Upgrades

XM is the perfect solution for upgrades, it is an area where we excel. The flexibility of the Beckhoff backbone to the system means that we are able to integrate seamlessly with existing systems at whichever level is needed. 

Whilst other companies often insist on a complete electrical upgrade, we recognise that this is costly and often not necessary. Electric drives will have a longer lifespan than the front end/control desk and often do not need replacement. As they comprise 75% of the cost of the electrical / control system, keeping them can mean significant savings both in cost and upgrade time. 

We can provide solutions that require a minimum of modification, whilst providing advice on the expected lifetime of components that are kept. Often, the upgrade can be simply the addition of a network / control card to existing drives, an operation that can take less than a day for a complete system. 

This not only provides cost and time savings (important in an industry where ‘dark’ weeks are themselves a cost) but also help the sustainability of our planet by using the minimum of new materials / components. 

Putting XMove through its paces on a new ship install. Replacement of a cruise ship’s existing Mechatronics control system. Install in under a day, using standard Beckhoff components, combined with a custom PCB, to make installation a very simple task. Commissioning completed within a week. I remember commissioning the first of the Destiny class ships back in 1996, it’s been fun bringing this one back into service. Does anyone else need to update their onboard automation?

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XM Automation were delighted to upgrade the power flying system at the Kings Theatre in Southsea, Portsmouth in August 2025. XMove is now being used to run the existing 12 variable speed motors and two fixed speed motors that had previously been run from an AVW Controls console.

The 14 existing Impressario units were replaced with four 4-axis control boards, utilising standard Beckhoff PLC I/O components. The connectors having been made compatible with the existing units meant that changeover and installation was very fast (sub 2 hours).

The new control boards connect via EtherCAT to a central Beckhoff PLC providing motion control/logic that also connects to the XMove control desk.

In addition, we upgraded the winches to new SSI encoders, together with Beckhoff modules in order to remove the possibility of position loss on power down.

The crew quickly took to programming and operating XMove alongside their traditional hemp flys, with their first performance using the new system successfully opening the following day!