Control and automation components for machine builders | Charter Controls

[INSERT IMAGE: Complete OEM machine control panel featuring genuine PLC, HMI, VFD, relays, DIN rail terminals, power supply and industrial networking products. Use real Charter Controls/customer product photography only.]

One supplier across the machine control panel

Machine builders rarely need another catalogue. They need the right control and automation components to arrive when the machine is being built, backed by useful technical support when a specification needs checking.

Charter Controls supplies products across the main layers of an industrial machine control system, from incoming connections and motor control through to PLCs, HMIs, monitoring, industrial networking and remote access.

For OEMs building repeat machines, that creates an opportunity to consolidate more of the bill of materials through one UK supplier rather than managing separate sourcing routes for every component family.

Why machine builders buy from Charter Controls

Direct manufacturer relationships

Charter Controls is a manufacturers' agent and direct OEM importer. We hold manufacturer agreements and source directly from the factories behind the ranges we represent.

That gives machine builders a UK route to products from manufacturers including WECON, GIC, Veichi, Unipower, Connectwell, Shenler, Smartbyte, Geckodrive, RunLeader and others.

UK stock

Core products are held in UK stock, reducing dependence on overseas shipments for everyday machine-build requirements.

For repeat machines and known build programmes, talk to us about expected volumes and availability before the build schedule is fixed.

One account across multiple product ranges

A typical machine may require products for power distribution, motor control, programmable logic, operator interfaces, switching, monitoring and communications.

Charter Controls supplies products across each of these functions, allowing more of the control-panel BOM to be purchased through one account.

Technical support

Product selection is not only about matching a voltage or current rating. Physical fit, communications, accessories, switching behaviour, environmental requirements and the intended application can all matter.

Our technical team can help with product selection, accessories, cross-referencing and questions about the products we supply.

ISO 9001:2015

Charter Controls operates an ISO 9001:2015 quality management system, UKAS certified under Certificate 11115-QMS-001.

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Charter Controls is Rated Excellent on Trustpilot, giving machine builders and OEM buyers independent customer feedback on the service behind the products.

Where our products fit in your machine

A machine control system can be considered in layers, from the physical connections entering the panel through to the data made available to the operator or engineering team.

1. Incoming supply and distribution

Connectwell DIN rail terminals provide the connection and distribution layer inside the control panel.

The range includes CY Series screw-clamp and CP Series push-in terminals together with earth, fused, multi-level and specialist variants, jumper bars, end plates and marker accessories.

For repeat machine production, the Connectwell CP push-in range provides a tool-free termination option designed to reduce wiring time while retaining a secure industrial connection.

Explore Connectwell DIN rail terminals and accessories.

[INSERT IMAGE: Connectwell CP push-in and CY screw-clamp terminal blocks mounted on DIN rail. Source: Connectwell DIN rail terminal range.]

2. Motor and motion control

Veichi variable frequency drives provide speed and motor control for conveyors, pumps, fans, processing equipment and other motor-driven machinery.

The range includes the Veichi AC10 and AC310 series, giving machine builders options for different motor-control and application requirements.

Where a controlled acceleration and deceleration ramp is required without variable-speed operation, Safesav SSR soft starters provide another motor-starting option.

For positioning applications, Geckodrive stepper drives provide motion control for stepper-motor axes.

[INSERT IMAGE: Genuine Veichi AC310 VFD. Source: Veichi inverter range.]

3. Logic and operator interface

WECON PLCs and WECON HMIs provide programmable control and operator interaction for machine automation.

The WECON LX PLC range provides the main programmable control platform, while WECON HMIs provide the interface for machine operation, status, alarms and process information.

For smaller programmable control requirements, the GIC Genie PRO compact PLC range provides another option.

GIC positions Genie PRO as a compact PLC. Charter Controls lists the products within its expandable smart relay range and describes individual products as smart relay PLCs, reflecting the role they can play between conventional relay logic and larger PLC-based machine control.

[INSERT IMAGE: WECON PLC, WECON HMI and GIC Genie PRO showing alternative levels of machine control. Sources: WECON PLCs, WECON HMIs, GIC Genie PRO.]

4. Switching and timing

Shenler industrial relays provide switching options for interface, general-purpose and power applications, supported by matching relay sockets and accessories.

The Charter Controls range includes the RNC, RKE, RFT, RKL, RUB and REH Shenler families.

GIC time delay relays provide timing and sequencing functions, while the wider GIC range also includes counters, hour meters and temperature-control products.

The GIC 1CMDT0 multi-function timer provides 10 selectable timing functions with a 12-240 V AC/DC supply in a compact DIN rail format.

[INSERT IMAGE: Shenler relay with matching socket beside GIC 1CMDT0 multi-function timer. Sources: Shenler switching range and GIC 1CMDT0.]

5. Monitoring and protection

A machine control system needs to know more than whether the motor is drawing current.

Unipower motor load monitors measure the load placed on a motor by the driven process, providing information that can be used for machine protection, process monitoring and control.

