Phoenix Contact – Catan C1 Controller
Phoenix Contact has introduced the Catan C1, an open modular controller built specifically for building automation.
It combines open architecture, modular extendibility, and interoperability in a single platform designed for durability, maintainability, and reuse.
At its core, the Catan C1 runs on the PLCnext Technology ecosystem and connects to KNX environments through IP-based solutions such as Symcon.
The hardware itself is modular, scaling from compact single-room installations up to multi-trade applications, with optional display and extension modules supporting operation, diagnostics, and I/O expansion.
Its design follows industrial quality standards — robust housing materials, tool-free mounting, and a clear separation of power supply, communication, and I/O systems.
The platform supports unified control of lighting, shading, HVAC, and energy management, and can be integrated into IT and cloud systems for centralized orchestration. For retrofit projects, it offers interfaces, libraries, and partner solutions for common protocols, allowing existing infrastructures to remain in use while new functions are added incrementally.
Typical applications include room automation, cross-trade building automation, energy management with load monitoring, and modernization scenarios involving hybrid infrastructures.
The Catan product family follows circular economy principles and holds Cradle to Cradle Certified® Bronze, with a focus on material transparency, durable design, maintainability, and reuse.
As Steffen Mehnert, Director of Industry Management and Automation at Phoenix Contact, puts it: “With Catan C1, we are providing integrators and operators with an open, modularly extendable platform that can be integrated seamlessly into KNX-based environments – for example via Symcon.
This means that existing infrastructures can continue to be used and that projects in existing buildings can be extended sustainably and implemented efficiently in new buildings.”
Source: Phoenix Contact Official Website – www.phoenixcontact.com