Maple Systems - Human-Machine Interfaces (HMI) and Operator Interface Terminals (OIT) for Industry

Silver Series Competitive Analysis

What makes the Silver Series capabilities
so superior to the Competition?

More color options

We want to make your touchscreen displays as true to your application as possible. That's why we offer you so many color options. 256-colors allow you to create vivid, intense displays that represent the elements of your application more accurately than you can with the 8 to 128 colors offered by the competition. And more color gives you more options for meaningful trends, bar graphs, switches, alarms, lamps and more.

More versatile bitmaps and objects

Object libraries are great - but it can often be difficult to find the exact image you want. That's why we've given you incredible versatility with our object features. We want our bitmaps to be meaningful and useful to your application, and we'd like to give you the flexibility to design your screens exactly as you want. That way, you're never limited to creating something that's "close enough", or just pasting a picture without meaning or function onscreen.

Total design freedom with the touch object features we have that they don't…

Ours

Theirs

Transparent coloring — Bargraphs, meters, lamps, etc. show through transparent bitmaps, allowing your objects to show true-to-life representations of your application.

Ours

Theirs

Overlay objects — Stack multiple objects on top of one another, each configured to perform a specific task. This allows multiple functions to be performed at once when the stacked objects are touched - all without consuming PLC resources!

Ours

Theirs

Group objects and bitmaps — Combine objects and bitmaps, and save them as grouped objects to create new images, giving you an expanded library of saved images that you can use over and over again.

Ours		Theirs		To-the-pixel object scaling — Scale objects to the exact size you want without limitations. Their touch objects can only be scaled in limited ways. And since their touch cells can only be occupied by one functional object at a time, screen space fills up mighty fast once you start sizing objects. With ours, you can scale objects quickly and easily to any size. Not only that, but sizing is incredibly easy. If you've ever sized an object in a Windows-based program, then you know how to click and drag it to the exact size you want. Their objects don't size that easily.

Ours	Theirs	Resizable imported bitmaps — No matter what the size of the bitmap you import from another program, you can size it quickly and easily in our HMI500 series, just like you would be able to in any drawing program.

Ours

Theirs

Unrestricted object placement — You can place touch objects anywhere you want on our touchscreens. That's because placement isn't limited by touchcells so objects can go anywhere you want them to - right down to the pixel. Their touch objects are limited to touchcell placement.

More functional graphics

Our graphics are more than pictures on a screen. With all of our unique graphics features, you can create screens that actually represent your application - whether you are demonstrating the levels of a tank, the movement of product through a manufacturing cycle, or lamps, switches and indicators. Why settle for abstract representations when you can have true-to-life graphics that represent your application in a meaningful way? With other touchscreens, you don't have as much flexibility.

Dynamic animations, moving objects, and multiple state objects

In order to create dynamic, true-to-life displays, you need powerful animation capabilities. The Silver Series Operator Interfaces support 32-position animations, moving objects, and 32-state objects, giving you the capability to bring your application to life on your display.

Our animations, moving objects & multi-state objects
bring your application to life in ways theirs can't...

Moving Shapes

32 - States

Animation

Standard recipes and real-time clock

Our HMIs can store up to 32,767 presets into non-volatile memory! Important process data can be stored in the HMI and late retrieved by the PLC or motion controller. Use recipes to control batch automation processes. The real-time clock can be used to time-date stamp important events.

Windows®-like operation

Imagine…a graphic operator interface that you already know how to use. If you've ever used Windows, then that is exactly what you are getting with our Silver Series operator interfaces. Easy, Windows-like operation right on the HMI at your fingertips. That's not something you'll find with other touchscreens.

Look how much more power & flexibility you have
with our Windows®-like operation...