The Unipower HPL500 measures true motor power in kW and provides dual relay outputs plus an isolated 0/4-20 mA analogue output.

The HPL500MB adds RS-485 Modbus RTU communications for integration with a PLC or wider automation system.

The wider monitoring range also includes Unipower APM products, GIC phase and electrical monitoring relays and RunLeader battery and hour meters for appropriate DC machine applications.

[INSERT IMAGE: Genuine Unipower HPL500MB motor load monitor. Source: HPL500MB product page.]

6. Networking and remote access

Modern machinery increasingly needs Ethernet communications between PLCs, HMIs, drives and other intelligent devices.

Smartbyte industrial Ethernet switches provide DIN rail network connectivity, including unmanaged industrial Ethernet and PoE options.

For remote access, the WECON V-BOX range provides industrial IIoT gateways for remote connectivity to compatible automation equipment.

The WECON V-BOX H-AG provides 4G connectivity, allowing remote access to connected equipment where a suitable cellular connection is available.

[INSERT IMAGE: WECON V-BOX H-AG and genuine Smartbyte industrial Ethernet switch connected to machine automation equipment. V-BOX source: WECON V-BOX H-AG.]

Start with your existing BOM

You do not need to redesign the machine around our catalogue.

If you already have a prototype BOM, established machine specification or list of preferred manufacturers, send it to us.

We can identify:

• the products Charter Controls already supplies;
• the product families that may be relevant to the remaining requirements;
• areas where several existing suppliers could potentially be consolidated;
• availability and stock considerations;
• and alternatives that may be worth evaluating before the design is frozen.

Any proposed substitution still needs to be reviewed against the application. Electrical ratings are only part of that assessment. Dimensions, mounting, terminal arrangement, accessories, communications, switching behaviour and software requirements may also matter.

Prototype today, repeat machine tomorrow

The sourcing priorities for a prototype and a repeat production machine are not always the same.

During development, engineers need access to samples, technical information and somebody who can answer questions while the design is still changing.

Once the design moves into repeat production, availability, purchasing efficiency, consistent component selection and predictable supply become increasingly important.

Charter Controls can support both stages. Talk to us early enough and we can review the BOM before components become embedded in the design purely because they were the first products specified.

[INSERT IMAGE: Real machine control panel or machine-building workshop showing a completed or nearly completed industrial control panel. Prefer a customer-supplied or Charter Controls photograph.]

Consolidate the everyday panel components too

The PLC and drive may attract most of the engineering attention, but a machine panel also contains the everyday components needed to connect, power, switch, cool and operate the system.

Alongside the main automation ranges, Charter Controls supplies DIN rail terminals, control power supplies, industrial relays, thermal management products and Esbee operator and indication products.

That is where BOM consolidation can become commercially useful: not by forcing every product into one brand, but by reducing unnecessary supplier fragmentation across the complete panel.

Why Charter Controls?

• Manufacturers' agent and direct OEM importer: direct relationships with the manufacturers behind the ranges we represent.
• UK stock: core control and automation products held locally.
• Technical support: product and application support from people who understand industrial control panels.
• Multiple ranges from one account: control, motion, switching, monitoring, connectivity and panel infrastructure.
• ISO 9001:2015: UKAS certified quality management system, Certificate 11115-QMS-001.
• Rated Excellent on Trustpilot: independent customer feedback on Charter Controls service.

Frequently asked questions

Can Charter Controls supply all the control and automation components for my machine from one account?

Charter Controls supplies products across many of the main functions inside a machine control panel, including PLCs, HMIs, variable frequency drives, motor load monitoring, DIN rail terminals, relays, timers, industrial networking, remote-access equipment, power supplies and thermal management. Send us your BOM and we can identify exactly which parts of the specification we can support.

What product ranges does Charter Controls supply for machine builders?

Key ranges include WECON PLCs, WECON HMIs, WECON V-BOX gateways, GIC Genie PRO compact PLCs, Veichi variable frequency drives, Unipower motor load monitors, Connectwell DIN rail terminals, Shenler relays, Smartbyte industrial Ethernet switches, Geckodrive stepper drives and RunLeader battery and hour meters.

Is the GIC Genie PRO a PLC or a smart relay?

GIC positions the Genie PRO as a compact PLC. Charter Controls lists it within its expandable smart relay range and describes individual units as smart relay PLCs. This reflects its position between conventional relay logic and larger PLC-scale machine control.

Can Charter Controls review an existing machine BOM?

Yes. Send us your existing bill of materials, component list or specification. We can identify the products Charter Controls can supply, review relevant alternatives and highlight opportunities to consolidate purchasing. Any proposed component change should still be evaluated against the technical requirements of the application.

Can Charter Controls support repeat machine builds?

Yes. If you have known production quantities or a forward build programme, send us the BOM and expected volumes. We can review the Charter Controls products involved and discuss stock and supply requirements for the programme.