Synchronisation of up to 64 robot axes
Trio Motion Technology is presenting Motion-PLC at SPS Italia, the new controller that provides advanced motion control with the functionality and simplicity of a PLC.
On Stand 5-N054 at Fiere di Parma, 26-28 May, Trio will also present its complete Motion-First Automation solution, including the PC-MCAT-2 combined PC and motion controller, high-performance EtherCAT servo drives and motors, I/O systems, HMI and SCARA robots.
Trio’s new Motion-PLC controller has been designed to reduce the complexity and cost of machine build for stand-alone machines in applications such as gantries, packaging, and glue laying. The controller combines EtherCAT motion control for up to eight axes alongside machine logic thanks to a multi-tasking operating system that performs both tasks in parallel.
With flexible I/O expansion for 16 I/O slices – plus additional I/O with Trio’s I/O coupler – Motion-PLC achieves extensive device integration with an EtherCAT port and up to two Ethernet ports. The controller also offers protocol support for Modbus TCP, PROFINET IO, and Ethernet/IP.
Application development and device integration is managed through Trio’s license-free MotionPerfect software, and motion programming is achieved with common IEC languages.
The new controller is the latest development from Trio’s Motion-First Automation design approach that focusses on optimising a machine’s motion cycle within a complete automation solution. Central to Trio’s Motion-First Automation approach is the Motion-iX ‘motion engine’, based on more than 30 years’ development, that includes pre-programmed motion features ranging from simple point-to-point moves through to complex kinematics and robot control.
At SPS Italia, Trio will also present PC-MCAT-2, a control solution that integrates Windows applications alongside advanced motion performance. The controller runs Microsoft Windows 10 with a choice of Intel processors, and achieves high-speed EtherCAT motion coordination for up to 64 servo and robot axes.
In addition to Trio’s range of all-in-one controllers with integrated I/O, the automation brand will also display its Flex-6X and Flex-7 flexible machine controllers. These pocket-sized devices give freedom over functionality with a wide range of ‘click-in’ I/O slices, alongside high-performance motion control over EtherCAT for up to 80 axes.
As part of the complete Motion-First Automation solution, Trio will also display its range of servo drives and motors. The servo drives feature EtherCAT update rates as fast as 125µs, plus integrated safety features, but to simplify machine design and reduce cost-per-axis, intelligence remains within the controller. The drives are matched with low inertia servo motors to create a plug-and-play servo solution for rapid commissioning and reliable operation by machine users.
Trio’s Motion-First Automation solution on display at SPS Italia will also include I/O systems, a range of HMI displays, plus a SCARA robot application demo. Trio’s SCARA solution enhances performance, reliability, and speed of development, as just a single controller is required to manage a machine, robots, and servo motion axes.
“We’re excited to launch Motion-PLC at SPS Italia 2026 and show machine builders how the new controller can make development faster and simpler, while retaining Trio’s motion control performance, from a typical PLC environment,” says Trio Italy Manager, Mauro Lavatelli. “Presenting Trio’s complete Motion-First Automation solution, we will show machine builders how we can support their full automation requirements while optimising the motion performance of their machines.”
Tom Alexander, Trio Motion Technology’s President, says: “The Italy market is crucial to Trio as Italy is home to many of the world’s leading machine building OEMs, particularly in our core markets such as packaging and printing. Trio is at SPS Italia to show OEMs how we can support their ambitions with our Motion-First Automation solutions.”