Feature	Description/Benefit	Ours	Theirs
Base Windows	Full screen windows that graphically represent application feedback and operations onscreen.	Yes	Yes
Common Window	Place a common object that you always want displayed - such as a logo or common control panel - on one screen that is always shown in the background.	Yes	No
Quick Access Window	Can be used to easily jump to commonly accessed windows or operations in your application for quick access. Works well as a menu selection bar, or to select other common elements such as data entry devices. And it operates much like the Start button used in Windows applications, making it amazingly easy to use.	Yes	No
Pop-Up Windows	This easy-to-use feature saves valuable screen space and provides added convenience. Commonly used data entry devices or frequently viewed monitoring devices can be placed in pop-up windows and accessed with a touch.	Yes	No
Minimize/Maximize function	Just like Windows, you can minimize and maximize windows right on the HMI quickly and easily using keys that your operators will recognize.	Yes	No

Bigger...

Our Silver Series have up to 1,990 available screens! And the memory to support those screens comes standard. Theirs have 200 to 999 available screens and may require memory upgrades to support the full range.

Faster...

Our HMIs are fast. That's because we've used a 200 Mhz processor that allows you to receive instantaneous feedback and quick access to all of the functions that we've packed into our touchscreens.

Stronger...

The Silver Series operator interfaces have lots of memory. 1 Mbyte Flash and 4 Mbyte operating SRAM come standard with all of our HMI500s - more than all of our competitors. Automation Direct comes standard with only 512 K SRAM and upgrades of 1 Mbyte Flash ($57) and 1 Mbyte RAM ($41). SRAM is volatile memory, therefore it must be continuously battery-backed or all program data will be lost. FLASH is non-volatile memory, and will store program data indefinitely. In the EZ Touch, the SRAM must be shared between program data and operating data. These are separate memory areas in the Maple Systems HMI, giving the Maple ten times the total memory of theirs. Even with their upgrades, we still have more power!

Broader controller compatibility

Only our Silver Series touchscreen operator interfaces have support for more than 80 families from some of the best-known brands in industry.

Brand	Maple Systems	Automation Direct	TCP	Allen-Bradley
Allen Bradley	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Aromat	Yes	No	Yes	No
Delta	Yes	No	No	No
GE Fanuc	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Hitachi	Yes	No	Yes	No
Industrial Indexing	Yes	No	No	No
Idec	Yes	No	Yes	No
Koyo	Yes	Yes	No	No
Mitsubishi	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Modbus	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Omron	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Siemens	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Telemecanique	Yes	No	Yes	No
Toshiba	Yes	No	Yes	No

Simulation mode makes it a snap to test your application

Once you've created your application, you want to be able to test it without having to upload the entire application to the panel. With our Silver Series, you can do just that using our convenient simulation mode, which allows you to test your entire application right on the PC. With theirs, the application must be downloaded to the panel before it is tested in its entirety and then uploaded back to the PC to make changes.

Macro-scripting language improves versatility
Our C-like macro scripting feature allows you to run scripts and perform arithmetic functions on the HMI , saving valuable PLC resources. Theirs doesn't have a scripting feature.

Compact Flash makes it easy to take your project with you
Make your project portable with a compact flash interface. By saving your project to the compact flash card (sold separately), you can copy the project to other Silver Series HMIs - anywhere in the world.

Superior technical support from operator interface experts

There are advantages to being a small company with international distributor relationships…like personalized technical support from our in-house HMI experts and local support from our distributor and sales representative network. Our goal is to build relationships with our customers through superior service and support. Because we want you to know how important you are to us, we personalize our service to suit your needs. That way you won't find yourself caught up in an endless cycle of holds and transfers where you have to repeat your story to each new person who answers the phone. And we're HMI specialists. Since operator interface terminals are all we make, we've had the time to focus on training our staff to provide high-quality applications assistance that will leave you feeling like more than just a number.

Competitive pricing

It's true - there may be cheaper graphic touchscreens on the market. But when you add up the power and features of our touchscreens vs. theirs, you'll find that we offer value that can't be beat. Our touchscreens provide graphics performance, speed and power that are second to none at a price that can easily fit into any budget. No matter the size of the touchscreen or to whom you are comparing us, inch-by-inch we pack more power, features and value into our touchscreens.

With powerful functionality and affordable pricing,
our Silver series beats the competition hands down

Silver Series Competitive Analysis

What makes the Silver Series capabilities so superior to the Competition?

What makes the Silver Series capabilities
so superior to the Competition?