Modernizing a Pharmaceutical Facility HMI
June 2026 · Controls / Data

A pharmaceutical facility was running an outdated text-based HMI with physical key button controls. Functional, but out of step with modern standards and providing limited visibility into live process conditions. CKC Automation was brought in to design and program a complete replacement, delivering a modern touchscreen interface that gave operators a real time graphical view of their entire system.
CKC Automation replaced a decade old text-based interface with a modern P&ID graphical HMI, giving operators real time visibility into their entire system for the first time.
The Challenge
The existing operator interface was a legacy text-based, key-button terminal. Operators navigated tag lists and numeric values with no graphical representation of the process, making status and alarm conditions difficult to interpret at a glance. The interface was also inconsistent with the modern P&ID-style HMIs used elsewhere at the site, and the aging hardware posed a growing obsolescence risk.
The solution
CKC developed a complete replacement HMI application on a PanelView Plus 7 touchscreen using FactoryTalk View ME. The new interface presents a live P&ID-style graphical layout of the system, with symbols that change color based on equipment status (green = on, red = off, purple = fault), touchscreen navigation, and dedicated alarm visualization. Because the system operates in a GMP environment, the work included updating the system design description, so the delivered documentation accurately reflects installed behavior.
Before:


After:


Key Features
- ◆ Full P&ID graphical layout replacing text-only displays
- ◆ Dynamic color-coded symbols for on/off/alarm status indication
- ◆ Modern touchscreen interface replacing physical key buttons
- ◆ Standardized design consistent across all facility buildings
Results
- ◆ Consistent HMI graphics standardized across all buildings on the facility
- ◆ Improved operator experience with a faster, more intuitive interface
- ◆ Greater system visibility through real-time graphical indicators
- ◆ Improved consistency and maintainability across the site's control systems
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