Trio Motion Technology has expanded its controls offer with a Motion-PLC platform aimed at machine builders that want PLC logic and coordinated motion from the same hardware layer. Available in the UK through Mclennan, the range combines EtherCAT servo control with expandable local I/O and is positioned for low- to medium-axis applications, from straightforward positioning systems to more tightly synchronised stand-alone machines.
The family is built around three controllers. The MCS-30 targets simpler machines with up to four axes, while the MCS-40 and MCS-50 extend capability for more demanding motion and machine tasks. Across the range, Trio is using an ARM Cortex A55 processor clocked at 600MHz, 64-bit position register precision, and motion cycle times down to 1ms. Programming is available through IEC 61131-3 languages or TrioBASIC, with Motion Perfect handling setup and diagnostics and additional support for protocols including Modbus TCP, PROFINET IO, and Ethernet/IP on the higher-spec variants.
A key part of the launch is the MS I/O slice system. The controllers can integrate up to 16 slice modules for digital and analogue I/O, or connect to an EtherCAT coupler for wider system expansion. That gives OEMs a more compact route to building machine control around a single platform instead of splitting PLC logic, motion coordination, and peripheral I/O across separate devices and software environments.
For Mclennan, the product sits neatly alongside its design and build activity in motion sub-systems for packaging, labelling, laser machining, medical equipment, and research applications. For Trio, it is another step in bringing motion-first control into the PLC space without abandoning the programming flexibility and synchronisation depth that machine builders expect from dedicated motion hardware.
