The Clock is Ticking on Comfort - But You're Still in Control

Join us for our new engineering blog series: Engineered Insights PFT engineers explain practical challenges, using firsthand experience to help navigate changes of modernization with confidence and clarity.

At Power-Flo Technologies, we know modernization can feel overwhelming. New software releases, obsolete hardware, and complex projects can make even the most experienced engineers hesitate. But modernizing your HMI system doesn’t have to be a leap into the unknown. It can be clear. Structured. Confidence-building.

With WinCC Unified, Siemens has created a system that supports everything from Panel to Edge device to PC-based HMI & SCADA applications. It’s stable, powerful, and future-ready, giving you more capabilities than ever before. And the good news? The modernization path is now well-defined, so you can confidently guide your systems forward without unnecessary risk.

Why Modernization Matters Now

Many companies still operate on WinCC Comfort panels ranging from 15” to 22” or even smaller 4–12” panels. While these panels have served us well for decades, the reality is that they are being phased out:

• Comfort 15-22” panels – already announced phase out October 2024

• Comfort 4-12” panels – recent phase out announcement January 31st, 2026

Running an aging system is always possible. Until it isn’t. We’ve seen it happen: a panel fails on a Friday afternoon, and suddenly modernization is no longer a strategy, it’s an emergency.

Prices for Comfort Panels are expected to increase due to ongoing component shortages. Modernization allows you to plan proactively and upgrade on your terms.

Many companies are busy and think they don’t have the time to re-engineer a panel from the ground up. At some point you have to pause and ask: what is best for us over the next 10-20 years in terms of support, engineering, and maintenance. You may find that things are much easier on the other side of the modernization journey.

What Makes Unified Different

WinCC Unified isn’t just a replacement for Comfort panels. It’s the next generation of HMI. Unified Comfort Panels have been released and evolving for 4+ years, with ongoing updates to both hardware and the underlying Unified software that have significantly matured the platform over that time.

• Stability & added features: V20 Update 4 and V21 have closed the major functional gaps, ensuring reliable operation across all key use cases.

• Future-proof: Supports everything Comfort could do plus more. It has more powerful hardware, increased security, a high level of openness, remote web clients, and a new operating system by Siemens.

• Flexible: From panels to Edge device or PC-based SCADA, Unified adapts and scales to your environment.

• Guided modernization: Siemens provides tools, reports, and videos to simplify the conversion.

Standardizing screens across machines allows operators to move between production lines with minimal retraining. A consistent interface reduces errors, shortens onboarding time, and strengthens operational flexibility. You can also create a distinctive user interface that matches your visualization to your company identity.  New tools such as: corporate color palettes and libraries of object shapes and style make this easy. In short, Unified allows you to modernize with confidence, knowing that your systems will be robust, maintainable, and scalable for years to come.

Two Modernization Approaches

Siemens offers two main approaches to upgrading your Comfort projects to Unified:

Approach 1 - Modernization from Scratch

Best for outdated or inconsistent projects. Starting fresh allows you to:

• Redesign project structure for clarity, scalability, and performance

• Implement best practices from the ground up

• Simplify complex or hard-to-maintain applications

  
  

It’s ideal when the original Comfort project has drifted over time or contains inconsistent naming, navigation, or tags.

Approach 2 – Modernization + Conversion

If your project is well-maintained and clean, Data2Unified allows you to:

• Keep the existing project structure

• Convert supported features automatically

• Manually adapt only what needs attention

  
  

This hybrid approach minimizes effort while retaining familiarity, making the transition smooth and predictable.

The 5-Step Modernization Process

Modernization with Unified is structured, predictable, and repeatable. Siemens breaks it down into five steps:

Step 1 – Analysis

Before touching any project files, you need to understand the current state.

• Upload your existing Comfort project to the Modernization Checker

• Receive a project-specific, step-by-step plan, highlighting exactly what needs conversion and what requires manual adaptation

• Access short how-to videos for every action

This step removes uncertainty. You’ll know exactly what can be automated and what requires your attention, allowing you to plan your resources effectively.

Step 2 – Preparation

Preparation is about getting the project ready for conversion.

• The Checker identifies which components are already supported in Unified

• You clean up, standardize, or update any items necessary before conversion

• Projects that are clean and structured will convert more efficiently

Preparation ensures that the next step, automatic conversion is smooth and predictable.

Step 3 – Tool-Based Modernization

Here’s where automation does the heavy lifting.

• The Data2Unified Add-in converts the bulk of your Comfort project into Unified format

• Screens, tags, and structures are migrated automatically

• Input: your prepared project; Output: a converted Unified project ready for refinement

This step saves hours of manual work, leaving engineers to focus on areas where human judgment is required.

Step 4 – Manual Modernization

No tool can handle every unique element, which is where manual adaptation comes in:

• Adapt functions not converted automatically

• Typical tasks: navigation, recipes, alarms, scripts, faceplates

• Guided by the Checker report, with links to bite-sized how-to videos

Manual modernization ensures that nothing is overlooked, and the final project fully leverages Unified’s capabilities.

Step 5 – Optimization

Conversion is only half the story. Optimization ensures your system is future-ready.

• Align the project with Unified engineering guidelines

• Enhance scalability and performance

• Improve usability and maintainability

This step turns a converted project into a robust, long-term solution, making your HMI easier to operate and maintain for years to come.

Key Takeaways

Modernization doesn’t have to be guesswork. With WinCC Unified, you now have a clear path forward:

• A solid roadmap: Analysis → Preparation → Tool-Based Conversion → Manual Adaptation → Optimization

• Critical gaps closed: V20UP4 and V21 address most bugs and functionality gaps

• Stable, powerful platform: Supports all key use cases

• Future-ready: Unified can do everything Comfort could and much more

The Moment is NOW

If your system is still on Comfort panels, it’s time to take action:

• Comfort 15–22” panels – phased out October 2024

• Comfort 4–12” panels – phased out January 2026

Tools and resources are ready:

• Data2Unified 5.1 – convert your projects confidently

• Modernization Checker – step-by-step guidance for your project

• Online modernization videos & Unified Academy free course – learn at your own pace

• HMI Template Suite – has ready to use screen templates free of charge

• Power-Flo Technologies – is your partner for modernization and offers lunch and learns and extended training.

Modernization is no longer about waiting for failure. It’s about taking control, planning ahead, and upgrading on your schedule.

Why This Matters

Think of your HMI as the face of your machine. A modern, clean, and functional interface:

• Improves operator efficiency

• Reduces errors and downtime

• Reflects the quality and professionalism of the machine and process

Upgrading to Unified isn’t just about replacing hardware or software. It’s about improving usability, maintainability, and the long-term health of your automation system.

Start Modernizing Today

With a clear roadmap, proven tools, and Siemens’ and Power-Flo’s guidance, modernization doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. You can convert projects systematically, optimize them for the future, and confidently move your machines from Comfort to Unified.

The time to act is now, before Comfort panels reach full product cancellation (PM410); expected in December 2027. Plan your modernization, leverage the tools, and guide your system and your team into the future-ready HMI environment.

It’s your turn. And you don’t have to do it alone. Modernize to Unified with a clear roadmap and the right partner.

Doug Ross

THE CLOCK IS TICKING ON COMFORT - BUT YOU'RE STILL IN CONTROL