Automation System Lifecycle

Fairlife plant exterior in Webster, NY with spilled milk pooling in the roadway, symbolizing the production shutdown following the ransomware incident
5 min read
July 20, 2026

When a Cyberattack Spoils Production: What the Fairlife Incident Should Tell Your Plant Floor and Legacy System Restarts

In July 2026, Fairlife, a subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company, faced a significant challenge when a ransomware attack targeted its production systems. This cyberattack forced the temporary s...
Classic Automation heads to Automate June 2026 - What you will see there
6 min read
June 11, 2026

Classic Automation heads to Automate June 2026 - What you will see there

Classic Automation is thrilled to announce its participation in Automate 2026, the biggest robotics and automation event in North America. Join us at Booth 3680 from June 22-25, 2026, at McC...
Heritage of Bailey Controls
8 min read
April 27, 2026

Heritage of Bailey Controls

From the Bailey Boiler Meter in 1916 to ABB Symphony Plus today, the Bailey Controls legacy spans over a century of industrial automation. Classic Automation has supported ABB Bailey systems...
Technician measuring electrical current inside an industrial control panel with a clamp meter.
5 min read
January 19, 2026

When Automation Freezes: What Cold Weather Reveals About Control Systems

When Automation Freezes: What Cold Weather Reveals About Control Systems As winter sets in and temperatures plummet, the impact on automation systems becomes evident. While extreme cold typi...
Technician inspecting and testing a Siemens SIMATIC S7-300 circuit board at a professional electronics repair workstation, with tools and equipment visible in the background.
9 min read
October 13, 2025

Siemens S7-300 and ET 200M Phase-Out

The Siemens S7-300 and ET 200M—industry staples since 1994—are officially entering phase-out. Siemens has announced the PM410 discontinuation milestone for October 1, 2025, marking the end o...
Stöber 5000 series drive controller FDS5004A/H close-up showing keypad, display, and front ports for industrial automation.
5 min read
September 15, 2025

Stöber 5000 Series Phasing Out: What You Need to Know

Stöber has announced the upcoming phase-out of its 5000 Series drives, marking an important change for many production teams that rely on this proven technology. While OEMs focus on moving f...
Vintage photo of an engineer operating a Taylor MOD 300 control system with three CRT monitors, keyboards, and industrial software screens.
7 min read
August 20, 2025

The Taylor Automation Heritage

Taylor Instruments began in 1851 in Rochester, New York, when George Taylor and David Kendall started producing thermometers and barometers in a small rented room. Within just a few years, t...
Photo collage titled "Classic Automations History" featuring warehouse inventory, technician repair work, PLC control panels, and facility locations
6 min read
June 8, 2023

The History of Classic Automation

In 2003, Fritz Ruebeck saw an industry pushing unnecessary upgrades and built a better alternative from his home in Webster, NY. Twenty years later, Classic Automation serves customers in ov...
Hard drive illustration with concentric rings on red background representing drive connectivity
6 min read
March 9, 2023

Upgrading Your Sinumerik Hard Drive to SSD

Is your Sinumerik 840 hard drive putting your production at risk? Spinning hard drives fail — and when they do, recovering your CNC programming is never guaranteed. Classic Automation can up...
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