YORK, Pa., Nov. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Lion Controls, the global experts in communication, monitoring and control for industrial automation and networking, today announced that its newest plug-in modules for the popular Graphite™ series of advanced human machine interface (HMI) panels were named "Best Product of 2014" by Control Engineering China. Additionally, Red Lion was recently selected as a 2014 "Wind Industry Leader" by the readers of Windpower Engineering magazine, a leading North American publication on engineering, design and maintenance of wind power equipment.

Red Lion's Graphite CAN and J1939 modules won the "Hardware - HMI, Operator Interface" category in an Industrial Automation Show awards ceremony in Shanghai earlier this month. These modules, which launched in July 2014, provide the communication and connectivity customers need to add powerful HMI functionality to their systems. Designed for use with Graphite HMIs, which already support more than 300 major industrial protocols, the CAN and J1939 protocols are a reliable choice for heavy-duty construction vehicles, trains and rail vehicles, maritime equipment, engine controllers and in building automation applications such as lift control, embedded door controls and HVAC equipment. When added to Graphite HMI operator panels, these modules remove the need for external communication gateways, saving time and money by simplifying programming and installation costs.

"We're honored to once again have Control Engineering China validate Red Lion's innovative products, underscoring our history of superior engineering. As one of the automation industry's most trusted brands in China, we are committed to the development of hardware and software that meet customer requirements," said Michael Wang, general manager of Greater China for Red Lion Controls. "Our Graphite HMIs are transforming how customers are using industrial process control and remote monitoring applications to streamline efficiencies."

Awards from Control Engineering China honor tools, products and solutions that help international plant managers do their jobs more efficiently. Best Product Award winners are selected by a panel of Control Engineering China's senior editors and local automation industry experts. Winners are decided based on overall excellence in technical innovation and the market influence of the product. Previously, Red Lion's NT24k managed Gigabit Ethernet switch was honored by Control Engineering China as the "Best Product of 2013" winner in the "Networking Communications" category.

Red Lion was also named a 2014 Wind Industry Leader by the readership of Windpower Engineering magazine. Over the course of the past year, visitors to Windpowerengineering.com were asked to vote for the innovative companies they considered industry leaders in their respective fields of expertise. Red Lion took top honors in the "Electrical/Electronic" category. In 2013, Red Lion was recognized by readers in the "Data Networks" category.

"The wind industry survives on more than the efforts of the OEMs alone," said Windpower Engineering  editor Paul Dvorak. "The companies identified as leaders provide critical components and services that keep the national fleet in good running order and in many ways, improve on original equipment."

About Red Lion Controls
As the global experts in communication, monitoring and control for industrial automation and networking, Red Lion has been delivering innovative solutions for over 40 years. Our award-winning technology enables companies worldwide to gain real-time data visibility that drives productivity. Product brands include Red Lion, N-Tron and Sixnet. With headquarters in York, Pennsylvania, the company has offices across the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe. Red Lion is part of Spectris plc, the productivity-enhancing instrumentation and controls company. For more information, please visit www.redlion.net.

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SOURCE Red Lion Controls