNet, DeviceNet, EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP, and an ability to add I/O support, such as ASI and Profibus platforms.