Kohler Power Systems

Nucleus OS Chosen for the MPAC 1500 Controller from Kohler

Kohler Power Systems is a division of Kohler Co., and provides complete power systems, including generators (stationary, mobile and marine), automatic transfer switches, switchgear, monitoring controls, and accessories for emergency, prime power and energy-management applications. Kohler Power Systems delivers energy solutions for markets worldwide. Founded in 1873 and headquartered in Kohler, Wis., USA, Kohler Co. is one of the nation's oldest and largest privately held companies. Kohler is a worldwide leader in the manufacturing of kitchen and bath products, utility engines and power generation systems, home interiors and hospitality services.

The Kohler MPAC 1500

The Kohler MPAC 1500 is an industrial controller that integrates flexibility and convenience into all of Kohler's transfer switches. Communication to critical power systems provides essential monitoring through Ethernet or RS-485 LAN line and both are standard with the MPAC 1500. This allows the user to interface to their own management system's or Kohler's Monitor III™ software program to see critical information essential to keeping their system optimal. Whether the power system is local, remote or connected directly to the customer's management system, the MPAC 1500 allows for a simple, integrated interface with the Kohler power system. The Kohler MPAC 1500 also features the industry's first USB port for convenient, inexpensive and simplified data loading and downloading capability.

Nucleus OS Selected for the Kohler MPAC 1500

Kohler MPAC 1500Developers at Kohler first looked at embedded operating system vendors that supported their chosen processor, the Nios II, an FPGA-based processor from Altera. Because the Nios II was a new processor, Kohler developers were happy to learn that Mentor Graphics was one of the first companies with an OS to provide support for it. They were also pleased with Mentor's wide variety of complementary middleware products including a networking, USB, file management, and more. Developers used several of these services to help shorten their development cycle.

“Mentor's Nios II processor support, selection of middleware products, and help from the Mentor sales and marketing team in our decision-making process were key to selecting Nucleus OS for the development of the MPAC 1500,” said Zane Eaton, Manager, Control Electronics at Kohler. “Overall, our experience with Mentor Graphics has proven to be a positive and successful one, and we look forward to working with them again in the future.”

Nucleus OS has a successful reputation for providing the foundation for many embedded applications in the industrial controls market. Other enticing features of the Nucleus software package include well-documented source code and a flexible business model.

Nucleus products used:

Kohler Power website: http://www.kohlerpowersystems.com/

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