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NIS2 ready with new control system

Easy migration: ”It was done in two minutes”

When Level Automation took the step from the Simatic S7-1200 to the new generation of the Simatic S7-1200 G2 control system, it went much smoother than expected.

Read more about Simatic S7-1200 G2

When Level Automation was about to upgrade the control in its automation cabinets from the Simatic S7-1200 to the next generation control system, the Simatic S7-1200 G2, the migration went faster than anyone had expected.

– It took two minutes. It was almost ridiculously easy, says the company's owner Martin Ozols.

Insight came at a workshop

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Martin Ozols, owner and co-founder of Level Automation, which specializes in the production and construction of electrical and automation cabinets.

At one of Siemens' workshops in Mölndal, Sweden, where new standards and cybersecurity requirements were on the agenda, Martin Ozols started talking to Ralf Folke from Siemens about the new control system generation Simatic S7-1200 G2.

– Then I realized that it was time to take the plunge. We had already upgraded ourselves before, from the S7-200 to the S7-1200. It was a big jump that took a lot of time so I was a little bit of a dig now. But this time it was something completely different, it can't be compared, says Martin Ozols.

Easy as pie with the new migration tool

When Level Automation migrated from the Simatic S7-200 to the S7-1200, extensive manual work was required. With the Simatic S7-1200 G2, the process is basically automated, thanks to the new migration tool, an add-in to the automation platform TIA Portal.

– You do a readiness check and get two Excel reports, one that shows the hardware's closest counterpart and one that shows what in the program can be migrated. In the past, you had to look up all that yourself, but now everything is automatically suggested. It saves a huge amount of time.

And the result?

– We pressed the button and two minutes later the migration was complete, says Martin Ozols and laughs.

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Electrician Vasileios Raptis with one of the 150–200 cabinets built every year in Level Automation's workshop.

"We pressed the button and two minutes later the migration was complete"
Martin Ozols

Ready for NIS2

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Martin Ozols, owner of Level Automation, Emma Christensson, Product Manager for Simatic S7-1200 G2 at Siemens, Nina Rabe, Account Manager at Siemens, and Ralf Folke, Product Manager for TIA Portal at Siemens.

The new Simatic S7-1200 G2 family is certified according to the cybersecurity standard IEC 62443, an important piece of the puzzle due to the increased requirements of the NIS2 Directive for socially important activities.

– Many municipalities have barely begun to set requirements based on NIS2 yet. They often think that it is enough to buy a "NIS2-rated machine". But NIS2 is about risk analysis and processes. However, it feels reassuring that our automation cabinets are now at the forefront, says Martin Ozols.

Level Automation designs, builds and programs electrical and automation cabinets, primarily for the water and wastewater industry, machine builders and various industrial processes. But they do not commission the systems themselves.

– Should something need to be adjusted, our customers' technicians have memory cards. We then only send new files, which makes the update quick and easy. Alternatively, we send you memory cards and instructions if the end customer makes the update themselves. We don't have to travel and the customer saves time.

Flexibility and customer-oriented approach

The company started in 2010 in Askim, Sweden, and has since built up a stable network of returning customers.

– Many people don't know exactly what they need, so we help them shape the solution from scratch. We can get everything from a napkin sketch to full requirement specification.

The company is small, but that is seen as a strength.

– We have extremely short cycles. If the customer discovers in the middle of a project that something has been forgotten, we can quickly change and adapt. This is a major competitive advantage.

Reaching a wide range with Siemens

The cooperation with Siemens is long-term, appreciated and based on a good dialogue.

– We feel at home in TIA Portal. Everything is integrated and we get the support we need. In the past, you mostly called, but today we key in a case directly from the computer and always get feedback shortly. It works just fine.

Siemens as a brand provides a secure advantage.

– With Siemens, we reach a broad market, it is accepted everywhere. And all the schoolchildren who are going out to work know Siemens.

With the Simatic S7-1200 G2, some solutions can be cheaper, such as new I/O cards with more channels. The new generation also takes up less space on the DIN rail and is more powerful.

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With the old Simatic S7-1200, digital twins could not be used, but with the new Simatic S7-1200 G2, the Simatic S7-PLCSim Advanced can be used to test and optimize the control without physical hardware.

Next step: new HMI panels

After PLC migration, the panels are next. Level Automation will move to Simatic WinCC Unified.

– I didn't know there was a migration tool for panels as well, says Martin Ozols.

– It's called Data2Unified and it's also really smooth, says Ralf Folke.

– It will be fun to try, Martin concludes.

Featured capabilities

SIMATIC S7-1200 G2

KV S7 1200 G2 Migration shape vertical large

May 2026

  • Certified according to IEC 62443 – meets modern cybersecurity requirements and is in line with NIS2
  • Significantly faster and more powerful than the previous generation
  • New hardware with more memory and more features
  • Compacter design that takes up less space on the DIN rail
  • Smooth migration via new migration tool in TIA Portal
  • Cost-effective I/O modules – more channels at a lower price in certain configurations
  • Full integration into TIA Portal and future-proof platform for further development
Read more about Simatic S7-1200 G2