Discontinuance Notice ZOID

The ZOID is a text based HMI designed by KEP in the late 1980's. I suppose it was inevitable. The ZOID product line had components in it that are no longer manufactured. Once KEP used up it's stock, there was no way to continue producing this product. Here is the official Discontinuance Notice.

ZOID Discontinuance notice

Please beware the ZOID products are no longer in production and no longer available.
KEP does not have any units in stock.
KEP has limited repair abilities on this product.
KEP will do its best to maintain the ability to repair the units for 5 years.

The reason for discontinuance is the inability to get components to build the ZOID. Many of the components in the ZOID were obsoleted years ago. KEP has been building from its stock pile for about 7 years. Finally those parts have run out. The components are no longer available in the market place.

The closest replacement for the ZOID is the MMI-220 product line. It fits in the same cutout and uses the same PLC communications cable as the ZOID. However, there is no utility for translating a ZOID project over to the MMI-220. The MMI-220 does not support the ZOID's Synonym (Tags) feature. It also does not have a Real Time Clock. ZOID messages can be manually entered into the MMI-200. Basically, this means the creation of a new project for the MMI-220.

A second alternative is to use a KEP graphic touchscreen unit (MMI8000 Series) to replace the ZOID. The cut out is not the same and the communications cable is different. But this will allow you to add many features to the project and give your machine a more modern look. Again this means creating a new project.

KEP thanks you for using the ZOID product. Its 20 year production has far exceeded most Operator Interfaces in the market place. It has been a mainstay in the rapidly changing world of electronic instrumentation. We are sad to see it go but look forward to newer and better products as a result of better technology.

Thank you so much for your patronage and support.