Spare parts and obsolescence: know which parts you cannot replace
Siemens S7-300 and ET 200M have been spare parts only since October 1, 2025. Rockwell discontinued the remaining PLC-5 processors in 2017 and lists several SLC 500 processors as discontinued. If a card on one of those racks fails, the question is whether there is one on the shelf.
We walk your lines, list the hardware that is installed, flag discontinued or hard-to-get parts, and recommend which spares to stock. If you want, we source and supply them.
Send an RFQ · Office: (877) 524-6674 · Line down? (877) 790-4697, 24/7, subject to personnel availability
What the review covers
- PLC processors, I/O cards, power supplies, and communication modules, line by line
- Drives, HMIs, and network hardware in the same cabinets
- Robot controllers on KUKA, FANUC, and ABB cells
- Each part’s lifecycle status as its manufacturer lists it, from active through end of life to discontinued or spare parts only
What you get
- An installed-hardware list, by line and cabinet
- The discontinued and hard-to-get parts, flagged
- A recommended spares list: which parts to keep on the shelf, and how many
- Where stocking spares is not enough, a note on the migration path
The review is yours, whether or not you buy the spares from us.
Sourcing and supply
We can source the recommended spares and supply them to your plant. Each part is quoted before you buy it, and the quote says whether it is new or surplus. Availability and lead times depend on the part, so they are confirmed on each quote.
When a spare is not the answer
On a rack with discontinued parts and a thin shelf, spares buy time and a migration replaces the obsolete hardware. The review says which each line needs. And a spare processor is only half of a recovery: the other half is the last good program, which is what program backup keeps.
See also: Legacy PLC migration · Program backup · Outage planning
Send the hardware list or rack photos, and the lines that matter most.
Use the quote form below or email sales@ts-controls.com. Office: (877) 524-6674. Line down right now? Call (877) 790-4697, 24/7, subject to personnel availability. We come back with a plan, not a brochure.
Straight answers
Questions we get.
Which hardware do you review?
Siemens and Allen-Bradley PLCs, current and legacy, with their I/O, drives, HMIs, and network hardware, and KUKA, FANUC, and ABB robot controllers.
Should we stock spares or migrate?
It depends on the line. Spares buy time on a rack that runs well today; a migration replaces the obsolete hardware. The review tells you which lines need which, and legacy PLC migration explains how a staged cutover works.
Can you get the parts for us?
Yes. We can source and supply the spares the review recommends. Each part is quoted before you buy it, with availability and lead time confirmed on the quote.
Do you come on-site?
Yes. The review is done at the cabinets, so the list matches what is installed, not only what the drawings say.
What should we send?
The plant, the lines, and any hardware lists or drawings you have. We fill in the rest on the floor.
Request a quote
Find out which parts you cannot replace.
Send the plant, the lines, and any hardware list you have. We come back with a review plan.
Line down? (877) 790-469724/7, subject to personnel availability. How line-down support works.
Planning work? Office: (877) 524-6674Related