Siemens S7-1200 migration guide — evaluating Kinco AK840M / K615S

Siemens lifecycle information schedules the S7-1200 G1 phase-out / PM400 milestone for 1 November 2026. New-part availability is expected for roughly one additional year, through late October or 1 November 2027 depending on channel interpretation, with spare-parts support planned into approximately 2036.

The successor S7-1200 G2 was launched December 2024 and is not hardware-compatible with the previous S7-1200 generation, so a G1 → G2 transition itself involves redesign work — making this a sensible moment to evaluate whether Kinco AK840M is a viable migration option for parts of the installed base.

The AK840M-0808DTN can be evaluated as a candidate replacement — subject to engineering review for selected S7-1200 1214C applications, especially where Modbus TCP/RTU, EtherCAT motion, and CODESYS programming are acceptable. Terminal layout, I/O count, HMI tags, network architecture, and program logic must be reviewed.

It is not a native Profinet IO controller and should not be used as a replacement for Profisafe / safety-rated Siemens architectures.

The AK840M is supplied as a CODESYS-based controller and is programmed with CODESYS V3.5. Confirm the current Kinco device package, runtime terms, hardware revision, and firmware during engineering review.

KincoBuilder does not program the AK-series — it is for the K-series (K615S, K6S) only.

The AK840M CPU does not have a native Profinet IO controller port. Its two Ethernet ports support Modbus TCP master/slave. To exchange data with existing Profinet IO devices, a protocol gateway (HMS Anybus, Helmholz, Softing, etc.) selected for the correct master/slave behavior and target-side protocol is required, or remote I/O is redesigned around EtherCAT or Modbus TCP.

If a native Profinet IO controller is mandatory by project requirements, Siemens or another Profinet-controller platform remains the lower-friction choice.

The K615S-16DT is a functional migration option for selected S7-200 SMART CR40 / SR40 / ST40 compact-control installations, mainly seen in emerging markets where the S7-200 SMART is widely deployed. It offers comparable I/O scale, native CANopen master (which the S7-200 SMART lacks), faster Ethernet plus dual RS-485, and four high-speed counters at up to 200 kHz.

Confirm the current KincoBuilder and STEP 7 Micro/WIN SMART versions and license terms against manufacturer documentation. Hardware pricing is confirmed at quotation.

The comparison depends on the required Siemens edition, add-on licenses, CODESYS runtime or device package, hardware revision, firmware, region, and commercial terms.

Do not use a static web price for project budgeting. Current software scope and pricing are confirmed at quotation.

No. Kinco does not currently publish a TÜV-certified safety variant equivalent to Siemens S7-1200F or S7-1500F with Profisafe (SIL 3 per IEC 61508, PL e per ISO 13849-1). The AK840M public datasheet lists only CE per EN/IEC 61000-6-2:2019.

For SIL 2/3 or PL d/e applications, integrate a dedicated downstream safety controller (Pilz PNOZmulti, Sick Flexi-Soft, Siemens 3SK) or stay on Siemens. We will not sell what doesn't fit a safety requirement.

Yes. The AK840M is an EtherCAT master supporting up to 32 synchronized axes, with typical 1 ms cycle at 8-axis E-Cam configurations. Beckhoff EL-series slaves and any third-party EtherCAT slave conforming to the standard (Maxon EPOS4, Schneider Lexium, Sanyo Denki, Kinco FD1X5/S, etc.) can enumerate normally with proper EDS/ESI files imported into CODESYS.

A simple discrete-control migration can often be estimated in engineering days, but no fixed number should be assumed without reviewing the original Siemens project. The key effort drivers are tag count, DB structure, HMI screens, Siemens-specific libraries, PID, motion, safety, fieldbus devices, and commissioning access.

Project timing is scoped during engineering review and confirmed at quotation.

No reliable one-click conversion should be assumed. Siemens LAD/FBD/SCL projects can be used as engineering references, but the logic, tags, DB structures, communication blocks, HMI links, and hardware configuration must be rebuilt or re-mapped in CODESYS for AK840M or KincoBuilder for K615S.

Simple ladder projects are usually the easiest to port. Siemens-specific libraries, SCL syntax, GRAPH/SFC sequences, PID loops, motion blocks, safety logic, and proprietary communication functions require manual engineering review.

It depends on the exact Siemens HMI model, generation, firmware, TIA Portal version, and available communication drivers. Some Siemens Basic, KTP, Comfort, and Unified panels can communicate via Modbus TCP, while other projects may be locked to Siemens-specific drivers, old firmware, or tag structures that make reuse uneconomical.

Before deciding, verify the HMI MLFB, firmware image, available WinCC communication drivers, tag count, alarm configuration, recipe / data-log requirements, and whether Modbus TCP or another open protocol can be configured. If reuse is not practical, migrate the HMI to a Modbus-capable Kinco GL/F, Weintek, Pro-face, or similar panel.

No. The AK840M and K615S do not have a native Profibus DP master or slave port. For installations where Profibus DP is the architectural backbone, a correctly selected HMS Anybus / Helmholz / Softing / Procentec gateway is required based on whether the existing network needs master or slave behavior, and based on the target-side protocol.

If Profibus DP is non-negotiable and budget for gateways isn't available, Siemens remains the lower-friction choice for the controller swap.

Stay with Siemens when the machine depends on native Profinet IO, Profisafe, S7-1200F / S7-1500F safety, S7-1500T motion, SINAMICS diagnostics, UL / ATEX / FM-certified panel requirements, Siemens-only HMI / SCADA integration, or a validated OEM standard that does not allow controller changes.

Kinco is more suitable where the project can be re-engineered around Modbus TCP/RTU, EtherCAT, CANopen, compact I/O, cost-sensitive hardware, and open programming workflows.

Email your existing Siemens BOM (typically a .xlsx or .pdf with 6ES7-prefixed MLFB part numbers) to bom@automationliberty.com or use the Request BOM Quote form below.

Our application engineering team reviews the submitted BOM before confirming scope and timing. Availability and pricing are confirmed at quotation, and non-equivalent items are flagged with a recommendation to retain Siemens where appropriate.