RFID Smart Control Cabinet Application｜PML-080A Mini Electromagnetic Lock for Secure and Intelligent Access Management

With the rapid development of Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0, industrial safety management has become a crucial factor not only for production efficiency but also for equipment reliability and personnel safety.
In semiconductor, electronics, and energy automation environments, the control cabinet plays a vital role in machinery operation, housing power control units, PLC modules, and signal circuits.
However, traditional mechanical locks lack authorization and record-tracking functions, making it difficult to meet modern factory requirements for secure, authorized, and traceable management.
 

 

Challenges of Traditional Control Cabinet Locks

Most factories still rely on traditional keys or simple magnetic locks for control cabinet access, leading to several issues:

• Uncontrolled key distribution, loss, or sharing creates potential security vulnerabilities;
• No audit trail for unlocking actions, making it difficult to track maintenance activities;
• No integration between the lock and MES or access control systems, resulting in data silos;
• Lack of real-time authorization updates, causing inefficiencies and lack of transparency during maintenance or cabinet access.

These challenges not only increase maintenance risks but also complicate safety audits and personnel management.
 

 

RFID Smart Control Cabinet Solution

To help manufacturers strengthen control cabinet security and authorization management, Pongee Electronics introduces thePML-080A Mini Electromagnetic Lock, integrated with an RFID access control module,offering a modular and intelligent solution for smart control cabinet management.
This system combines the PML-080A lock, RFID access reader, controller module, and TCP/IP converter,enabling centralized multi-door control and real-time access tracking. It is particularly suited for control cabinet groups, machine panels, and industrial automation enclosures.
 

1. Modular Architecture Design:

Easily integrates into existing control systems and electrical enclosures.

2. Core Component Integration:

Combines the PML-080A lock body, RFID access reader, controller module, and TCP/IP converter.

3. Centralized Multi-Door Management:

A single controller can manage multiple control cabinets or equipment locks.

4. Real-Time Event Recording:
Each unlocking event (user, time, cabinet number) is automatically uploaded to the system.

5. Wide Application Flexibility :
Ideal for control cabinet clusters, machine control panels, and automation enclosures.   

System Architecture and Operation

To help manufacturers enhance electrical cabinet security and authorization control,
Pongee Electronics offers the PML-080A Mini Electromagnetic Lock integrated with RFID access modules,
providing a modular, intelligent solution for smart control cabinet management.

Operation Flow ：
When an authorized user presents an RFID card to the reader, the system verifies credentials and unlocks the corresponding cabinet.
Unlocking records  including user, time, and cabinet number — are automatically uploaded to the management computer,
allowing supervisors to monitor cabinet access status and maintenance history in real time.

 

 

Extended Applications

• Enhanced Electrical Cabinet Security ：

       RFID-based access control ensures only authorized personnel can operate, preventing unauthorized openings.

• Maintenance Traceability：

       Automatically records every unlocking event for full traceability and transparent maintenance workflows.

• Smart Manufacturing Integration：

       Unlocking events can be linked with MES / SCADA / PLC systems, forming a closed-loop process from authorization → maintenance → reporting.

• Reduced Manual and Key Management Costs：

       Eliminates traditional key distribution, loss risk, and manual logging, reducing administrative workload.

• Support for Multi-Door Group Control：

       Each controller can manage up to 24 cabinet locks, expandable to 96 doors, ideal for centralized control in large production facilities.

※Note: The above benefits are based on individual customer implementations. Actual results may vary depending on project conditions and system configuration.

Extended Applications

Beyond manufacturing control cabinets, this system can also be flexibly applied to:

• Tool and maintenance cabinet management: Replace physical keys with RFID cards for secure access.
• Medical laboratory cabinet control: Prevent unauthorized personnel from accessing critical samples or medicines.
• Smart logistics or energy control cabinets: Enable remote unlocking and centralized monitoring.
• R&D and academic instrument cabinets: Ensure traceable authorization and facilitate safety audits.

 
Pongee Electronics also provides OEM/ODM customization tailored to different application environments —
including lock size modification, RFID module integration, interface expansion, and software development support.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1：Can the PML-080A be used in control cabinets?

A1：Yes. Its compact design and 66 kg holding force make it ideal for control cabinets, machine panels, and distribution boxes.

Q2：How can it work with RFID systems?

A2：It can be paired with the PP-6750V RFID reader and POM-24 relay controller for access authorization and event logging.

Q3：Can it integrate with industrial control systems (PLC / MES)?

A3：Yes. Through the PC-T100 communication converter and RS-485 interface, it supports real-time data uploading and command control.

Q4：Does it support multi-door group control?

A4：Yes. Each controller can connect up to 24 cabinet locks and expand to 96 doors, making it suitable for large-scale equipment management.。
 

Partnership Inquiry

📚 If you are a system integrator or distributor looking for RFID-based smart cabinet management solutions,
we welcome your collaboration.
Pongee provides RFID modules, readers, and integration support, helping partners accelerate project development and deployment planning.