Allen-Bradley HMI programming in Kenya: PanelView Plus 7, PanelView 800 and FactoryTalk View

PanelView terminals are the operator's window into Allen-Bradley machines. We create and modify FactoryTalk View ME projects, replace failing older PanelView units and build FactoryTalk View SE screens for control rooms.

Allen-Bradley HMIs we work on

• PanelView Plus 7: graphic terminals for Logix systems
• PanelView 800: compact terminals for Micro800 machines
• PanelView Plus 6 and older: legacy terminals we maintain and replace

Software: FactoryTalk View Machine Edition (ME) and Site Edition (SE), Connected Components Workbench. Networks: EtherNet/IP to Logix and Micro800 controllers.

Allen-Bradley HMI services

• FactoryTalk View ME screens, alarms, trends and recipes
• Restoring .MER runtime files to editable projects where possible
• Replacing PanelView Plus 6 and older terminals with PanelView Plus 7
• FactoryTalk View SE for multi-machine monitoring

What a good HMI screen should do

• Show the state of the machine at a glance, with clear colours for running, stopped and faulted
• Explain alarms in plain language, with the cause and what the operator should check
• Keep recipes, setpoints and counters in one place, protected by user levels
• Trend key values such as temperature, pressure, speed and energy
• Work in the language your operators use every day

How we approach an HMI project

1. Back up the existing HMI project and note the panel model and firmware.
2. Agree the screens with operators and supervisors: overview, detail, alarms, recipes and trends.
3. Build and test the project against the PLC tags, with simulation before going to site.
4. Install and commission on the machine, checking every button, value and alarm.
5. Hand over the project file, user passwords and a short operator guide.

Tips from our engineers

Always keep the .APA archive

The runtime .MER file on the terminal is not always editable. Keeping the full project archive avoids rebuilding screens from scratch.

Check the runtime licence

PanelView Plus terminals need the right FactoryTalk View ME runtime version. Checking it before the visit avoids a failed download.

Related guides

See also Allen-Bradley PLC, HMI and drive services overview, Allen-Bradley PLC programming, Allen-Bradley VFD programming and commissioning, our HMI service page.