Technical guide, , by Green Automatica engineering team · 2 min read
Siemens HMI programming in Kenya: SIMATIC Basic, Comfort and Unified panels with WinCC
Siemens HMI programming by on-site engineers in Kenya and across Africa: SIMATIC Basic, Comfort and Unified panels with WinCC. WinCC Basic, fault finding, upgrades and full documentation.
A clear operator screen reduces mistakes and speeds up fault finding. We design and modify Siemens HMI projects in WinCC, from compact Basic Panels to Unified Comfort Panels and PC-based WinCC Runtime, and connect them to S7 PLCs.
Siemens HMIs we work on
- SIMATIC Basic Panels: KTP400 to KTP1200 for single machines
- SIMATIC Comfort Panels: TP and KP panels for demanding machines
- SIMATIC Unified Comfort Panels: the current generation, with web technology
- WinCC Runtime on PCs: for control-room screens and small SCADA
Software: WinCC Basic, Comfort, Advanced and Unified in TIA Portal; WinCC flexible for older panels. Networks: PROFINET and Ethernet to SIMATIC PLCs, PROFIBUS on older systems.
Siemens HMI services
- New WinCC screens: overview, machine detail, alarms, trends and recipes
- Upgrading WinCC flexible projects and older panels to current SIMATIC panels
- Alarm texts rewritten in plain language, with causes and checks
- User management and audit trails for food and pharmaceutical lines
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
- Back up the existing HMI project and note the panel model and firmware.
- Agree the screens with operators and supervisors: overview, detail, alarms, recipes and trends.
- Build and test the project against the PLC tags, with simulation before going to site.
- Install and commission on the machine, checking every button, value and alarm.
- Hand over the project file, user passwords and a short operator guide.
Tips from our engineers
Match the WinCC version to the panel
Each panel generation needs a matching WinCC version and image. Recording the panel firmware before a visit avoids long downloads on site.
Design for the operator, not the programmer
Big buttons, consistent colours and alarm texts that say what to check make more difference than any animation.
Related guides
See also Siemens PLC, HMI and drive services overview, Siemens PLC programming, Siemens VFD programming and commissioning, our HMI service page.
Frequently asked questions
Can you edit a Siemens HMI screen?
Yes. We modify and create WinCC projects for SIMATIC Basic, Comfort and Unified panels and WinCC Runtime.
Can you replace an old Siemens panel?
Yes. We migrate the project to a current panel and test it with your PLC before installation.